Biology Commons^™

Studies On Some Bacteriolytic Bacteria Isolated From An Oxidation Pond, Paul Christian Radich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During bacteriological studies of the Logan City Sewage Oxidation Ponds, Logan, Utah, a group of bacteria was discovered which could lyse killed cells of Escherichia coli. The present research effort was an attempt to determine whether two isolates from this earlier study might play a role in the reduction of coliforms and other bacteria in the oxidation ponds. It was also desired to characterize partially the lytic enzymes produced by the two isolates and to determine as far as possible the organisms' identity.

Both isolates were Gram negative rod-shaped organisms with a single polar flagellum. On Cytophaga agar they …

Biology Of Mimulus Guttatus In Thermal Areas In Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Barbara Rice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mimulus guttatus populations in Yellowstone Park were studied in relation to their thermal habitat. Thermal areas have an extra-solar heat source, and are not snow covered in winter. Snow depth on adjacent non thermal soils may exceed 1 meter. The hypothesis that these populations have formed a distinct high temperature tolerant race was tested.

Thermal populations form two categories, based on habitat type: plants on sinter and plants in boggy areas. Plants growing on sinter are dwarfed, with an average height of 5.6 ±. 2.2 cm. They are facultative annuals which germinate in the fall, overwinter as rosettes, and flower …

Incorporation Of Protoporphyrin Ix Into Chlorophyll A And Purification And Properties Of (-) S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine-Magnesium Protoporphyrin Ix Methyltransferase, Jii Shieh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experiments on the incorporation of ¹⁴C-protoporphyrin IX into chlorophyll indicate that ferrous iron may be involved in reactions between protoporphyrin IX and chlorophyll. Experiments using both health and chlorotic tobacco tissue for incorporation studies show that incorporation of protoporphyrin IX into chlorophyll was activated by Fe²⁺.

S-adenosylmethionine-magnesium protoporphyrin IX methyltransferase (E.C.2.1.1.11) which catalyzes the reaction between S-adenosylmethionine and Mg protoporphyrin IX to form S-adenosylhomocysteine and Mg protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester was demonstrated in barley seedlings. Methyltransferase was found principally in whole chloroplasts and fractions containing mitochondria were disintegrated chloroplasts. Use of detergent Tween 80, precipitation with protamine …

The Effects Of Age And Induction On Cockroach Mixed Function Oxidase Activity And Cell Morphology, Richard L. Turnquist

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Female American cockroaches showed definite age-dependent changes in levels of activity of the microsomal mixed function oxidase chain. Cytochrome P-450 levels, EPN-detoxication, and p-nitroanisole O-demethylation activities were very low in young adult insects but increased steadily reaching a peak at about 100 days in fat body and at about 90 days in midgut and hindgut. The activities then declined rapidly reaching levels of young insects at about 130 to 140 days of age. NADPH-NT-reductase activity was high in young insects and declined during the first few weeks of adult life. This activity too showed a peak at about …

Radioimmuno Detection Of Virus, John Carlos Perez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The commonly used techniques for viral detection are tedious, time consuming and in many cases inadequate. As a consequence, a rapid, sensitive radioimmunoassay has been developed for detecting viruses. Reovirus is reacted with homologous ¹²⁵I labeled antibody after which the antigen-antibody complexes are separated from unreacted labeled antibody by density gradient ultracentrifugation. After centrifugation, the density gradient is fractionated and the radioactivity counted in a liquid scintillation spectrometer.

The amount of activity in the lower fractions of the density gradient is directly proportional to the virus concentration. The radioimmunoassay developed has several advantages over other viral assay procedures; the …

A Cytological, Morphological, And Anatomical Study Of Elymus Simplex, Stephan L. Hatch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the taxonomy, report the chromosome number, report meiotic chromosome behavior, and give the anatomy of Elymus simplex Scribner and Williams. The isotype of Elymus simplex and the type description were used to compare this and other species that have been confused.

Cytological and anatomical methods are reported as an aid in clarification of the taxonomic problem that has been associated with this species.

Inorganic Mercury Uptake And Mercury Tolerance Demonstrated By Several Species Of Algae, Daniel S. Filip

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The inhibition by low concentrations of inorganic mercury has been established for several species of freshwater algae, and a method has been developed to determine mercury levels in algal cells, having good precision at levels as low as one hundred parts per billion.

Rapid sorption of inorganic mercury by glassware was minimized by using heavy algal cultures and short term incubations. The rates and extent of mercury uptake by three species of freshwater green algae were delineated under laboratory conditions. Replicate mercury containing cultures yielded slightly different mercury concentrations upon analysis due to analytical errors and glass sorption. Therefore, percent …

Host-Parasite Relationship Studies Of The Larval Alfalfa Weevil And The Ichneumonid Parasite Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson), Yeboa A. Duodu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The parasitic effects of the ichneumonid Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) on the larval alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), were studied.

Results of experiments on the rates of parasitism of the four host larval instars indicated that the first three are either preferred by the parasite over the fourth instar larvae or are more susceptible to the parasite's attack. Survival of the younger weevil larvae after their exposure to female parasites was markedly poorer than that of unparasitized larvae. Premature death of host larvae was probably from both the puncturing by the parasite's ovipositor and the feeding and other activities of parasite …

An Analysis Of Flock Organization In Black-Capped Chickadees, John Ivan Mosher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An analysis was made of individual behavior and flock organization among 33 color-banded Black-capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus) on a woodland tract in wester New York State, from December 1967 to June 1970. Also, three of these flocks were confined at various periods for an average aviary tenure of 26 days. From these observations I concluded that the hierarchy and interindividual relationship of a flock remain as observed in the field; testosterone propionate causes an increase in injected subordinate bird's activity; but did not effect a change in its rank.

From the observations in the aviary, it was found …

Nitrification Potential In Arid Western Soils, Hasumati R. Patel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nitrification rates were determined by perfusion method in Southern Curlew Valley (Utah) soils from 0 to 1.3 meter profiles as a function of seasons. Ammonification rates were determined at various moisture contents and seasonal variations of ammonium concentration in the same soils were estimated.

Rate of nitrification was higher in warm showery periods (May and June) than in colder periods (September, October and November). In the top 3 cm layer, nitrifying activity was several fold higher than in the rest of the profile. Cultivation increased the nitrification rate.

Considerable ammonium fixation by soil particles, volatilazation of ammonia and nitrite accumulation …

Low Temperature Germination Of Tomato Seeds, Dawn M. Gatherum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the pattern of inheritance of low temperature germination of tomato. This was accomplished by crossing a tomato (P.I. 341988) that germinates at a low temperature (10 C) with a commercial mechanical harvest cultivar (VF 145-B-7879). The parents, F₁, F_2, and F₃ progenies were tested for low temperature germination responses at 10 C for 15 days. The results show that a single recessive gene is responsible for the low temperature germination character.

Also, a study of the seed coat thickness of the tomatoes VF 145-B-7879 and P.I. 341988 was …

Effects Of Several Solutes And Water Stress On Succinic Dehydrogenase Activity, Rex Alton Richards

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The influence of the concentration of several solutes on the activity of succinic dehydrogenases from acetone powders of several species was studied spectrophotometrically. The plants used were: Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, L.) sugarbeet (Beta vugaris, L.) sunflower (Helianthus annus, L.), Halogeton glomeratus (M. Bieb) C.A. Mey., and Samphire (Salicornia rubra, A. Nels.). Sodium chloride, potassium chloride, mannitol, sucrose, glycerol, glucose, and Hoagland's solution, at increasing concentrations, were used.

Decreased (more negative) osmotic potential produced by sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and Hoagland's solution resulted in a slight increase in enzyme activity at low …

Investigation Of Urolithiasis Occurring In Hatchery-Reared Trout In Utah, Ernest H. Dean Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The urolithiasis condition investigated occurred at a "hard water" hatchery in Utah after the trout were changed from a meat diet to a commercial pelleted fish feed as a sole sustaining diet in 1961. Numerous diet modifications proved unsuccessful in preventing urolithiasis at the hatchery. It was eventually determined that different commercial diets resulted in varied percentages of trout developing urolithiasis. The urolithic deposits found in the kidney tubules were amorphous and composed of calcium phosphate (apatite) and an organic matrix. Bacterial contamination of the kidneys was not an important factor in the formation of urolithiasis. Rainbow trout containing urolithic …

An Electrophysiological Study Of The Oral Plate Sensory Organs Of The Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.), Rodney R. Seeley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The oral plate sense organs of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., have been investigated employing an electrophysiological technique which allows simultaneous stimulation and recording.

The results of the study present evidence that the four bipolar sense cells innervating the sensory papillae on the oral surface of the hypopharynx are chemoreceptors. The sensory papillae respond to cations, glucose, water, and amino acids. Evidence for the absence of a mechanosensory cell is presented. The data concerning the sensory structures agree with the current theories of chemoreception.

Effects Of Dmso And Propham On Mitosis In Root Tips Of Secale Cereale, Max Rosequist

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and propham (isopropyl carbanilate) were investigated to determine their effect singly and in combination on mitoses in rye (Secale cereale) root tip cells. Root tips were prepared for observation by the paraffin and aceto-carmine squash methods. Results showed DMSO caused the following abnormalities: arrested metaphases, multipolar spindles, multinucleate cells, stickiness, shortened chromosomes, and mitotic inhibition. Cells from propham treated root tips exhibited the same abnormalities as those treated with DMSO. In addition, propham treatments resulted in polyploid cells and chromosome granulation. In combination, DMSO and propham caused all the abnormalities mentioned above except polyploidy. In …

Isolation And Characterization Of Autosomal Male Sterile Mutants In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lynn J. Romrell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In order to study the genetic control of spermiogenesis, recessive, male-sterile, autosomal mutants of Drosophila melanogaster were induced with ethyl methanesulfonate. A total of 31 mutants were recovered, 15 of which were located on the second chromosome and 16 on the third chromosome. Eight second- and 6 third-chromosome mutants demonstrating sterility in all homozygous males were used for further analysis.

Complementation tests showed that 2 of the 8 second chromosome mutants (and none of the 6 third chromosome mutants) were noncomplementing, indicating that two of the mutants produced were alleles of the same locus. Mapping of the second chromosome mutants …

Ribose 5'-Phosphate Aminotransferase Of Salmonella Typhimurium, Gulamnabi Y. Vahora

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ribose-5 '-phosphate aminotransferase, an alternate first enzyme in the purine de novo pathway, has been purified about 800-fold from Salmonella typhimurium (pur D-55 ). The enzyme is distinct from ribosylpyrophosphate-5'-phosphate amidotransferase (E C 2.4.2.14), has an approximate molecular weight of 229,000, and requires ribose-5'-phosphate, ATP and either ammonium ion, carbamyl phosphate or L-glutamine, to synthesize 5'-phosphoribosylamine (PRA). A coupled assay system, employing a S. typhimurium (pur G-310) extract as the coupling-agent source, was used to measure the enzyme. PRA production in this system was inhibited by higher ribose-5' -phosphate concentrations and longer (over 10 minutes) incubation periods. It …

The Suitability Of Newton Reservoir To Be Either A Coldwater Or A Warmwater Fishery, Jeffrey H. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Measurements were made of the water chemistry the distribution and relative abundance of net-plankton, and the reproduction, age and growth, and food habits of largemouth bass in Newton Reservoir, Newton, Utah.

Samples for chemical analysis were collected weekly from three sites and from several depths at each site. Plankton collections were made on a monthly basis. Data were compared with data in the literature and analyzed for possible ecological implications.

Physical and chemical investigations of the water indicated favorable conditions for a warmwater fishery.

The study of the surface net-plankton revealed a predominance of blue-green algae.

The substratum of the …

Effects Of Sublethal, Cerebral X-Irradiation On Movement And Home-Range Patterns Of Black-Tailed Jackrabbits, Lewis Nelson Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Effects of sublethal, cerebral irradiation on movement and home-range patterns of black-tailed jackrabbits were studied in Curlew Valley, Utah, using radio-telemetry. Irradiation of 70 captive animals indicated that the LD₅₀₍₃₀₎ was between 5,556 and 6,200 roentgens.

Nine wild, free-living experimentals were trapped in desert terrain, irradiated, transmittered, and released at the capture sites. Seven wild controls were treated similarly but were not irradiated. The field-irradiation dosage was 5,000 roentgens.

Tracking accuracy was determined by telemetering transmitters at fixed locations. Mean hourly movement was measured within 20-30 percent error and home ranges were measured with an error of less than …

The Development Of The Endogenous Stages Of Eimeria Ninakohlyakimovae (Yakimoff And Rastegaieff, 1930) In Domestic Sheep, Richard S. Wacha

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Forty-five mixed breed lambs, 1 to 4 months of age, were used to study the patent period and endogenous stages in the life cycle of Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae. The lambs were inoculated with oocysts of this species and killed at daily intervals from 1 through 14 days after inoculation. From all lambs of the study sections of intestinal tissue were prepared by routine methods for histological examination.

E. ninakohlyakimovaewas observed to have 2 generations of schizonts in its endogenous development. Mature, first-generation schizonts had an average diameter of about 290 μ and had many thousands of merozoites, averaging 11.9 …

Growth Of Eimeria Alabamensis From Cattle In Vitro And The Changes In Fine Structure Associated With Schizogony, J. Robert Sampson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Monolayer primary cultures of cells from bovine embryonic intestine (BEint), kidney (BEK), spleen (BES), and thyroid (BET) and cell line cultures of embryonic bovine trachea ( EBTr) and synovium (BESy)as well as established cell line cultures of Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), human intestine (Int 407), and Syrian hamster kidney (BHK-21) were inoculated with freshly excysted sporozoites of Eimeria alabamensis and observed for 4 days. Sporozoites penetrated all cell types during the first 24 hours in culture. Numerous intracellular sporozoites, trophozoites, and binucleate schizonts were seen in all cell cultures except Int 407. The best development occurred in BES and MDBK …

Drift Of Oligophlebodes Sigma And Baetis Bicaudatus In A Mountain Stream, William Dean Pearson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to clarify the relationships between drift rates, population density, production rates, key environmental factors, and movements of adults within two populations of stream insects (a caddisfly--Oligophlebodes sigma and a mayfly--Baetis bicaudatus).

Samples of benthic invertebrates (424 total) were collected every 28 days at four stations on Temple Fork of the Logan River, Utah, from October, 1967 to September, 1969. Samples of drift invertebrates (181 total) were collected every 14 days at three stations on Temple Fork during the same period. During summer months (June-September) a day and a night drift sample …

Effects Of Starvation And Time At Stocking On Survival Of Stocked Rainbow Trout, Salmo Gairdneri, Marlin John Bricker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Investigations of effects of starvation and time at stocking on the survival of catchable rainbow trout in two areas of Mammoth Creek in Dixie National Forest, Utah, were conducted from May 24 to December 6, 1969. Fish were starved for 6 days and 1 day and stocked in the morning (5:40-7:00 a.m.) and in the afternoon (1:45-5:30 p.m.). Out of 7,000 tagged fish stocked, 4,751 tags were returned by fishermen. The 6-day starved fish, stocked in the morning returned to the creel in highest numbers (1,240); followed by 1-day starved, afternoon-stocked fish (1,194); 6-day starved, afternoon-stocked fish (1,163); and 1-day …

Factors Affecting Mourning Dove Use Of Water In Artificial Catchment Basins In A Dryland Farming Area Of Utah, Norman A. Slade

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mourning dove population of the Howell-Blue Creek Watershed in northern Utah was studied by Norman Slade in an effort to determine why many more doves frequented certain of the 20 fiberglass catchment basins installed in the area.

More doves used basins on the west side of the valley, probably as a result of temperature differences. More doves used those basins surrounded by more land in summer fallow and with fewer basins nearby. Areas in sagebrush were used for nesting.

The number of doves drinking in a particular hour was affected by the presence of predators or antagonists but not …

Waterfowl Production On A Spring-Fed Salt Marsh In Utah, Donald E. Mcknight

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Results of past studies on the spring-fed salt marshes of Utah indicated that waterfowl production on these areas was much lower than on Utah's river-fed marshes. Waterfowl production on the newly-established Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, a spring-fed marsh, increased considerably, however, after its waters were impounded. It was believed that by determining what caused this increased production at Fish Springs it would be possible to obtain greater waterfowl production at other spring-fed marshes. Consequently waterfowl populations and factors affecting waterfowl production on this marsh were studied during the summers of 1966, 1967, and 1968.

Populations of breeding ducks averaged …

The Social Organization Of Wild Turkeys On The Welder Wildlife Refuge, Texas, Charles Robert Watts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study is of the social organization of the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia Sennett) on the Welder Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas.

The earliest turkey nests hatched in April, with the peak of hatching a month or more later. These poults may remain with their mother until winter. This brood flock, however, often combined with other brood flocks to form composite brood flocks when the poults were a few weeks old. Hens not successful in rearing young combined into broodless flocks.

The juvenile males left the brood flocks in late fall or winter. They remained a distinct unit, …

Systemic Studies Of The Genus Gila (Cyprinidae) Of The Colorado River Basin, Paul Bernard Holden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three Hundred and nine specimens of Gila from the Colorado River basin were studied. A form of numerical taxonomy, taximetrics, was used to help classify the specimens. The data from these fish indicate that many of the present hypotheses concerning their taxonomy are not valid. The concept of ecosubspecies or ecological subspecies does not fit the Colorado basin Gila. The roundtail and bonytail chubs, G. robusta Baird and Girard and G. elegans Baird and Girard respectively, currently treated as subspecies, are well separated morphologically, ecologically and reproductively and therefore are better considered two valid species. The relationship between G. …

The Ecology Of The Black-Bellied Tree Duck In Southern Texas, Eric George Bolen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The black-bellied tree duck (Dendracygna autumnalis) is one of eight tree ducks (whistling ducks) in the genus Dendracygna. This group shares enough characteristics--reticulated tarsus and symmetrical syrinx structure, among others--with the swans and geese to warrant a common subfamily, Anserinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. DeIacour and Mayr (1945) make a tribal distinction, however, between the tree ducks (Dendracygnini) and the swans and geese (Anserini) based, in part, an differences in size, vertebrae number, and downy plumage. These same authors remark that the tree ducks are the least known of the waterfowl largely because there are no …

Factors Influencing Population Growth Of Tribolium Brevicornis In The Laboratory, Amin Gulla

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To determine the effect of the factors of the environment (temperature, relative humidity, and food) on the population growth of Tribolium brevicornis, different levels of temperatures from 17.5°C - 37.5°C were used. Effect of these IeveIs of temperatures was tested upon both pre-embryonic and post-embryonic development. No hatching occurred at 17.5°C, but the threshold temperature (the minimum temperature for the development) was just before 17.5°C. The optimum temperature for the embryonic development was found to be between 32.5°C - 35°C.

With the use of the saturated salt solution according to Buxton (1931) and Buxton and Melanby (1934), certain humidity …

An Examination Of A Putative System For The In Vitro Synthesis Of Drosophila Tryptophan Pyrrolase, John P. Phillips

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A system, reported by Morrison (1964), for the in vitro synthesis of Drosophila tryptophan pyrrolase has been critically studied. This putative system is based on the addition of a Drosophila "RNA" extract to a Drosophila cell-free protein synthesizing system; the synthesized enzyme is then allowed to catalyze a specific reaction, the product of which is measured by direct adsorption.

The results of this study present a three-fold argument against the interpretation of synthesis of tryptophan pyrrolase in the Morrison in vitro system: (1) RNA from a null-allele, v^36f, stimulated the same tryptophan pyrrolase "activity" in the in vitro …