Biology Commons^™

Use Of Space By Urban Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius Ludovicianus) As A Window Into Habitat Suitability, Katie A. Maddox, Christopher E. Hill

Biology

Wild animals in urban environments face new challenges that may change how they use space and, at the same time, how they use space provides clues to suitability of habitat: bird territories in desirable areas tend to be smaller and populations denser. Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), historically associated with shortgrass habitats such as pasture and shrub steppe, occur widely in urban areas of the southeastern United States. For a complete picture of shrike use of space in urban spaces, we present three measures for a population inhabiting urban areas of Horry County, South Carolina: population density, home range size, and …

The Influence Of Researcher Disturbance On Raccoon Predation Of American Alligator Nests, Clarissa Tuten

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a dominant predator of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nests in the southeastern United States, using a combination of olfactory, visual, and tactile cues to identify nest locations. Studies on alligator nesting ecology typically require researchers to create paths through marsh habitat, potentially introducing visual and olfactory cues raccoons may use to locate nests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of human visitation to alligator nests on the frequency of raccoon nest predation at two sites in coastal South Carolina, Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (TYWC) and Santee Coastal Reserve (SCR). We hypothesized that …

From Cells To Clinics- The Role Of College Biology Education In Shaping Future Physician Assistants, Monica Manley

Honors Theses

This thesis provides a personal reflection on translating concepts and techniques learned in multiple biology courses (i.e. microbiology, neuroscience, comparative physiology, and genetics) in to clinical practice as an intern in the emergency room of a hospital. Each selected concept contains a description followed by an example of how this knowledge relates to a specified duty of a physician assistant with in an emergency medical setting.

Loss Of Courtship Suppression Memory In A Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Eric Robles, Johannes Berlandi, Chris Ellis, Tianyi Wu, Astrid Jeibmann, Fang-Ju Lin

Biology

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent and lethal neurodegenerative disease. Memory loss and motor dysfunction are accompanied by pathological hallmarks like neurofibrillary tangles or amyloid plaques. In this study, courtship suppression assay was used to assess learning and memory of a transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) line expressing human Amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42). At young age (4–6 days old), both parental control and AD flies displayed lower courtship indices during training after being rejected by previously mated females. However, in the subsequent testing phase, young AD flies showed compromised recall memory, unlike that of parental controls. Neither control …

Loggerhead Shrike Occurrence Along Urban Gradients In South Carolina’S Coastal Plain, Michelle A. Krauser, Christopher E. Hill

Biology

The urban landscape is understudied compared to less developed ecosystems, despite providing suitable habitat for wildlife, including some species of grassland birds. Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus) are predatory songbirds that frequent grasslands and have been observed using grassy areas in developed and more natural landscapes, yet remain largely unstudied in developed landscapes. We investigated the effects of development, measured as impervious surface percentage, on Loggerhead Shrike occurrence in urban areas in South Carolina, U.S.A, and also tracked canopy cover (%), highway density (m/ha), non-highway road density (m/ha), total road density (m/ha), and powerline density (m/ha). The first author searched 300 …

Use Of Space And Foraging Behavior Of Loggerhead Shrikes In Urban Areas, Katie Anne Maddox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Loggerhead shrikes, Lanius ludovicianus, are a declining grassland songbird native to North America. Land-use change has been associated with the decline of grassland bird species. However, the process of urbanization creates novel short-grass habitats reminiscent of shrikes’ natural habitats. Loggerhead shrikes have been observed living in developed areas, particularly in Southeastern coastal states. Understanding the long-term impacts of urban-dwelling on loggerhead shrike populations is vital to identifying whether urban areas offer refuge or act as an ecological sink for shrike populations.

In chapter one, I quantified the use of space by shrikes in urban habitats within Horry County, South …

Neonate Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon Terraenovae) Relative Abundance And Body Condition In Two South Carolina Estuaries Varying In Urbanization, Rileigh E. Hawk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization near estuaries has been shown to affect the growth and survival of juvenile sharks using the system as a nursery. North Inlet and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, are similarly-sized, tidally-dominated, bar-built estuaries with extensive Sporobolus-lined tidal creeks but differ in degree of human impact. Previously, Murrells Inlet was shown to have a lower abundance and diversity of large sharks than North Inlet and Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) were shown to use North Inlet as a primary nursery. To examine potential differences in neonate shark abundance and growth between a developed estuary, Murrells Inlet, and a protected estuary, North …

Deterrent Effects Of The Select Magnetic And Repellent Treated (Smarttm) Hooks And The Recently Developed "Smarter" Hooks On Sharks In Recreational Hook-And-Line And Longline Trials, Ryan Lowndes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As bycatch continues to impact global shark populations, there is a continuing need for effective bycatch reduction devices. Prior research has shown promise in exploiting sharks' electrosensory ability to this end. We tested the deterrent efficacy of the Select Magnetic and Repellant Treated (SMARTTM) and the newly developed "SMARTER" hooks in experimental longline and hook-and-line trials. Both are magnetized and contain an electropositive metal component made of magnesium (SMART) and a magnesium alloy designed to extend longevity (SMARTER). We deployed 127 longlines with SMART hooks, SMARTER hooks, controls, and procedural controls from 2021-2022 in Winyah Bay, South Carolina, and caught …

Development Of Three Novel Edna Assays For Detecting Coastal Sharks, Kristina Dawn Flanigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an emerging, non-invasive community monitoring tool. This study aimed to determine if eDNA methods can be reliably used in a large brackish, partially mixed estuary by developing and testing three novel eDNA primers, for Sandbar Sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Blacknose Sharks (Carcharhinus acronotus), and Bonnetheads (Sphyrna tiburo). These primers were designed to target 109, 156, and 120 base pair (bp) fragments, respectively, of the highly conserved NAD2 gene in the mitochondrial genome of each species. Primer function was validated through testing against 102 known genomic source samples and 25 filtered water samples from aquaria in which …

Are Rising Seas Pushing Ghost Crabs Out Of Their Comfort Zone?, Finn Gillette

Honors Theses

Ghost crabs (Ocypode quadrata) can be found on sandy beaches bordering the western Atlantic Ocean. These semiterrestrial crustaceans are often found between the swash zone and the dunes on beaches. Dunes are critical refuges for ghost crabs during storms and extreme tide events. This makes them a useful indicator species for monitoring the effects of global warming-induced sea level rise on beach biota, as their distribution patterns among beach zones may correlate with shifts found in other species. Beach surveys conducted from 2015 onward assessed the population density of ghost crabs on beaches of Horry and Georgetown counties …

The Human Superiority Complex, Peyton Kinavey

Undergraduate Research Competition

For decades humans have possessed a superiority complex regarding nonhuman beings, but this has not always been the case. Through analyzing prehistoric art, such as therianthropic figurines and nonhuman animal motifs in cave paintings, it appears that prehistoric humans practiced respect for fellow animals and even viewed them as equals. These results are comparable with ethnographic data from contemporary hunter-gatherer and small-scale agricultural societies all over the world. Thus, it is suggested that the rise of industrial agriculture and the meat and dairy industries, alongside the philosophical justifications for their continuance, may have contributed to the widespread idea of human …

Genome Annotation Of Phages Phayeta And Greco Etereo, Warren Earley, Nestor Llanot Arocho, Brittaney Mazen

Undergraduate Research Competition

Phages are viruses that infect specific bacterial cells in order to reproduce. Many of these phages can infect and kill medically relevant bacterial species. As part of SEA-PHAGES, Coastal students have discovered two phages, Phayeta and Greco Etereo, that infect Mycobacterium smegmatis, which is closely related to the causative agent of tuberculosis. For our purposes we are annotating the phages Phayeta and Greco Etereo and comparing them to other previously annotated phages to help determine the function of the genes they contain. By doing this comparative analysis, we are increasing the understanding of phage biology and the roles of individual …

Utilizing 3d Printing As A Method Of Engaging Students And Assisting In The Learning Of Spatially Challenging Concepts, Gregory Thompson

Undergraduate Research Competition

Molecular structures, spatial arrangements, bond angles and stereochemistry are examples of topics that chemistry students struggle to grasp because it can be difficult to visualize how they work. 3D printing offers a way for instructors to provide students with molecular models to allow them to experience hands-on learning to better understand these concepts. The aim of this research is to design a method of remotely monitoring as well as controlling the 3D printer, and to explore what molecular editing programs could be useful in creating 3D models to print. To address the former, the software, Octoprint, will be used in …

Effect Of Lactate Dehydrogenase In Alzheimer's Disease Using Fruit Fly Model, Hannah Mccutcheon, Elizabeth Mccrea

Undergraduate Research Competition

The common fruit fly (Drosophila) was used as a model organism to investigate the function of lactate dehydrogenase gene (LDH) in Alzheimer’s disease. Human Alzheimer’s genes were implemented into fruit flies to examine the neurodegenerative properties of the disease since humans and fruit flies share a similar genetic makeup. When human Alzheimer’s gene is given to the fruit flies, they exhibit similar intellectual and physical defects as seen in humans. In previous experiments, it was found that down regulating certain genes allowed the transgenic flies to live longer and reduced their locomotor deficiencies. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is one of the …

The Importance Of Processing And Understanding Bacteriophages, Alexandra Greco, Emily Bishop, Emma Hofseth, Kelsi Phelps

Undergraduate Research Competition

There are many bacteria that are increasingly becoming antibiotic resistant resulting in a new prevalent medical issue. Bacteriophages are evolutionary virus weapons that infect and fight against these infectious bacteria that give rise to Bacteriophages the most abundant biological entity found in nature, outnumbering all life combined, with a total estimated population of 1031. As part of BIOL 302L - Phage Discovery, we focused on identifying phages from individually collected soil samples found regionally in South Carolina. Through a series of experiments, we were able to identify and amplify two newly discovered phages that infect Mycobacterium Smegmatis following the protocols …

Identification Of A Small Regulatory Rna Usps Associated With The Universal Stress Protein In Lactobacillus Species, Zarah Fowler

Undergraduate Research Competition

The gut microbiome is a complex habitat with many bacterial species. These bacteria play vital roles in regulating several physiological processes in the body. With a rise in the use of probiotics to combat human disease, it is important to understand the mechanisms by which probiotic bacteria regulate host interactions. Our exploration of the physiological functions of probiotic bacteria hopes to elucidate the role of small regulatory RNAs or non-coding RNAs in regulating gene expression within the human body. The goal of this project was to identify and explore the conservation of function and structure of the sRNA, UspS, in …

Specifying An Identified Lncrnas Modulation In Cellular Processes During Early Embryonic Development Of Nicotiana Tabacum Seedlings, Heather Garrett, Elena Foust, Logan Robinson

Undergraduate Research Competition

Multiple forms of RNA exist in cells. The most common forms of RNA include tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA. LncRNAs are proposed to have multiple functions during seed development including gene silencing, organogenesis, and other molecular processes. LncRNAs are unknown or poorly understood because their importance has been questioned throughout early research. However, the lncRNA NTAB_LNC014148.1 is presumed to function in seed development of Nicotiana tabacum based on global gene expression studies. Bioinformatics analyses predicted that lncRNA NTAB_LNC014148.1 binds to at least two gene regions during embryonic development (gene regions Nitab4.5_0001672g0150.1 and Nitab4.5_0001972g0020.1). These two gene regions encode an Arf GTPase …

Evolutionary Analysis Of Plastic-Degrading Enzyme Petase Found In The Endophytic Microbiome Of Marine Viridiplantae For Phytoremediation, Marissa Mazariego

Undergraduate Research Competition

In 2016, a bacteria found outside a recycling facility in Japan was discovered to decompose and metabolize polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Ideonella sakaiensis exhibited catabolic activity by binding to the surface of the products and delivering PETase enzymes to degrade plastic into its original structural components. PET is a clear plastic designed for single-use packaging. Despite the claim that PET plastics are 100% recyclable, only 31% of PETs are recycled. PETs do not decompose for up to 450 years in disposal facilities, resulting in the clogging of natural landscapes with litter and phthalate toxins. It is suggested that the selective pressure …

3-D Models For Chemistry Education, Elizabeth Cole

Undergraduate Research Competition

VSPER theory is a difficult concept to understand and a significant area of confusion in general chemistry classrooms. 2-D models are commonly used; however, they fail to take into consideration a molecules orientation in space, a key component in VSPER theory. The lack of clarity involving bond angles and alignment often leads to difficulty in conceptualizing the theory. The purpose of this project was to generate 3-D models of molecules from VSPER theory for classroom use with the intent to aid in the comprehension of the material. Free CAD was the computer software system used to generate a base and …

Fine-Scale Site Selection Of Strand-Feeding Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) And Their Prey, Deborah Kleinclaus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Strand-feeding is a unique, cooperative foraging strategy used by some common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at low tide in South Carolina and Georgia salt marshes, where a group of dolphins charges schools of fish, thrusting them onto the bank with their bow wave and then capturing prey items onshore. Strand-feeding dolphins are estuarine residents and frequent predictable stranding sites, suggesting an intimate knowledge of the area. Dolphin behavior prior to stranding suggests they do not herd the fish before charging, but instead prey on fish already shoaling near the bank. The use of active acoustics from strand-feeders in order to …

Abundance And Growth Of Juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon In The Edisto River, Sc, Molly Katherine Takacs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Information on abundance and body growth are important for understanding the status and health of populations, and this information can be used to guide and monitor conservation and recovery efforts for species of conservation concern. The Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) is an anadromous fish native to the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada. Due to overfishing and habitat degradation, population levels declined, and Atlantic Sturgeon were placed on the Endangered Species list in 2012. Although there is substantial research on adult Atlantic Sturgeon, knowledge about their early life history is lacking. The objective of this study were …

Quantifying Population-Level Effects Of Warm-Water Catch-And-Release Mortality On Muskellunge (Esox Masquinongy) In The James River, Virginia, Cory J. Bauerlien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catch-and-release (C&R) has become a popular practice in many fisheries, both as a management strategy and as an angler ethic. The practice has been used to both increase the abundance and size structure of fish populations but relies heavily on the assumption that released fish survive the encounter. The Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is a large-bodied, coolwater predatory game fish that is highly prized by many anglers. Many Muskellunge fisheries have transitioned to almost exclusively C&R angling. Muskellunge fisheries have increased in both number and popularity, particularly in southern and mid-Atlantic rivers. However, there is little information on population characteristics for …

Winter Use Of Winyah Bay, Sc By The Spiny Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), And Their Movements South Of Cape Hatteras, Nc, Meredith L. Langford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

South of Cape Hatteras, NC, little is known about the coastal distribution and movement of the Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias. Between January 2018 and March 2020 this study conducted winter demersal longline sampling in Winyah Bay, SC to investigate habitat use by Spiny Dogfish. In addition to monitoring Winyah Bay use through catch-and-release, 13 individuals were outfitted with implanted Vemco™ acoustic transmitters to monitor large scale movements along the U.S. East Coast. Across three sampling seasons 84 female Spiny Dogfish were captured within lower Winyah Bay. No males were observed over the course of the study. The mean fork length …

Detecting Potentially Neurotoxic Pseudo-Nitzschia Species In The Grand Strand Area, Chesney Price

Honors Theses

Pseudo-nitzschia is a globally distributed diatom genus which contains 26 neurotoxin (domoic-acid) producing species. In shallow coastal waters these diatoms are associated with both the development of harmful algal blooms and the bio-accumulation of toxins in shellfish that can impact human health. Pilot data recovered in 2018 indicated the presence of multiple species of Pseudo-nitzschia, including domoic-acid producing taxa. We hypothesize that we will recover a similar species diversity using multiple sampling dates during the summer of 2021. Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples taken from the public shellfish harvesting area waters at Huntington Beach State Park (SC) over a two month …

Discovery And Investigation Of Novel Bacteriophage Duncansleg, Kaitlynn Burbage, Edenborough Hibionada Jr., Kirsten Presnell

Undergraduate Research Competition

The Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Sciences (SEA-PHAGES) program was formed to conduct research on bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria. Using the bacterial host Mycobacterium smegmatis, DuncansLeg was isolated from a soil sample found on August 27th, 2021, at Coastal Carolina University's Campus. The enriched isolate obtained from an environmental distillate was purified via picking a well-isolated plaque and amplified by making webbed plates in preparation for DNA extraction. This isolate's DNA was characterized and analyzed through restriction digests. Once we obtained enough lysate we were able to send in the samples to be sequenced and further …

Cloning And Overexpression Of Phayonce Genes To Assess Cytotoxicity In Mycobacterium Smegmatis, Abbey Montoya, Olivia Sundman

Undergraduate Research Competition

Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, posses the potential to be utilized for therapeutic purposes. Despite being the most abundant biological entity, the biological function of many phage genes has not been established. Our lab is analyzing each gene of the phage Phayonce, which infects Mycobacterium smegmatis. First, individual genes are inserted into an inducible expression vector. Then, these plasmids were used to transform M. smegmatis and determine if individual genes have toxic effects on host cells. Because functions of gene number 35 and 52 of Phayonce cannot be inferred by sequence comparison, they were selected for analysis. These genes were …

Cloning And Overexpression Of Phayonce Genes 12 And 77 In M. Smegmatis, Amber Wilson

Undergraduate Research Competition

Bacteriophage or phage are a diverse class of viruses that infect and reproduce in bacterial cells. Their diverse genomes represent an immense source of novel protein functions and a deeper understanding of phage genes will contribute to emerging treatments for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. The goal of the research described here is to isolate and study individual genes from the bacteriophage Phayonce. Gene specific primers were used to PCR amplify Phayonce genes 12 and 77 (Phayonce 12 and Phayonce 77). The PCR products were then ligated into a plasmid vector by isothermal assembly. Following confirmation of the cloned gene by …

Bioinformatic Investigation Into Mycobacterium Phage Duncansleg, Connor Hadwin, Michael Moore

Undergraduate Research Competition

Bacteriophage research is increasingly important to perform as antibacterial resistance becomes more common. The novel phage DuncansLeg was isolated and sequenced by students in the HHMI SEA-PHAGES Phage Discovery course in the fall of 2021 at Coastal Carolina University's campus. The DNA sequence of DuncansLeg (75,593 base pairs) was subjected to bioinformatic auto-annotation, which placed the phage into subcluster L3. The scope of this investigation goes beyond lab work and discovery, instead focusing on applying multiple bioinformatic approaches to refine the genomic auto-annotation and assign potential gene functions where possible. To this end, the bioinformatic programs used to identify coding …

Detecting Potential Neurotoxic Pseudo-Nitzchia Species In The Grand Strand, Chesney Price, Sean Ferrano

Undergraduate Research Competition

Pseudo-nitzschia is a globally distributed diatom genus which contains 26 neurotoxin (domoic-acid) producing species. In shallow coastal waters these diatoms are associated with both the development of harmful algal blooms and the bioaccumulation of toxins in shellfish that can impact human health. Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples drawn from the public shellfish harvesting area at Huntington Beach State Park (SC) during the summer of 2021 were PCR- screened for Pseudo-nitzschia species using genus specific primers. The sequences of the recovered amplicons are used to molecularly characterize the species of Pseudo-nitzschia present and their potential to produce domoic acid.

Molecular Cloning Of Genes From The Bacteriophage, Phayonce, Kelly Walsh

Undergraduate Research Competition

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect bacteria, and have one of the most vast and diverse global populations of all biological entities. Despite this immense population size, the roles, and functions of individual phage genes within their genome, are widely unknown. The first, and one of the most important steps, toward elucidating the function of a phage gene, is molecular cloning. Because gene expression is easily influenced by other genes, it is essential to isolate and clone each individual gene into a plasmid expression vector. Once a single gene insert is cloned into a plasmid, we can introduce the …