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Articles 1 - 12 of 12
Full-Text Articles in Biology
The Effects Of A Reservoir On Genetic Isolation In Two Species Of Darters, Kerstin Lindsay Edberg
The Effects Of A Reservoir On Genetic Isolation In Two Species Of Darters, Kerstin Lindsay Edberg
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The addition of dams into a riverine system causes a wide range of changes (i.e., sedimentation, erosion, thermal) to the river as well as to the fish assemblages of that river. Although there have been many studies documenting the changes that occur to the fish assemblages in the impounded river, there have been fewer studies examining the effects of a reservoir on the fish inhabiting the tributaries upstream of the impoundment. One possible impact of a reservoir could be to act as a barrier to fish migration between streams.
To determine if reservoirs restrict migration, the genetic diversity of two …
The Development And Role Of Peripheral Auditory Structures In Otocinclus Affinis, Sri Kiran Kumar Reddy Botta
The Development And Role Of Peripheral Auditory Structures In Otocinclus Affinis, Sri Kiran Kumar Reddy Botta
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Loricariidae is a very diverse family of catfishes found primarily in the Amazon River basin. These catfishes have a unique characteristic feature of having fenestrae (holes) in the skull region (compound pterotic bone) adjacent to their bi-lobed swim bladder. Since the swim bladders and the compound pterotic may act as an external ear for hearing in this taxon, I hypothesized that these swim bladders structures have an acoustical functional in the loricariid Otocinclus affinis. In order to understand the development of these structures in O. affinis, I first monitored the ontogeny of the compound pterotic bone by clearing …
Assessment Of The Endangered Species Podarcis Carbonelli On A Microgeographic Scale: A Molecular, Morphological And Physiological Approach, Maria Clara Figueirinhas Do Amaral
Assessment Of The Endangered Species Podarcis Carbonelli On A Microgeographic Scale: A Molecular, Morphological And Physiological Approach, Maria Clara Figueirinhas Do Amaral
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The lizard Podarcis carbonelli is an endangered species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. One location where this species occurs is at the Berlengas Natural Preserve, an Atlantic archipelago off the coast of Portugal. These island populations are geographically separated from nearby mainland populations. The fundamental question is, are these insular individuals distinct from the mainland populations? Four localities were chose for comparison: two island populations and two nearby coastal populations. We assessed this question using three distinct approaches: molecular, morphological and physiological approach. We sequenced the 12S RNA, the mtDNA Control Region and the 7th intron of the !-fibrinogen gene …
Adding Upstream Sequence And A Downstream Reporter To The Bile Acid Inducible Promoter Of Clostridium Scindens Vpi 12708, Bryan Patrick Mason
Adding Upstream Sequence And A Downstream Reporter To The Bile Acid Inducible Promoter Of Clostridium Scindens Vpi 12708, Bryan Patrick Mason
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Bile acids in the small intestines of animals serve to breakdown fats and fatsoluble vitamins. Most of the bile acids are reabsorbed into the enterohepatic circulation, but approximately five percent of these bile acids pass into the large intestine. These bile acids are swiftly deconjugated by the bacterial population, and then subjected to further intestinal bacterial chemical modifications. The most significant of these modifications are 7α-dehydroxylations which form secondary bile acids (deoxycholate and lithocholate). Much research has illuminated the 7α-dehydroxylation pathway: of particular interest is the bile acid inducible operon, for which Clostridium scindens VPI 12708 serves as the model …
Ecological Impact Of Epigeal Termitaria On Vertebrates In The Tsavo Region Of Southeast Kenya, Margaret M. Mahan
Ecological Impact Of Epigeal Termitaria On Vertebrates In The Tsavo Region Of Southeast Kenya, Margaret M. Mahan
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Termites ecologically engineer their environment by producing termitaria (mounds) used by many other species as dens, lookouts or food sources. The role of termite mounds in biological communities is relatively unknown, despite their ubiquitous nature. I investigated their impact on vertebrates in the Tsavo region of Kenya. Through the characterization of mounds, trapping, direct observation, and collecting microclimate data, I was able to determine the importance of mounds to vertebrates. I found uniform dispersion of mounds, that soil type is correlated with the size of mounds, and that vertebrate activity increases with mound size. I also found no significant differences …
Assessing Organic Matter Breakdown And Associated Macroinvertebrate Community Structure In Headwater Streams: Effects Of Hydrologic Gradients And Upland Timber Harvesting, Miller Scott Jarrell
Assessing Organic Matter Breakdown And Associated Macroinvertebrate Community Structure In Headwater Streams: Effects Of Hydrologic Gradients And Upland Timber Harvesting, Miller Scott Jarrell
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
I examined the effects of hydrologic gradients and upland timber harvesting with different streamside management zone widths on yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) processing and the associated macroinvertebrate community structure in the Cumberland Plateau ecophysic region, U.S.A. Prior to upland timber harvesting, 5.0 ± 0.1 g yellow-poplar leaf packs were constructed, zip-tied to gutter nails, and placed into 7 perennial and 6 temporary stream reaches with similar physiochemical and geomorphic characteristics. From December 2007 to May 2008, 3–5 leaf packs were collected per reach monthly. I found significant differences in the functional feeding group composition. Temporary reaches contained higher shredder, gathering-collector, predator, …
The Effect Of Breeding Herd Parity Structure On Genetic Improvement Of The Sow Herd, Caitlyn E. Abell
The Effect Of Breeding Herd Parity Structure On Genetic Improvement Of The Sow Herd, Caitlyn E. Abell
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
This study focuses on the value of the genetic lag associated with maintaining sows for additional parities in a commercial swine herd. Three traits were included in this study: number born alive (NBA), 21 day litter weight (W21), and days to market (D250). The economic values assigned to these traits were $22.00/pig, $0.70/lb., and $0.17/day, respectively. The genetic improvement per generation made for each trait was assumed to be 0.3 pigs, 3.0 lbs., and 3.0 days, respectively. It was estimated that the value of the genetic lag associated with retaining a sow to P3, P5, and P7 was $24.80, $46.89, …
A Comparative Ecological Study Of Two Sister Species Of Darters In Kentucky, Etheostoma Kantuckeense And Etheostoma Lawrencei, Bjorn Victor Schmidt
A Comparative Ecological Study Of Two Sister Species Of Darters In Kentucky, Etheostoma Kantuckeense And Etheostoma Lawrencei, Bjorn Victor Schmidt
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
Etheostoma kantuckeense and E. lawrencei are former members of the wide ranging E. spectabile species complex. Etheostoma kantuckeense is endemic to the Barren River Basin in Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee, while E. lawrencei occurs in the Green River, Salt River, and Cumberland River Basins of Central and Eastern Kentucky. Isolation of populations within these drainages has allowed for a relatively recent evolutionary divergence, leading to slight differences in morphology. This study was conducted to address if geographical isolation has led to measurable differences in the ecology of these two species. In particular, habitat preference across three spatial scales and …
Prospecting For Mammalian Chemical Signals Via Solventless Extraction Techniques: An Elephantine Task, Thomas Goodwin, Bruce A. Schulte
Prospecting For Mammalian Chemical Signals Via Solventless Extraction Techniques: An Elephantine Task, Thomas Goodwin, Bruce A. Schulte
Biology Faculty Publications
In contrast to a plethora of known insect pheromones, a paucity of mammalian pheromones has been identified, two of which have been in elephants (Albone, 1984; Brown and Macdonald, 1985; Wyatt, 2003; Burger, 2005). Elephants possess one of the world’s best chemosensory systems, due in no small measure to their prehensile trunk. The trunk is not only the gateway to smelling (primary olfaction), but also the means by which chemical signals are conveyed from their source to the openings of the vomeronasal organ ducts in the roof of the mouth (the flehmen response; secondary olfaction) (Rasmussen, 1999). The late L. …
Investigation Of A Fresh African Elephant Carcass By Conspecifics, Christen Merte, Katie Gough, Bruce A. Schulte
Investigation Of A Fresh African Elephant Carcass By Conspecifics, Christen Merte, Katie Gough, Bruce A. Schulte
Biology Faculty Publications
This examination of elephant bones and ivory indicates that elephants show an elevated level of interest in conspecifics over other dead animals. Elephants do not seem to express special interest in dead kin but rather they appear to have a generalized response to injured, dying and deceased conspecifics (Douglas Hamilton et al. 2006, McComb et al. 2006). The present study reports the behaviour of a group of elephants in response to a euthanized adult male elephant that suffered severe wounds inflicted by a conspecific male. Most of the observations from previous studies have been on females and female group members. …
The Influence Of Spatial Scale On Landcover And Avian Community Relationships Within The Upper Green River Watershed, Ky, Cabrina L. Hamilton
The Influence Of Spatial Scale On Landcover And Avian Community Relationships Within The Upper Green River Watershed, Ky, Cabrina L. Hamilton
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
Landscape ecology studies are needed to aid land managers and conservationists in developing management plans that will effectively improve avian population trends. This study uses riparian avian point count survey data and landcover data to examine the possible relationships between riparian avian communities and landcover within the Upper Green River watershed. How avian-landcover relationships change with increasing spatial scale is also examined. Results showed unexpected avian-landcover relationships for specific species. A landcover gradient from open and successional habitat to closed, forest habitat was most prevalent in the study area and explained most of the variation within the avian datasets. Riparian …
Effects Of Drought The Lipid Content In Fundulus Catenatus, Angelena Edwards
Effects Of Drought The Lipid Content In Fundulus Catenatus, Angelena Edwards
Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects
During severe drought, small streams often dry to small isolated pools with subsequent high densities of fishes. Under such conditions, fish may be stressed by high temperatures, low food availability, and lack of refugia from predators. I was interested in whether fish restricted to isolated pools burn more calories than they take in, resulting in a loss of storage lipids (high energy molecules) in their bodies. During the 2007 drought, I collected Fundulus catenatus (northern studfish) from small stream communities in the Drake’s Creek watershed in south central Kentucky. I examined storage lipid content by processing each fish through a …