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Articles 391 - 420 of 553
Full-Text Articles in Biology
A Survey Of Reproductive Biology Of Zenarchopterus Dispar In Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, Tu Tran, Dr. Mark Belk
A Survey Of Reproductive Biology Of Zenarchopterus Dispar In Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, Tu Tran, Dr. Mark Belk
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Different selective environments could often predict life-history strategies (sensu Endler 1986). Resource levels of the environments strongly affect fitness and evolutionary stable strategies of species (Patrick and Pierre 1993). Similarly, predators also have a major effect on the life history of fish populations. The fish population from the predator’s area attained maturity at a smaller size, produced more, and smaller offspring relative to populations from predator-free environments (Johnson and Belk 2001).
Assessing The Effects Of Primer Specificity On Eliminating Numt Co-Amplification In Dna Barcoding, Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael Whiting
Assessing The Effects Of Primer Specificity On Eliminating Numt Co-Amplification In Dna Barcoding, Matthew Moulton, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
DNA barcoding is a method of species identification based on sequencing a short mitochondrial DNA fragment of Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI). A database of over 500,000 of these COI fragments, known as “barcodes,” has been established for nearly 38,000 species and is currently being used to help rapidly assign individuals to known species and highlight potential new species. However, the ability for DNA barcoding to correctly diagnose species is limited by the presence of nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts). Numts can be co-amplified with the mitochondrial ortholog when using universal primers, which can lead to incorrect species identification and an overestimation …
Orca Report, Tom Beckstead, Dr. Jack W. Sites Jr.
Orca Report, Tom Beckstead, Dr. Jack W. Sites Jr.
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Snakes of the Neotropical subfamily Dipsadinae are poorly known from both ecological and phylogenetic perspectives, despite unique feeding adaptations and bizarre diets. Some of these snakes specialize on snails and slugs (ecologists refer to them as “goo eaters”), and they have a unique dentition and jaw structure that permits them to extract gastropod snails from their shells. Others have enlarged rear fangs, are mildly venomous, and prey on ectothermal vertebrates such as frogs, frog eggs, and lizards (Fig. 1).
Estimating Dispersal Of Spring Invertebrates Through Genetic Diversity, Keith Tanner, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Estimating Dispersal Of Spring Invertebrates Through Genetic Diversity, Keith Tanner, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The Great Basin contains many closed basins, separated by north-south lying mountain ranges and low east-west lying divides. The Sierra Nevada, on the western edge of the Great Basin, generates a rain shadow, making Nevada the driest state in the nation, with Utah as the second driest. The dryness of the Great Basin makes water a critical resource for life – for both humans and native organisms. As western urban areas have grown, water has become a limiting resource for both urban and rural development
Life Histories Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) And Their Replacement Of Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki), Amy Burgess, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Life Histories Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) And Their Replacement Of Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki), Amy Burgess, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) is a member of the Salmonid family native to the western North America. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is also a member of the salmonid family but a native to eastern North America, but has been introduced into many areas in western North America due to its popularity as a game fish. Observations of the invasion of nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have often resulted in the replacement of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki). While this is the case the underlying reasons for this replacement remain largely unknown (Peterson, 2004). Studies have been conducted looking at ecological …
Whose Legs Are In The Water? Parsing Out Community Composition And Turnover Rates Of Plecoptera, Trichoptera, And Ephemeroptera, Sarah Walker, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Whose Legs Are In The Water? Parsing Out Community Composition And Turnover Rates Of Plecoptera, Trichoptera, And Ephemeroptera, Sarah Walker, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Many beta diversity indicies, like most analytical tools in ecology, abstract the known relative abundances and species presence into outputs primarily useful for obtaining p-values and little else. Therefore, the purposes of this proposed beta diversity method were to simplify currently used similarity analyses for visualization and quantification of beta diversity, investigate its use in seasonal succession and other gradients in communities, and demonstrate an application of these methods in terms of both taxonomic and functional richness.
Crandall Specimen Collection Database, Mark Valentine, Dr. Keith Crandall
Crandall Specimen Collection Database, Mark Valentine, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The goal of this project was to design and implement a database and web-based interface, to store information on the specimens collected for study in the Crandall lab. The creation of a user-friendly centralized database to warehouse the information on all of the specimens studied is anticipated to be of great use to the Crandall Lab.
Stable Isotope Ratios In Leg Hairs A Better Diagnostic Tool For Eating Disorders, Stephanie Lindblad, Beverly Roeder
Stable Isotope Ratios In Leg Hairs A Better Diagnostic Tool For Eating Disorders, Stephanie Lindblad, Beverly Roeder
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders that are extremely harmful and difficult to accurately diagnose. Currently the most frequent methods of diagnosis are subjective interviews and questionnaires. One example of these psychological diagnostic tools is the DSM-IV test, which has some serious problems associated with it. It relies heavily on self-report of patients, which subjects the results to dishonesty. The test is also unable to classify certain patients that do not meet specified characteristics. In addition, the DSM-IV has very limited physiological measures, such as BMI and menstrual status. Thus, the physiological consequences of anorexia and bulimia, including a feedback …
The Influence Of Elevation On The Life History Of Mottled Sculpin, Aaron Fordham, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
The Influence Of Elevation On The Life History Of Mottled Sculpin, Aaron Fordham, Dr. Dennis Shiozawa
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdii is found in cool to cold streams, creeks and rivers of northern North America (Page and Burr 1991). Sculpin are a benthic fish, living on the bottoms of the streams and rivers that they occupy. They reach 125 to 200 mm in total length when mature and can grow to 31mm-36mm by autumn of their first year of life (Ludwig and Normen 1969). Very little research has been conducted on the age and growth of C. bairdii and no comparative studies have been done examining the influence of elevation in their growth rates.
Determining And Sharing Knowledge About Phylogenetic Relationships Of Collomia Species (Mountain-Trumpet Flowers), Lisa Busby, Dr. Leigh Johnson
Determining And Sharing Knowledge About Phylogenetic Relationships Of Collomia Species (Mountain-Trumpet Flowers), Lisa Busby, Dr. Leigh Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The plant genus Collomia shows great morphological and genetic diversity, however, its current classification is based on a morphological study done in 1940. This year I was able to assemble a great deal of DNA sequence information and compare the variation in these sequences with previous classifications to begin reevaluating the genus and further define relationships between Collomia species. I have also made a great deal of progress in sharing this data with the general public by helping to construct internet web pages for the Tree of Life Web Project.
Altitudinal And Seasonal Comparison Of Insects In The Riparian Corridor Of The American Fork Canyon, Utah, Elizabeth J. Bankhead, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Altitudinal And Seasonal Comparison Of Insects In The Riparian Corridor Of The American Fork Canyon, Utah, Elizabeth J. Bankhead, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
A hot topic in ecology right now is the Mid-Domain Effect (MDE) as presented by Robert K. Colwell (2001). This null model states that the greatest species diversity along an elevation gradient will be found at the incline’s mid-point, if no other environmental gradients interfere. Another hypothesis involving elevation gradients is an abundance null-model created by John Terborgh (1971). The research set forth in this paper seeks to understand abundance and richness along an elevation gradient in a riparian system and help validate MDE.
Does Predator Environment Predict Life History Traits In The Livebearing Fish Poecillia Gillii?, K. Nicole Schoonmaker, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson
Does Predator Environment Predict Life History Traits In The Livebearing Fish Poecillia Gillii?, K. Nicole Schoonmaker, Dr. Jerald B. Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The process of natural selection drives the evolution of species which results in the survival of individuals whose traits are most adaptable to a specific environment and the death of individuals whose traits are less fit. Thus, populations of a single species that reside in habitats with differing environmental pressures can have different physical (phenotypic) or genetic (genotypic) traits. An understanding of the environmental pressures that create variation in traits and observation of that variation is important to understanding the adaptability and evolution of living organisms.
Are Morphology And Performance Predation-Related? Swimming Speed And Ontological Shape Comparisons Between Populations Of A Live-Bearing Fish, Elizabeth Hassell, Dr. Mark Belk
Are Morphology And Performance Predation-Related? Swimming Speed And Ontological Shape Comparisons Between Populations Of A Live-Bearing Fish, Elizabeth Hassell, Dr. Mark Belk
Journal of Undergraduate Research
I used my ORCA grant for my honors thesis in biology, which has been a great success. The results are not yet complete because the depth of this project goes beyond the one-year time frame of a typical ORCA project; however, our planned schedule is still in place and the final results of this study will be submitted for publication in the coming months.
An Objective Diagnosis Of Eating Disorders Stable Isotope Analysis Of Hair, Brooke Allen, Beverly Roeder
An Objective Diagnosis Of Eating Disorders Stable Isotope Analysis Of Hair, Brooke Allen, Beverly Roeder
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of mental illnesses that afflict up to two percent of the population . The group of illnesses consists of anorexia, bulimia, and EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified). The diagnostic methods for eating disorders that are currently accepted by the American Psychiatric Association are problematic, because they rely mainly upon patient responses to self-report or physician-administered examinations. These assessments do not always return accurate diagnoses, because they are primarily subjective in nature . Thus, a more objective method for diagnosis, one which is more focused on physiological measures than on subjective questions, is needed …
Intraspecific Life History Variation In The Knife-Edged Livebearer Alfaro Cultratus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) From Costa Rica, Lacey Nay, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Intraspecific Life History Variation In The Knife-Edged Livebearer Alfaro Cultratus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) From Costa Rica, Lacey Nay, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
A species’ life history traits, including growth and reproduction, follow patterns of natural selection. Evolution is driven by natural selection which, in short, can be described as the ability of an organism to conform to its environment (Pianka 2000). Individuals possessing those traits that are more favorable in a specific environment tend to have higher rates of survival and reproduction, causing those traits to become more prevalent in the population. In this manner, a trait is “selected for” by nature. Life history evolution is based on the concept of trade-offs. The more energy an individual expends on growth, the less …
Comparing Riparian Fly Diversity (Diptera) To Environmental And Human Pressures In Mongolia, Joss R. Wertz, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Comparing Riparian Fly Diversity (Diptera) To Environmental And Human Pressures In Mongolia, Joss R. Wertz, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Mongolia is as large as the eastern United States with the lowest population density in Asia. This has kept development and its effects at a minimum. Thus, Mongolia retains much of the biota that has been lost in the surrounding countries. In the past 15 years, Mongolia has begun the difficult process of transitioning to a free market system. With this transition have come many pressures to exploit Mongolia’s extensive natural resources, while the number of scientists to monitor the effects of these developments is small. These pressures make an immediate need for biomonitoring methods to be developed. In addition, …
Identifying Selection In The Angptl4 Gene Using Treesaap, Jeffrey Staples, Dr. Keith Crandall
Identifying Selection In The Angptl4 Gene Using Treesaap, Jeffrey Staples, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Geneticists have successfully identified the sources of many diseases that are inherited according to Mendelian rules (e.g. cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s disease). However, not all diseases are caused by one faulty gene; these so-called complex diseases (e.g. asthma, obesity, and diabetes) result from any number of mutated genes, faulty pathways, or environmental conditions. Association studies have identified a particular gene family (Angiopoietin-like proteins or ANGPTL) to be correlated with several of these complex diseases, namely diabetes, obesity, and heart disease1, 2; however, the function and contribution of these genes to these complex diseases is not completely understood.
An Analysis Of Genetic Complexity, Gabriel Proulx, Dr. Keith Crandall
An Analysis Of Genetic Complexity, Gabriel Proulx, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Sequencing genomes still requires considerable equipment and resources. While a full sequencing of all known species is obviously the end goal, analyzing ESTs, short sequences of expressed genes, can suffice in the meantime as an easier and less resource-intensive method to mapping out a species’ expressed genes. ESTs, however, are limited in both length and quality.
Phenotypic Divergence In Boldness/Shyness In Brachyraphis Fishes, Scott Miller, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Phenotypic Divergence In Boldness/Shyness In Brachyraphis Fishes, Scott Miller, Dr. Jerry Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Among some of the most exciting research in evolutionary biology involves animal social behavior. Of particular interest is whether social behaviors are inheritable. If social behaviors are inheritable, they become a selective force and are capable of shaping the life history of an animal. Dr. Culum Brown has pioneered much of the research in this field with fishes. My research is based on his preliminary research and supplemented with work by Dr. Jerry Johnson. The goal of my research was to test if behaviors evolve in response to differences in mortality pressures in the environment. A greater understanding of how …
Evaluating The Fitness Costs Of Rnai Resistance In C. Elegans, Stephen Jenkins, Dr. Byron Adams
Evaluating The Fitness Costs Of Rnai Resistance In C. Elegans, Stephen Jenkins, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause an estimated $125 billion worth of crop losses globally each year. Fifteen percent of nematode species are plant-parasitic nematodes, and the most significant species parasitize roots. While the parasites don’t always kill the plants, they disrupt water transport and divert nutrients to themselves, causing considerable impact on crop yields. The most significant contributors are root-knot nematodes and cyst nematodes.
Isolation And Characterization Of A North American Species Of Phasmarhabditis Sp., Nate Keplinger, Dr. Byron Adams
Isolation And Characterization Of A North American Species Of Phasmarhabditis Sp., Nate Keplinger, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Slugs and snails are pests that destroy various food crops throughout the entire world. To control their outbreak, Europeans have utilized the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, a mollusc pathogen. This nematode has not been introduced into US agriculture because it has not been found in a mollusc pathogenic stage in the United States and could have detrimental non-target effects. Thus, slug and snail control methods in the US are currently limited to petrochemical methods of pest management. I have recently discovered an unidentified species of the genus Phasmarhabditis. that rapidly and consistently kills slugs, snails and grubs. I propose a more …
Antarctic Plectus Biodiversity: A Molecular And Morphological Analysis, Adam Clayton, Dr. Byron Adams
Antarctic Plectus Biodiversity: A Molecular And Morphological Analysis, Adam Clayton, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Nematodes are known to play important roles in ecosystem functioning, however their specific roles may vary across different taxonomic levels. Correct identification of nematode species is necessary when analyzing their diversity in order to effectively assign their functional role(s).
Molecular Identification Of Nematode Gut Contents, Quinn Martin, Dr. Byron Adams
Molecular Identification Of Nematode Gut Contents, Quinn Martin, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Species-specific food web relationships involving free-living microbivorous nematodes are not well established, yet critical to our understanding of their involvement in nutrient cycling and ecosystem function. Antarctic soil ecosystems are the simplest on earth and serve as a model system for exploring the role of biodiversity in ecosystem function. To establish which bacteria are involved in trophic relationships with nematodes, we surface-sterilized nematodes and extracted their DNA, including bacterial DNA from the gut contents of the nematodes. From this bacterial DNA we PCR amplified the 16S gene and sequenced the product in order to determine the identity of the gut …
Meloidogyne Phylogeny: A Supertree Approach, Camille Finlinson Porter, Dr. Byron Adams
Meloidogyne Phylogeny: A Supertree Approach, Camille Finlinson Porter, Dr. Byron Adams
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Meloidogyne nematodes are agricultural pests that cause approximately 5% of global crop loss each year. In order to develop more effective control strategies, a clearer image of how the many species of Meloidogyne are related is needed.
A Survey Of Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae) In Mongolia, Paul Frandsen, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
A Survey Of Dance Flies (Diptera: Empididae) In Mongolia, Paul Frandsen, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Dance flies from the super family Empidoidea (Diptera:Empididae, Hybotidae) were collected from western Mongolia in June and July 2009. Historical published records of Empididae in Mongolia along with unpublished, more recently collected records from the Selenge River Basin were compared with the samples from western Mongolia. Thirteen genera were identified from western Mongolia in 2009, with eight of these new for the country. Although 23 genera are now know for Empedoidea in Mongolia, only five were found in both the Selenge River and the 2009 collection from western Mongolia, suggesting distinct differences in faunal composition between the two areas.
“A Rose By Any Other Name…” A Study Of Flowering Plant Classification And Species Recognition, Angela Jensen, Dr. Leigh Johnson
“A Rose By Any Other Name…” A Study Of Flowering Plant Classification And Species Recognition, Angela Jensen, Dr. Leigh Johnson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Speciation is a scientific “gray area.” Conservation biologists are familiar with the many different proposed definitions for a species, encased in the 10 or so existing species concepts. Individual organisms of the same species are inherently different, possessing a wide variety of characteristics and behaviors. When is an individual a new species? Why does it matter?
Family-Level Phylogeny Of Orthoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) Based On Complete Mitochondrial Genome Data, Kevin Hiatt, Dr. Michael Whiting
Family-Level Phylogeny Of Orthoptera (Arthropoda: Insecta) Based On Complete Mitochondrial Genome Data, Kevin Hiatt, Dr. Michael Whiting
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The insect order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets) is the most diverse member of the group of polyneopteran insect orders, with more than 23,000 described species (Kevan 1982). Previous studies have recovered the monophyly of the two orthopteran suborders Caelifera (grasshoppers) and Ensifera (crickets and katydids); however, the family-level phylogeny of the order remains largely unresolved. Flook et al. (1995) sequenced the first entire orthopteran mitochondrial genome (mtgenome), and 25 complete mtgenomes are currently available on GenBank. These available mtgenomes only represent two caeliferan and four ensiferan families. Flook et al. (1995) also discovered a tRNA rearrangement (a reversal of …
A Study Of Biological Photonic Crystals In The Internal Opal Scale Structures Of Iridescent Beetle Species In The Cerambycidae Family, Lauren Richey, Dr. John Gardner
A Study Of Biological Photonic Crystals In The Internal Opal Scale Structures Of Iridescent Beetle Species In The Cerambycidae Family, Lauren Richey, Dr. John Gardner
Journal of Undergraduate Research
A photonic crystal is a periodic structure that confines, manipulates, and guides photons. Such structures affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves by defining allowed and forbidden frequency bands known as photonic band gaps. Therefore, a photonic crystal can be thought of as the optical counterpart of a semiconductor, allowing only certain frequencies, or wavelengths, to propagate through the crystal. It is difficult to create photonic crystals operating in the visible frequencies due to the requirement of small periodicities to interact with visible light frequencies.
An Evalutaion Of Robber Fly (Diptera: Asilidae) Diversity In Mongolia, Tristan Mcknight, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
An Evalutaion Of Robber Fly (Diptera: Asilidae) Diversity In Mongolia, Tristan Mcknight, Dr. C. Riley Nelson
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The last few decades have seen an explosion of agricultural expansion and mining in Mongolia. These developments—loosely regulated at best—strain the ecological health of the steppe environment with pollution and overgrazing. Robber flies (Fig. 1) are small predators common in most terrestrial ecosystems that may play an important, yet frequently overlooked role in maintaining balanced insect populations. Unfortunately, very little baseline data exist for evaluating robber fly diversity in Mongolia. Our study set out to provide a comprehensive catalogue of Mongolian robber flies which we hope will assist future efforts to manage and conserve Mongolia’s ecosystems.
The Misapplication Of Dna Barcodes To Taxonomic Classification, Taylor Southwick, Dr. Keith Crandall
The Misapplication Of Dna Barcodes To Taxonomic Classification, Taylor Southwick, Dr. Keith Crandall
Journal of Undergraduate Research
The classification of organisms into different taxa is a central issue in biology. If similar organisms are grouped together, then comparative analyses can be used from the genome to the systems level to understand how they work, both biologically and behaviorally. There are two ways to perform this classification: morphologically and phylogenetically. Morphological demarcations are based on visual differences in anatomical structure and physiological function. Phylogenetic classification is based upon the evolutionary relationship among the individuals in the population quantified by the similarity or dissimilarity of their DNA strands.