Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
- Institution
- Keyword
-
- Kansas (3)
- Burrowing owl (2)
- Agriculture (1)
- Alpha Satellite DNA (1)
- Ampicillin (1)
-
- Andropogon Gerardii (1)
- Big bluestem (1)
- Biodiversity (1)
- Biological control (1)
- Black-tailed prairie dog (1)
- Burning (1)
- California (1)
- Cambaridae (1)
- Cambarus (1)
- Cedar bluff reservoir (1)
- Charismatic species (1)
- Climate change (1)
- Complementarity (1)
- Conservation (1)
- Crayfish (1)
- Crotaphytus Collaris (1)
- Delta hydrobe (1)
- Density (1)
- Deomgraphics (1)
- Diet (1)
- Dissolved oxygen (1)
- Down Syndrome (1)
- Drought adaptation (1)
- Efflux (1)
- Endangered species (1)
Articles 1 - 18 of 18
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Fungal Biofilm Colonization And Succession On Artificial Reefs In The North-Central Gulf Of Mexico, Amy Leigh Salamone
Fungal Biofilm Colonization And Succession On Artificial Reefs In The North-Central Gulf Of Mexico, Amy Leigh Salamone
Master's Theses
This study represents the first characterization of natural mixed-species fungal biofilm communities on artificial reefs in the marine environment. Previous fungal biofilm studies have failed to observe the naturally-occurring biodiversity in coastal areas, which comprise the most utilized zone of the marine environment. Artificial reefs can increase fishing yields, amplify oyster habitats, contribute to shoreline stabilization, promote good water quality, and deter pollution. Proper management practices of artificial reefs require knowledge of the colonization of these new habitats by marine organisms and their subsequent succession. Fungi, along with bacteria, archaea, protists, algae, and diatoms, quickly form a complex biofilm on …
Burrowing Owl (Athene Cunicularia) Nesting Ecology In Western Kansas, Carol D. Grover-Mariner
Burrowing Owl (Athene Cunicularia) Nesting Ecology In Western Kansas, Carol D. Grover-Mariner
Master's Theses
The Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) is a common occupant of Smoky Valley Ranch located in Logan County, Kansas, where the abundance of black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) burrows provides ideal habitat for the Burrowing Owl. The objectives of the study were to 1) estimate the densities of black-tailed prairie dog colonies through visual counts, 2) estimate nesting success and nest survival probabilities of the Burrowing Owl with the use of a burrow camera, and 3) estimate post-fledging dispersal and return rate of juvenile Burrowing Owl the following season. I located 96 potential nests from 24 March through 2 July 2007 …
Immunostimulatory And Cellular Toxic Effects Of Single-Stranded Rna On Cancer Cells, Chengwen Teng
Immunostimulatory And Cellular Toxic Effects Of Single-Stranded Rna On Cancer Cells, Chengwen Teng
Master's Theses
Whether 5'-triphosphate-single-stranded-RNA (5 '-ppp-ssRNA) is immunostimulatory was controversial in the literature. In order to clarify the immunostimulatory effect of 5'-ppp-ssRNA, we synthesized ssRNAs and tested the IFNp (interferon-beta) level and cellular toxicity of ssRNAs in SKOV3 cells. In this work, we confirmed that 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) was immunostimulatory and toxic in SKOV3 cells. 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) led to IFN-P induction and apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. Longer 5' ppp- ssRNA tended to have a higher immunostimulatory effect and cellular toxicity than shorter 5'-ppp-ssRNA. 5'-ppp-ssRNA was more immunostimulatory and toxic than 5'- 0H-ssRNA. If the incubation time of ssRNAs increased, the toxicity …
Effects Of Hurricane Disturbance On The Stopover Ecology Of Intercontinental Landbird Migrants In Coastal Louisiana, Emily Johanna Lain
Effects Of Hurricane Disturbance On The Stopover Ecology Of Intercontinental Landbird Migrants In Coastal Louisiana, Emily Johanna Lain
Master's Theses
Few studies have considered the impact of weather events on migratory birds during stopover, and essentially none on how hurricanes affect their stopover biology during spring passage. About two thirds of eastern North American forest breeding bird species migrate twice annually between temperate breeding areas and subtropical and tropical wintering grounds, and movement in relation to the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is a conspicuous and important part of that migration system. During inclement weather or winds inconsistent with travel direction, migratory birds oft.en/a/lout and concentrate by the thousands in forest patches that occur along the northern coast of the GOM. …
Distributional Survey And Habitat Associations Of Crayfishes In Three River Basins In Kansas, Ryan Lee Pinkall
Distributional Survey And Habitat Associations Of Crayfishes In Three River Basins In Kansas, Ryan Lee Pinkall
Master's Theses
Kansas represents the western most edge of high crayfish diversity in North America. The most recent comprehensive survey of crayfishes in Kansas was conducted over 50 years ago and resulted in a list of seven species. Subsequently, three species were added sporadically. The most recent summary of crayfishes in Kansas included 10 species and suggested the highest diversity to be located in the northeastern portion of the state. I surveyed crayfishes in three river basins in Kansas during the summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011: Kansas-Lower Republican, Missouri, and Upper Republican. Sites were selected based on stream order and partitioned …
Continual Passage Of Staphylococcus Epidermidis In Subinhibitory Levels Of The Biocide Triclosan Results In A Marked Increase In The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Antibiotic Resistance, And Ethidium Bromide Resistance, William T. Moore
Master's Theses
Triclosan is a multi-purpose biocide that is used in many personal care products, including antibacterial hand soaps and toothpastes. The wide usage of triclosan fosters its dispersal into the enviro11l11ent, which might contribute to the ability of microorganisms to become resistant to triclosan in addition to certain other biocides and clinical antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether long-term exposure of two strains of Staphylococcal epide]'midis to subinhibitory concentrations of triclosan would select for resistant mutants, and whether their ability to form polysaccharide biofilms lends to this resistance. This study also aimed to determine whether a mutation …
Seasonal Food Habits Of Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia) In Human-Altered Landscapes, Carie Marie Wingert
Seasonal Food Habits Of Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia) In Human-Altered Landscapes, Carie Marie Wingert
Master's Theses
In 2004, I initiated a year-long study to investigate the food habits of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). Burrowing owls have been found in a variety of human-altered landscapes; however, little is known about burrowing owl food habits in urban landscapes. Burrowing owl food habits during the non-breeding season are also largely undocumented, despite increasing concern over the survival of overwintering burrowing owls. Differences in prey consumption between reproductive and non-reproductive owls during the breeding season have not yet been examined. I collected pellets over a 12 month period at four study sites affected by different levels of human …
Gas Exchange And Leaf Anatomy Of Andropogon Gerardii Ecotypes Over A Climatic Gradient Of The Great Plains, Jacob T. Olsen
Gas Exchange And Leaf Anatomy Of Andropogon Gerardii Ecotypes Over A Climatic Gradient Of The Great Plains, Jacob T. Olsen
Master's Theses
The phenotype of two Andropogon gerardii subspecies, big bluestem and sand bluestem, varies broadly throughout the Great Plains of North America, giving rise to ecotypes within the species. This study sought to discriminate between genetic and environmental variation of big bluestem and sand bluestem by examining gas exchange and leaf anatomy in common gardens across a climatic gradient of the Great Plains. Thirteen populations of big bluestem and one population of sand bluestem, constituting five ecotypes, were planted in community plots and a single plant plots in a common garden at each of four sites ranging from western Kansas to …
Survey Of The Freshwater Gastropods Of Southeastern Kansas With Emphasis On The Distribution And Habitat Use Of The Delta Hydrobe (Probythinella Emarginata), Bryan Sowards
Master's Theses
The status of many aquatic gastropods in North America is not well understood. Many are exposed to threats similar to those that affect bivalves and other aquatic macroinvertebrates. The delta hydrobe (Probythinella emarginata) is a gill-breathing (prosobranch) snail that occurs in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It is 1 of only 5 species of prosobranchs in Kansas and is highly sensitive to changes in water quality within watersheds. Probythinella emarginata is presumed to be a Pleistocene relic in the state; it was first collected alive in Kansas in 2001 within Cedar Creek, Chase County, Kansas. I surveyed 13 …
Sexual Selection Dynamics In A Smoky Hills Population Of Crotaphytus Collaris, Katherine Talbott
Sexual Selection Dynamics In A Smoky Hills Population Of Crotaphytus Collaris, Katherine Talbott
Master's Theses
Recent studies in behavioral ecology have suggested environmental pressures might influence sexual selection dynamics to the extent that sexually-selected signals reflect local adaptation. I experimentally tested this hypothesis by manipulating a potential male ornament and observing the sexual selection dynamics in a Smoky Hills population of eastern collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris). Sexual selection dynamics were investigated by characterizing habitat structure, describing individual lizard spatial distribution, and investigating morphological predictors of adult male territorial success. Habitat occupied by lizards had significantly different and higher percentages of rock cover, and significantly different and lower percentages of vegetation cover, than unoccupied habitat. No …
Spatial Conservation Prioritization Of Kansas For Terrestrial Vertebrates, Megan R. Rohweder
Spatial Conservation Prioritization Of Kansas For Terrestrial Vertebrates, Megan R. Rohweder
Master's Theses
Biological diversity is being threatened by the encroachment of humans, which limits the habitat available for conservation and strains resources allocated for conservation efforts. However conservation goals have to be achieved within these limitations. Conservation priorities can ensure that habitat and resources are used effectively and efficiently. I developed a conservation prioritization plan for the terrestrial vertebrates of Kansas. I used modeled distributions of every terrestrial vertebrate species found in Kansas to build three biodiversity indices; species richness, vulnerability, and endemicity. Kansas was divided into a grid of planning units, 34.5 km2. For each taxonomic group the planning units were …
Assessment Of Aging Structures And Recruitment Of Walleye Sander Vitreus In Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Weston L. Fleming
Assessment Of Aging Structures And Recruitment Of Walleye Sander Vitreus In Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Weston L. Fleming
Master's Theses
Most walleye Sander vitreus populations in Kansas are supplemented or sustained with stocking. In 2006, gamete collection for hatchery production was initiated at Cedar Bluff Reservoir because the walleye population has a high abundance of potential brood fish and has been sustained by natural reproduction since 2001. However, no quantitative index has been developed to assess walleye recruitment in this fishery. Accordingly, from July through November 2010, I evaluated catch-per-unit-effort (overnight sets) of age-0 walleye in 19 and 25-mm mesh gill nets biweekly and at random and standard sites. There was not a significant difference in catch-per-unit-effort between site types …
The Face Of Extinction: Are Charismatic Species More Vulnerable To Endangerment?, Andrée M. Brisson
The Face Of Extinction: Are Charismatic Species More Vulnerable To Endangerment?, Andrée M. Brisson
Master's Theses
Conservationists have suggested extinction is non-random; some species are more prone to extinction than others. Multiple traits (e.g., large bodied, long-lived, slow-reproducing, migratory, habitat and/or dietary specialists) have been cited as contributing to the endangerment of species. Due to global anthropogenic demand for wild species (e.g., sport, trade, fashion, medicine, religion, food), I propose charisma as an additional trait of endangerment. This predicts charismatic species are more often targets of direct exploitation than less charismatic species, and that global demand will continue to increase with world population and development. These species represent our most iconic and animated organisms. I quantified …
Influence Of Habitat Heterogeneity On Small Mammals In The Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska, Justin D. Anderson
Influence Of Habitat Heterogeneity On Small Mammals In The Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska, Justin D. Anderson
Master's Theses
Although the loss of prairie is substantial across the extent of its historic range, large portions of native rangeland still remain throughout Nebraska. It is critical that resource managers and private landowners manage rangelands in a manner that will enhance ecosystem integrity by using techniques that provide disturbance regimes. Heterogeneity based management, such as patch-burn grazing and rest-rotation grazing, can be used as a conservation tool to increase biodiversity within management units and at a landscape level. Heterogeneity-based management has received much attention in the literature within the past decade, but there has been little focus on how these management …
The Effect Of Climate Change On The Distributions Of Invasive Plants And Their Associated Biological Control Agents In North America, Caroline A. Curtis
The Effect Of Climate Change On The Distributions Of Invasive Plants And Their Associated Biological Control Agents In North America, Caroline A. Curtis
Master's Theses
Climate change has the potential to alter the size, shape, and location of species’ distributions. As a result, the interactions between species are also likely to be impacted as novel species encounter each other and historical community assemblages are broken apart. To quantify the impact of distributional changes as a result of climate change on interacting species, distribution maps were produced for three species of invasive plant and their associated biological control agent at three time periods: current, 2050, and 2080. For each of the future time periods, two distribution maps were created for each species, representing the minimum and …
Comparing The Demographics Of Two Steelhead Populations And Their Habitat Characteristics, Eileen Ann Baglivio
Comparing The Demographics Of Two Steelhead Populations And Their Habitat Characteristics, Eileen Ann Baglivio
Master's Theses
Currently, little is known about the demographics of the Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus, or steelhead trout, populations in San Luis Obispo County. Specifically, demographic information including length, age, and condition when first leaving a watershed for the open ocean is lacking. This thesis takes a closer look at a biological and environmental data collected by the California Department of Fish and Game Central Coast Steelhead and Coho Salmon project under the direction of Associate Biologist Jennifer Nelson. The main goal of this thesis is to analyze demographic and habitat data from the steelhead populations of two northern San Luis Obispo …
Organization And Composition Of The Α21-Ii Region Of Human Chromosome 21, William Ziccardi
Organization And Composition Of The Α21-Ii Region Of Human Chromosome 21, William Ziccardi
Master's Theses
The purpose of this project was to develop a better map of the alpha 21-II region of human chromosome 21 in regards to size and primary sequence of the five alphoid clusters that comprise the region and to explore the evolutionary relationships that exist within and between these clusters. Several HC21 BACs were identified as containing strong sequence identities to alpha 21-II clones and were mapped to various alpha 21-II clusters. It was revealed that both monomeric and HOR alphoid clusters can be found in the alpha 21-II region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed separate evolutionary histories for the monomeric and HOR …
Temporal Dynamics Of Galapagos Marine Iguna (Amblyhynchus Cristatus) Haulout, Brianna Gale Payne
Temporal Dynamics Of Galapagos Marine Iguna (Amblyhynchus Cristatus) Haulout, Brianna Gale Payne
Master's Theses
Galápagos marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) briefly forage in marine habitats but spend their remaining time hauled out on land. A wide range of diurnal activities, from social and thermoregulatory behaviors to sleep and food processing, occurs during haulout. To understand the dynamics of haulout and foraging in relation to environmental factors, I fit compartmental models derived from ordinary differential equations to field data collected daily from 30 April to 16 May 2011 at two sites—one Sandy and one Rocky—at Cabo Douglas, Isla Fernandina. The best model for haulout at the Sandy site accounts for 77–80% of observed variability and includes …