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Articles 31 - 60 of 370
Full-Text Articles in Biology
An Investigation Of Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxins And Environmental Variables In Selected Drinking Water Treatment Plants In New Jersey, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Yaritza Acosta Caraballo, Meiyin Wu
An Investigation Of Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxins And Environmental Variables In Selected Drinking Water Treatment Plants In New Jersey, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Yaritza Acosta Caraballo, Meiyin Wu
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) have the potential to impact human health primarily through their possible cyanotoxins production. While conventional water treatments can result in the removal of unlysed cyanobacterial cells and low levels of cyanotoxins, during severe HAB events, cyanotoxins can break through and can be present in the treated water due to a lack of adequate toxin treatment. The objectives of this study were to assess the HAB conditions in drinking water sources in New Jersey and investigate relationships between environmental variables and cyanobacterial communities in these drinking water sources. Source water samples were collected monthly from May to …
An Innate Immune Response To Adeno-Associated Virus Genomes Decreases Cortical Dendritic Complexity And Disrupts Synaptic Transmission, Christos M. Suriano, Neerav Kumar, Jessica L. Verpeut, Jie Ma, Caroline Jung, Connor E. Dunn, Brigett V. Carvajal, Ai Vy Nguyen, Lisa M. Boulanger
An Innate Immune Response To Adeno-Associated Virus Genomes Decreases Cortical Dendritic Complexity And Disrupts Synaptic Transmission, Christos M. Suriano, Neerav Kumar, Jessica L. Verpeut, Jie Ma, Caroline Jung, Connor E. Dunn, Brigett V. Carvajal, Ai Vy Nguyen, Lisa M. Boulanger
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) allow rapid and efficient gene delivery to the nervous system, are widely used in neuroscience research, and are the basis of FDA-approved neuron-targeting gene therapies. Here we find that an innate immune response to the AAV genome reduces dendritic length and complexity and disrupts synaptic transmission in mouse somatosensory cortex. Dendritic loss is apparent 3 weeks after injection of experimentally relevant viral titers, is not restricted to a particular capsid serotype, transgene, promoter, or production facility, and cannot be explained by responses to surgery or transgene expression. AAV-associated dendritic loss is accompanied by a decrease in …
Changes In Zooplankton Community Structure In A Wetland Metacommunity Following Homogenization From Flooding, Kevin Peteroy
Changes In Zooplankton Community Structure In A Wetland Metacommunity Following Homogenization From Flooding, Kevin Peteroy
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Wetlands in urban areas provide ecosystem services that benefit the environment and society. Through these services, wetlands are able to help mitigate consequences of human activities such as flooding by increasing permeable surface coverage and contaminant filtering from polluted runoff. One such type of wetland, vernal pools, provide important temporary habitat for many organisms, including myriad zooplankton species. For planktonic organisms, flooding events might be disruptive or allow them to disperse to areas that would be otherwise inaccessible. I observed changing abiotic conditions and zooplankton communities in 20 vernal pools at a wetland in Wayne, New Jersey, USA over a …
Limited Interspecific Gene Flow In The Evolutionary History Of The Icefish Genus Chionodraco, Luca Schiavon, Santiago G. Ceballos, Michael Matschiner, Emiliano Trucchi, Mario La Mesa, Emilio Riginella, Magnus Lucassen, Felix C. Mark, Kevin Bilyk, Rafaella Franch, Andreas Wallberg, Elisa Boscari, Lorenzo Zane, Chiara Papetti
Limited Interspecific Gene Flow In The Evolutionary History Of The Icefish Genus Chionodraco, Luca Schiavon, Santiago G. Ceballos, Michael Matschiner, Emiliano Trucchi, Mario La Mesa, Emilio Riginella, Magnus Lucassen, Felix C. Mark, Kevin Bilyk, Rafaella Franch, Andreas Wallberg, Elisa Boscari, Lorenzo Zane, Chiara Papetti
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Hybridization and introgression are recognized as mechanisms promoting genetic variability during evolutionary radiations. We examined the impact of introgression in the process of speciation, focusing on the Antarctic icefish genus Chionodraco. Our analyses confirmed that the three Chionodraco species (Chionodraco hamatus, Chionodraco myersi, and Chionodraco rastrospinosus) were genetically distinctive, despite signals of past interspecific gene flow between C. hamatus and C. myersi that likely occurred during interglacial periods. However, in this study, no recent hybrids were identified. The lack of contemporary hybridization may be due to life-history traits and the type of marker used in the analysis. Our study emphasizes …
The Combined Effects Of Nacl And Beet Juice On Germination And Early Seedling Growth Among Raphanus Sativus L., Justin Howell
The Combined Effects Of Nacl And Beet Juice On Germination And Early Seedling Growth Among Raphanus Sativus L., Justin Howell
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Salt pollution and soil salinization via secondary pathways is a global problem. One practice which contributes to increased salinity in soils and other natural systems is the application of road deicers in colder regions. Increased salinity in soils negatively affects plant growth and microbial activity. In an effort to decrease the amount of salt applied to roads, salts are applied as brine. Liquid organic additives are incorporated into these brines to foster better adherence of the salt to impermeable surfaces. One common additive is beet juice, a byproduct of sugar extraction. Beet juice contains high levels of phosphorus and organic …
Human Population Density And Blue Carbon Stocks In Mangroves Soils, Shih Chieh Chien, Charles Knoble, Jennifer Adams Krumins
Human Population Density And Blue Carbon Stocks In Mangroves Soils, Shih Chieh Chien, Charles Knoble, Jennifer Adams Krumins
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Mangrove soils provide many important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, yet they are vulnerable to the negative impacts brought on by anthropogenic activities. Research in recent decades has shown a progressive loss of blue carbon in mangrove forests as they are converted to aquaculture, agriculture, and urban development. We seek to study the relationship between human population density and soil carbon stocks in urban mangrove forests to quantify their role in the global carbon budget. To this end, we conducted a global analysis, collecting mangrove soil carbon data from previous studies and calculating population density for each study location …
The Professional Identity Of Stem Faculty As Instructors Of Course-Based Research Experiences, Quinn Vega
The Professional Identity Of Stem Faculty As Instructors Of Course-Based Research Experiences, Quinn Vega
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
The professional identity of scientists has historically been cultivated to value research over teaching, which can undermine initiatives that aim to reform science education. Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE) and the inclusive Research and Education Communities (iREC) are two successful and impactful reform efforts that integrate research and teaching. The aim of this study is to explicate the professional identity of instructors who implement a CRE within an established iREC and to explore how this identity contributes to the success of these programs. 97 CRE instructors from the Science Education Alliance (SEA) iREC participated in a 2-year, multi-stage, qualitative research project …
Assessing The Feasibility Of Seaweed Farm-Offshore Wind Co-Location In New Jersey, Brianna Delaney Reynolds
Assessing The Feasibility Of Seaweed Farm-Offshore Wind Co-Location In New Jersey, Brianna Delaney Reynolds
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
New Jersey’s offshore wind energy sector may provide an opportunity to advance the seaweed farming industry through ocean multi-use. Yet, opportunities, constraints, and knowledge gaps for seaweed farm-offshore wind co-location remain largely uninvestigated. Here, I determine the suitability of native seaweed species for offshore cultivation in New Jersey and conduct a quick scoping review (QSR) to assess the knowledge base surrounding seaweed farm-offshore wind multi-use. Saccharina latissima and Fucus vesiculosus were identified as native species with commercial value for cultivation in New Jersey. Yet, offshore waters at the location of a wind development site had insufficient nutrients to meet the …
Characterization Of Nuclear Microsatellites In Marchantia Polymorpha (Liverwort) With Additional Trans-Specific Analyses, Nicole Rodriguez Ortiz, Niharika Sharma, Tian Xiong Zheng, James J. Campanella
Characterization Of Nuclear Microsatellites In Marchantia Polymorpha (Liverwort) With Additional Trans-Specific Analyses, Nicole Rodriguez Ortiz, Niharika Sharma, Tian Xiong Zheng, James J. Campanella
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Microsatellites are present in mitochondria, chloroplast, and nuclear DNA, but nuclear microsatellites are more useful genetic tools than those in plastids or mitochondria. Plastid and mitochondrial microsatellites have been identified in the model plant Marchantia polymorpha (liverwort), but no laboratory has published information on nuclear microsatellite loci. The aim of this study was to detect novel nuclear markers in the most commonly employed liverwort species, design PCR primers that would allow amplification, and characterize the subsequently generated loci. We detected 18 polymorphic nuclear loci in M. polymorpha, amplifiable by PCR across all chromosomes. Additionally, trans-specific amplification of the eighteen loci …
Dynamic Genomic Evolution Via Active Ltr Transposable Elements In Maize, Taylor Isles
Dynamic Genomic Evolution Via Active Ltr Transposable Elements In Maize, Taylor Isles
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons, found across eukaryotes, are transposable elements which can copy and insert themselves into other loci within a genome. These transposable elements are similar to retroviruses in that they rely on reverse transcriptase to “copy and paste” themselves elsewhere in the genome. From the RNA transcript they are able to use reverse transcriptase to make another DNA copy of themselves. This initially gave them the moniker, selfish genes. However, in the decades after the discovery of reverse transcriptase and LTR retrotransposons, it became known that non-genic DNA could have other functions. LTR retrotransposons are sources of …
Anthropogenic Effects On Global Soil Nitrogen Pools, Shih Chieh Chien, Jennifer Adams Krumins
Anthropogenic Effects On Global Soil Nitrogen Pools, Shih Chieh Chien, Jennifer Adams Krumins
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
The amount of nitrogen stored in terrestrial soils, its “nitrogen pool”, moderates biogeochemical cycling affecting primary productivity, nitrogen pollution and even carbon budgets. The soil nitrogen pools and the transformation of nitrogen forms within them are heavily influenced by environmental factors including anthropogenic activities. However, our understanding of the global distribution of soil nitrogen with respect to anthropogenic activity and human land use remains unclear. We constructed a meta-analysis from a global sampling, in which we compare soil total nitrogen pools and the driving mechanisms affecting each pool across three major classifications of human land use: natural, agricultural, and urban. …
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis In Cats From Central Europe And Molecular Characterization Of Feline Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Strains By Anka Gene, Groel Gene And Multilocus Sequence Typing, Anna Sophia Kruppenbacher, Elisabeth Müller, Matthew L. Aardema, Ingo Schäfer, Friederike D. Von Loewenich
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis In Cats From Central Europe And Molecular Characterization Of Feline Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Strains By Anka Gene, Groel Gene And Multilocus Sequence Typing, Anna Sophia Kruppenbacher, Elisabeth Müller, Matthew L. Aardema, Ingo Schäfer, Friederike D. Von Loewenich
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Background: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that replicates in neutrophil granulocytes. It is transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex and causes febrile illness called granulocytic anaplasmosis primarily in humans, horses, dogs, sheep, cattle and goats. In comparison, clinically apparent disease has been described rarely in cats especially compared to dogs and horses. It is currently unknown whether cats are less susceptible to A. phagocytophilum or whether granulocytic anaplasmosis might be underdiagnosed in cats. Methods: To address this question, we examined clinical signs and laboratory findings in seven A. phagocytophilum infected cats from Germany and Switzerland. …
Genomic Analyses Indicate The North American Ap-Ha Variant Of The Tick-Vectored Bacterium Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Was Introduced From Europe, Matthew L. Aardema
Genomic Analyses Indicate The North American Ap-Ha Variant Of The Tick-Vectored Bacterium Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Was Introduced From Europe, Matthew L. Aardema
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Background: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-vectored, obligately intracellular bacterium that infects a diversity of vertebrate hosts. In North America, the Ap-ha variant of A. phagocytophilum can cause dangerous infections in humans, whereas symptomatic human infections in Europe are rare. Conversely, the European host-generalist ecotype of A. phagocytophilum frequently causes illness in domestic ruminants while no comparable infections have been recorded from North America. Despite these differences in pathogenicity, the Ap-ha variant is closely aligned phylogenetically with the European host-generalist ecotype. Furthermore, North American populations of A. phagocytophilum are less genetically diverse than those in Europe. Taken together, these observations suggest …
A Telencephalon Cell Type Atlas For Goldfish Reveals Diversity In The Evolution Of Spatial Structure And Cell Types, Muhammad Tibi, Stav Biton Hayun, Hannah Hochgerner, Zhige Lin, Shachar Givon, Osnat Ophir, Tal Shay, Thomas Mueller, Ronen Segev, Amit Zeisel
A Telencephalon Cell Type Atlas For Goldfish Reveals Diversity In The Evolution Of Spatial Structure And Cell Types, Muhammad Tibi, Stav Biton Hayun, Hannah Hochgerner, Zhige Lin, Shachar Givon, Osnat Ophir, Tal Shay, Thomas Mueller, Ronen Segev, Amit Zeisel
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Teleost fish form the largest group of vertebrates and show a tremendous variety of adaptive behaviors, making them critically important for the study of brain evolution and cognition. The neural basis mediating these behaviors remains elusive. We performed a systematic comparative survey of the goldfish telencephalon. We mapped cell types using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, resulting in de novo molecular neuroanatomy parcellation. Glial cells were highly conserved across 450 million years of evolution separating mouse and goldfish, while neurons showed diversity and modularity in gene expression. Specifically, somatostatin interneurons, famously interspersed in the mammalian isocortex for local inhibitory …
Patterns Of Cytonuclear Discordance And Divergence Between Subspecies Of The Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao) In Central America, Matthew L. Aardema, Kari L. Schmidt, George Amato
Patterns Of Cytonuclear Discordance And Divergence Between Subspecies Of The Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao) In Central America, Matthew L. Aardema, Kari L. Schmidt, George Amato
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
The scarlet macaw, Ara macao, is a neotropical parrot that contains two described subspecies with broadly discrete geographical distributions. One subspecies, A. m. macao, is found from South America north into southwestern Costa Rica, while the second subspecies, A. m. cyanoptera, is found from eastern Costa Rica north into central Mexico. Our previous research using mitochondrial data to examine phylogeographical divergence across the collective range of these two subspecies concluded that they represent distinct evolutionary entities, with minimal contemporary hybridization between them. Here we further examine phylogenetic relationships and patterns of genetic variation between these two subspecies using a dataset …
Trophic Assessment Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens Using Stable Isotope Analysis : You Are What You Eat, Diana Sisk-Gritz
Trophic Assessment Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens Using Stable Isotope Analysis : You Are What You Eat, Diana Sisk-Gritz
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Gonionemus vertens, commonly known as the clinging jellyfish, is a small hydrozoan known for their conflicts with humans due to their neurotoxins that can lead to paralysis. Native to the Pacific Ocean, it has now invaded numerous ecosystems in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, and the United States. In the United States, it has flourishing populations from New Jersey to Maine. However, many questions remain as to how it arrived and spread, but equally important is what impact this species may have in the invaded communities they now reside. Research suggests that G. vertens actively feeds on …
Wild Sea Cucumber Trade In Rural Madagascar : Consequences For Conservation And Human Welfare, Emily L. Rothamel
Wild Sea Cucumber Trade In Rural Madagascar : Consequences For Conservation And Human Welfare, Emily L. Rothamel
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Overexploitation of fisheries is a challenge to both marine conservation and human welfare. The trade of sea cucumbers is a multi-billion-dollar market, spanning over 70 countries. Global concern over unsustainable sea cucumber trade led to the inclusion of three species in CITES Appendix II, two of which are found in Madagascar (Holothuria fuscogilva and H. nobilis). I used 792 structured interviews (2015–2020) to study the intensity of sea cucumber collection and exportation in rural northeastern Madagascar, where 30% of all (terrestrial and aquatic) native species are threatened with extinction. Wild sea cucumber collection was common and increased tenfold during the …
Environmental Drivers Of Stress In Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) : Behavior And Space Use Changes In Response To Redesigned Naturalistic Enclosures, Alexis Michelle Lawson
Environmental Drivers Of Stress In Red Pandas (Ailurus Fulgens) : Behavior And Space Use Changes In Response To Redesigned Naturalistic Enclosures, Alexis Michelle Lawson
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Animal welfare encompasses the physical and mental state of an animal, as well as how that animal is cared for. Recently, zoological settings have shifted from strictly housing animals to improving the welfare of the animal such that the goal of captivity is for residents to thrive. This is especially crucial as global wildlife numbers and biodiversity continues to decrease due to anthropogenic impacts such as poaching, mining, habitat destruction, fragmentation. Further confounding this issue is climate change, air pollution, invasive species, ocean acidification, and more. In particular, the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered species whose declined 50% …
Effects Of Guest Interactions On Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Behavior In A Zoo Touch Tank, Lauren Hope
Effects Of Guest Interactions On Cownose Ray (Rhinoptera Bonasus) Behavior In A Zoo Touch Tank, Lauren Hope
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Touch tanks are increasingly popular exhibits at zoos and aquariums, and are at the center of scientific engagement with the public. Touch tanks can provide benefits to marine species through conservation outreach and research, and to guests through education, recreation, and stress reduction. Cownose rays are a popular species found in touch tanks due to their putative stress tolerance and docile nature. Yet, questions remain about ray tolerance to captivity, and studies are rare on their behavioral responses to touch tank environments and guest interactions. Here, I used an observational study to examine: (1) baseline ray behavior in a touch …
The Characterization Of Minicoopr Cell Line Clones For The Expression Of Wild Type Form Of Icer, Samantha Moscoso
The Characterization Of Minicoopr Cell Line Clones For The Expression Of Wild Type Form Of Icer, Samantha Moscoso
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The transcriptional repressor Inducible cyclic-AMP Early Repressor (ICER) is an isoform of the cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) gene. ICER protein has tumor suppressor activity by regulating cAMP-induced transcription. ICER has been found to be effective in providing an anti-tumor effect when in many tumors including melanomas. Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer that begins when there is an overproduction of melanocytes. Using a zebrafish model for melanoma, our laboratory has recently demonstrated that zebrafish that are expressing ICER in their melanocytes succumbed to malignancies at a much faster rate than the control Green Fluorescent protein (GFP)- expressing fish. …
Neural Correlates Of Sub-Clinical Grandiose Cluster B Personality Disorders, Adriana Lavarco
Neural Correlates Of Sub-Clinical Grandiose Cluster B Personality Disorders, Adriana Lavarco
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The Cluster B personality disorders (PDs) include antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and histrionic personality disorder (HPD). With impulsivity being a commonly shared symptom across the cluster B personality disorders, specifically in BPD, the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was targeted for TMS. Since these personality disorders are grouped together due to their shared ‘dramatic’ characteristics, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the presence of cluster B personality disorder traits in 13 healthy participants. We found that there is a significant decrease in …
Social Exclusion : How Inhibition And Excitation Of The Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (Dlpfc) Influences Feelings Of Social Exclusion, Anthony Minervini
Social Exclusion : How Inhibition And Excitation Of The Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (Dlpfc) Influences Feelings Of Social Exclusion, Anthony Minervini
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Social exclusion refers to the experience of rejection by one or more people during a social event. Cyberball, a computer program, is one of the most common tools for analyzing social exclusion. Cyberball simulates a game of catch in which any number of individuals or computer- generated players can pass a virtual ball to one another. Regions of the brain that underlies pain perception include networks lined to the Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). Direct manipulation of this area may provide a better understanding of how the DLPFC can influence the perception of social exclusion. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was …
Black Garlic Extract As An Antiviral For Herpes Simplex Virus-2 In Lung Cells, Jenna Rose Horowitz
Black Garlic Extract As An Antiviral For Herpes Simplex Virus-2 In Lung Cells, Jenna Rose Horowitz
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Allicin, a sulfur compound, is known for providing garlic with its unique fragrance and taste, as well as for its antimicrobial properties. This is one of many antioxidant compounds found in garlic, along with polyphenols and flavonoids. When raw garlic is aged using high temperatures and high humidity levels, it develops a black color and a sweeter taste. Garlic in this form, referred to as black garlic, contains higher levels of antioxidants than fresh garlic. Antioxidants play a vital role in alleviating cellular stress during viral infections. Once a virus particle attaches and enters a host cell, a slew of …
Trends In Nestling Body Size In A Declining Population Of American Kestrels, Kristina M. Ollo
Trends In Nestling Body Size In A Declining Population Of American Kestrels, Kristina M. Ollo
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are small falcons that feed primarily on large insects but also small mammals and birds. During recent decades kestrel populations have been declining in North America, for reasons still unknown. One plausible explanation is that nestlings are becoming malnourished over the years from lack of food resources and are fledging at smaller sizes. Fledging at a smaller size puts kestrel nestlings at greater risk of post-fledging mortality due to starvation or predation. Here we examined long-term trends in the morphological development of American Kestrel nestlings to see if there have been any significant changes over time. …
Heat Stress Effects On Culex Pipiens Mosquitoes, Valeria Montoya
Heat Stress Effects On Culex Pipiens Mosquitoes, Valeria Montoya
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Extreme weather events such as heat waves are becoming more frequent. This is a concern for both humans and other organisms like insects. Culex pipiens f. molestus mosquitoes are primary vectors of diseases including equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, Rift valley fever, and St. Louis encephalitis. With Cx. pipiens f. molestus being the primary vector of West Nile virus in North America, it is important to understand how more frequent heat waves affect their population dynamics. In this study, I compared the thermal tolerance of larval Cx. pipiens f. molestus that were exposed to prior heat stress to those that …
Evidence Of Continuing Downward Trends In American Kestrel Populations And Recommendations For Research Into Causal Factors, David M. Bird, John A. Smallwood
Evidence Of Continuing Downward Trends In American Kestrel Populations And Recommendations For Research Into Causal Factors, David M. Bird, John A. Smallwood
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
We analyzed long-term datasets from nest box programs, Breeding Bird Surveys run by the US Geological Survey, Christmas Bird Counts run by the National Audubon Society, and counts from two key fall migration watch sites, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Cape May Hawkwatch. We found that populations of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in North America are generally still declining, albeit with some caveats. Some populations are actually increasing, while others are remaining stable. Overall, the magnitude of annual change appears to be decreasing slightly during recent years. To understand potential causes of the decline, we recommend the following courses of action …
Positive And Relaxed Selective Pressures Have Both Strongly Influenced The Evolution Of Cryonotothenioid Fishes During Their Radiation In The Freezing Southern Ocean, Kevin T. Bilyk, Xuan Zhuang, Chiara Papetti
Positive And Relaxed Selective Pressures Have Both Strongly Influenced The Evolution Of Cryonotothenioid Fishes During Their Radiation In The Freezing Southern Ocean, Kevin T. Bilyk, Xuan Zhuang, Chiara Papetti
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Evolution in the chronic cold of the Southern Ocean has had a profound influence on the physiology of cryonotothenioid fishes. However, the suite of genetic changes underlying the physiological gains and losses in these fishes is still poorly surveyed. By identifying the genomic signatures of selection, this study aims to identify the functional classes of genes that have been changed following two major physiological transitions: the onset of freezing temperatures and the loss of hemoproteins. Looking at the changes that followed the onset of freezing temperatures, positive selective pressure was found among a set of broadly acting gene regulatory factors, …
Genomics Of Secondarily Temperate Adaptation In The Only Non-Antarctic Icefish, Angel G. Rivera-Colón, Niraj Rayamajhi, Bushra Fazal Minhas, Giovanni Madrigal, Kevin T. Bilyk, Veronica Yoon, Mathias Hüne, Susan Gregory, C. H.Christina Cheng, Julian M. Catchen
Genomics Of Secondarily Temperate Adaptation In The Only Non-Antarctic Icefish, Angel G. Rivera-Colón, Niraj Rayamajhi, Bushra Fazal Minhas, Giovanni Madrigal, Kevin T. Bilyk, Veronica Yoon, Mathias Hüne, Susan Gregory, C. H.Christina Cheng, Julian M. Catchen
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
White-blooded Antarctic icefishes, a family within the adaptive radiation of Antarctic notothenioid fishes, are an example of extreme biological specialization to both the chronic cold of the Southern Ocean and life without hemoglobin. As a result, icefishes display derived physiology that limits them to the cold and highly oxygenated Antarctic waters. Against these constraints, remarkably one species, the pike icefish Champsocephalus esox, successfully colonized temperate South American waters. To study the genetic mechanisms underlying secondarily temperate adaptation in icefishes, we generated chromosome-level genome assemblies of both C. esox and its Antarctic sister species, Champsocephalus gunnari. The C. esox genome is …
Understanding The Factors Affecting The Quantity And Composition Of Street Litter: Implication For Management Practices, Alessandra Rossi, Meiyin Wu, Bernabas T. Wolde, Kevin W. Zerbe, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Ariane Giudicelli, Rosana Da Silva
Understanding The Factors Affecting The Quantity And Composition Of Street Litter: Implication For Management Practices, Alessandra Rossi, Meiyin Wu, Bernabas T. Wolde, Kevin W. Zerbe, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Ariane Giudicelli, Rosana Da Silva
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Some urban areas have more litter than others. Understanding the reason for this is important not only for dealing with urban littering but also for marine water quality because approximately 80% of the world's marine litter originates on land. This study aimed to better understand the quality and quantity of litter on sidewalks along with the sampling site's socio-economic attributes to better discern why some areas have more/different litter than others and what, if any, are the implications for a more tailored waste management strategy. We surveyed twice each of the 35 sites we selected from the Lower Passaic River …
Predicting Fecal Indicator Bacteria Using Spatial Stream Network Models In A Mixed-Land-Use Suburban Watershed In New Jersey, Usa, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Danlin Yu, Meiyin Wu
Predicting Fecal Indicator Bacteria Using Spatial Stream Network Models In A Mixed-Land-Use Suburban Watershed In New Jersey, Usa, Tsung Ta David Hsu, Danlin Yu, Meiyin Wu
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Good water quality safeguards public health and provides economic benefits through recreational opportunities for people in urban and suburban environments. However, expanding impervious areas and poorly managed sanitary infrastructures result in elevated concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria and waterborne pathogens in adjacent waterways and increased waterborne illness risk. Watershed characteristics, such as urban land, are often associated with impaired microbial water quality. Within the proximity of the New York–New Jersey–Pennsylvania metropolitan area, the Musconetcong River has been listed in the Clean Water Act’s 303 (d) List of Water Quality-Limited Waters due to high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). In …