Biology Commons^™

Invertebrate & Leaf Litter Dynamics In The Depauw University Nature Park And Arboretum, Karl Koehler, Libby Sue Allard, Kyra Dawn Reed

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Our study focuses on the interaction between invertebrate abundance and the decomposition of leaf litter. The decomposition of leaf litter plays a major role in the nutrient cycling process, which is critical to the health of an ecosystem (Spurr and Barnes 1980). The dynamics between invertebrates and leaf litter are of particular importance because invertebrates are good indicators of the activity of the decomposer community. Abiotic factors such as soil pH and temperature are also important influences on decomposition rates (Bornebusch 1930; Petersen & Luxton 1982; Seastedt 1984). Our goal was to determine the nature of this interaction. Ultimately, this …

Rapid Senescence In Pacific Salmon, Yolanda E. Morbey, Chad Brassil, Andrew P. Hendry

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Any useful evolutionary theory of senescence must be able to explain variation within and among natural populations and species. This requires a careful characterization of age-specific mortality rates in nature as well as the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence these rates. We perform this task for two populations of semelparous Pacific salmon. During the breeding season, estimated daily mortality rates increased from 0 to 0.2–0.5 (depending on the year) over the course of several weeks. Early-arriving individuals had a later onset and/or a lower rate of senescence in each breeding season, consistent with adaptive expectations based on temporal variation …

The Role Of Cuticular Pheromones In Courtship Conditioning Of Drosophila Males, Kathleen King Siwicki, Paul Nicholas Riccio , '05, Lisa Ladewski , '02, F. Marcillac, L. Dartevelle, Stephanie Alexis Cross , '04, J.-F. Ferveur

Biology Faculty Works

Courtship conditioning is an associative learning paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster, wherein male courtship behavior is modified by experience with unreceptive, previously mated females. While the training experience with mated females involves multiple sensory and behavioral interactions, we hypothesized that female cuticular hydrocarbons function as a specific chemosensory conditioned stimulus in this learning paradigm. The effects of training with mated females were determined in courtship tests with either wild-type virgin females as courtship targets, or with target flies of different genotypes that express distinct Cuticular hydrocarbon (CH) profiles. Results of tests with female targets that lacked the normal CH profile, and …

Empirical Analysis Of The Str Profiles Resulting From Conceptual Mixtures, David R. Paoletti, Travis E. Doom, Carissa M. Krane, Michael L. Raymer, Dan E. Krane

Biology Faculty Publications

Samples containing DNA from two or more individuals can be difficult to interpret. Even ascertaining the number of contributors can be challenging and associated uncertainties can have dramatic effects on the interpretation of testing results. Using an FBI genotypes dataset, containing complete genotype information from the 13 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) loci for 959 individuals, all possible mixtures of three individuals were exhaustively and empirically computed. Allele sharing between pairs of individuals in the original dataset, a randomized dataset and datasets of generated cousins and siblings was evaluated as were the number of loci that were necessary to reliably …

Invertebrate And Leaf Litter Dynamics In The Depauw Nature Park, Karl Koehler, Vanessa Artman

Student Research

Our study focuses on the interaction between invertebrate abundance and the decomposition of leaf litter. The decomposition of leaf litter plays a major role in the nutrient cycling process, which is critical to the health of an ecosystem (Spurr and Barnes 1980). The dynamics between invertebrates and leaf litter are of particular importance because invertebrates are good indicators of the activity of the decomposer community. Abiotic factors such as soil pH and temperature are also important influences on decomposition rates (Petersen and Luxton 1982, Seastedt 1984). Our goal was to determine the nature of this interaction. Ultimately, this information could …

Modulation Of Tyramine Signaling By Osmolality In An Insect Secretory Epithelium, Edward M. Blumenthal

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The control of water balance in multicellular organisms depends on absorptive and secretory processes across epithelia. This study concerns the effects of osmolality on the function of the Malpighian tubules (MTs), a major component of the insect excretory system. Previous work has shown that the biogenic amine tyramine increases transepithelial chloride conductance and urine secretion in Drosophila MTs. This study demonstrates that the response of MTs to tyramine, as measured by the depolarization of the transepithelial potential (TEP), is modulated by the osmolality of the surrounding medium. An increase in osmolality caused decreased tyramine sensitivity, whereas a decrease in osmolality …

Contributions Of Heterosis And Epistasis To Hybrid Fitness, Mitchell B. Cruzan

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Early-generation hybrid fitness is difficult to interpret because heterosis can obscure the effects of hybrid breakdown. We used controlled reciprocal crosses and common garden experiments to distinguish between effects of heterosis and nuclear and cytonuclear epistasis among morphotypes and advanced-generation hybrid derivative populations in the Piriqueta caroliniana (Turneraceae) plant complex. Seed germination, growth, and sexual reproduction of first-generation hybrids, inbred parental lines, and outbred parental lines were compared under field conditions. Average vegetative performance was greater for hybrids than for inbred lines, and firstseason growth was similar for hybrids and outbred parental lines. Hybrid survival surpassed that of inbred lines …

Fish Species And Size Distribution And Abundance In Different Areas In Lake Victoria, Tanzania, A I Chande, H A Mhitu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The study was carried out to investigate fish species distribution and abundance in different areas and size structure variations according to depth in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Data were collected using a bottom trawl net during rainy and dry seasons in 2002. The results show that there were significant differences in catch rates between rainy and dry seasons (F (12, 12) = 2.69; p < 0.05). The rainy season recorded higher catch rates (36.25 - 106.61 kg/hr) than during the dry season (14.30 - 67.90 kg/hr). The haplochromines catch rates were higher during the dry season (11.08 kg/hr) than during the rainy season (7.72 kg/hr), however, the differences were not significant (c2 = 0.60, df = 1, p > 0.05). The distribution of the fish species in different areas recorded a significant difference during the dry season (Q = 18.254, df = 8, P < 0.001), while during the rainy season the difference was not significant (Q = 10.667, df = 8, P > 0.001). Moreover, the results show that small individuals dominated in shallow waters …

Comparative Analysis Of Mercury Content In Human Hair And Cosmetic Products Used In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, C P Kinabo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations were analysed in human hairs and cosmetic products sold in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The average total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in the scalp hair of females using mercury based cosmetic creams and soaps ranged from 7.0 ± 0.4 to 880 ± 12 ppm. Highest T-Hg concentrations were found in females who work in beauty hair salons and the lowest concentrations were found among students. The average values in non-cosmetic users were found to be lower, with mercury ranging from 0.57 ± 0.07 to 8.29 ± 1.22 ppm. Analysis of cosmetic products indicated high values, ranging from …

Carotenoid Availability Affects The Development Of A Colour-Based Mate Preference And The Sensory Bias To Which It Is Genetically Linked, Gregory F. Grether, Gita R. Kolluru, F. Helen Rodd, Jennifer De La Cerda, Kaori Shimazaki

Biological Sciences

Regardless of their origins, mate preferences should, in theory, be shaped by their benefits in a mating context. Here we show that the female preference for carotenoid colouration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exhibits a phenotypically plastic response to carotenoid availability, confirming a key prediction of sexual selection theory. Earlier work indicated that this mate preference is genetically linked to, and may be derived from, a sensory bias that occurs in both sexes: attraction to orange objects. The original function of this sensory bias is unknown, but it may help guppies find orange-coloured fruits in the rainforest streams of …

Callose (Β-1,3 Glucan) Is Essential For Arabidopsis Pollen Wall Patterning, But Not Tube Growth, Rob Swanson

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Callose (β-1,3 glucan) separates developing pollen grains, preventing their underlying walls (exine) from fusing. The pollen tubes that transport sperm to female gametes also contain callose, both in their walls as well as in the plugs that segment growing tubes. Mutations in CalS5, one of several Arabidopsis β-1,3 glucan synthases, were previously shown to disrupt callose formation around developing microspores, causing aberrations in exine patterning, degeneration of developing microspores, and pollen sterility. Results: Here, we describe three additional cals5 alleles that similarly alter exine patterns, but instead produce fertile pollen. Moreover, one of these alleles (cals5-3) resulted in the …

First Report Of Phytophthora Insolita And P. Inflata On Rhododendron In Ohio, Antonino Testa, Mikael Schilb, Jeffery S. Lehman, Gennaro Cristinzio, Pierluigi Bonello

Biology and Earth Science Faculty Scholarship

During August 2003, we conducted a statewide survey of rhododendrons to determine if Phytophthora ramorum was present in Ohio ornamental nurseries. In total, 240 samples were randomly collected in 12 nurseries throughout Ohio from rhododendrons showing foliar necrotic lesions and twig dieback symptoms.

Problem Solving: A Foundation For Modeling, Janet Hodder, George Middendorf, D. Ebert-May

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Regulatory Functions Of Phospholipase D And Phosphatidic Acid In Plant Growth, Development, And Stress Responses, Xuemin Wang

Biology Department Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Evolution Of Sexual Dimorphism And Male Dimorphism In The Expression Of Beetle Horns: Phylogenetic Evidence For Modularity, Evolutionary Lability, And Constraint, Douglas J. Emlen, John Hunt, Leigh W. Simmons

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Beetle horns are enlarged outgrowths of the head or thorax that are used as weapons in contests over access to mates. Horn development is typically confined to males (sexual dimorphism) and often only to the largest males (male dimorphism). Both types of dimorphism result from endocrine threshold mechanisms that coordinate cell proliferation near the end of the larval period. Here, we map the presence/absence of each type of dimorphism onto a recent phylogeny for the genus Onthophagits (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to explore how horn development has changed over time. Our results provide empirical support for several recent predictions regarding the evolutionary …

Parc Mutations In Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Borrelia Burgdorfeti, Kendal M. Galbraith, Amanda C. Ng, Betsy J. Eggers, Craig R. Kuchel, Christian H. Eggers, D. Scott Samuels

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We have isolated in vitro fluoroquinolone-resistant mutants of the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. Mutations in parC, which encodes a subunit of topoisomerase IV, were associated with loss of susceptibility to sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, and Bay-Y3118, but not ciprofloxacin. This is the first description of fluoroquinolone resistance in the spirochete phylum.

Characterization And Expression Analysis Of The Groesl Operon Of Bartonella Bacilliformis, Julie A. Callison, James M. Battisti, Kate N. Sappington, Laura S. Smitherman, Michael F. Minnick

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The groESL operon of Bartonella bacilliformis, a facultative intracellular, Gram-negative bacterium and etiologic agent of Oroya Fever, was characterized. Sequence analysis revealed an operon containing two genes of 294 (groES) and 1632 nucleotides (groEL) separated by a 55-nt intergenic spacer. The operon is preceded by a 72-nt ORF (ORF1) that encodes a hypothetical protein with homology to a portion of the HrcA repressor for groESL. A divergent fumarate hydratase C (fumC) gene lies further upstream. Deduced amino acid sequences for B. bacilliformis GroEL and GroES revealed a high degree of identity with homologues from other Bartonella and alpha-Protebacteria. A single …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 32 - Allocation Of The Western Australian Abalone Resource Between User Groups, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In this submission to the Integrated Fisheries Allocation Advisory Committee (IFAAC), the Department will outline what it believes are the most practical and cost effective ways of managing a system for allocating the abalone resource between the commercial, customary and recreational sectors.

In preparing this submission, it has been noted that because of the limited data on recreational catch outside of the metropolitan area, the Sustainable Harvest Limit (SHL) set for the fishery relates only to the area that is equivalent to Area 7 of the commercial fishery. Further, it is acknowledged that the Minister has approved that proportional catch …

A Phylogenetic Analysis Of Vanzolinius Heyer, 1974 (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae): Taxonomic And Life History Implications, Rafael O. De Sá, W. Ronald Heyer, Arley Camargo

Biology Faculty Publications

The validity of the monotypic leptodactylid frog genus Vanzolinius Heyer, 1974 has been questioned recently. We explore the relationship of Vanzolinius discodactylus within the cluster of closely related genera Adenomera, Leptodacylus, and Lithodytes with both morphological and molecular data sets. Morphological and combined morphological and molecular data were analyzed using maximum parsimony; molecular data sets were analyzed with maximum likelihood methods. The resultant relationships are unambiguous in Vanzolinius being imbedded within Leptodactylus. In order to maintain Leptodactylus as a monophyletic genus, Vanzolinius is placed in the synonymy of Leptodactylus Fitzinger, 1826. The implications of relationships analyzed in …

Prospects Of Kenaf As An Alternative Field Crop In Virginia, Harbans L. Bhardwaj, Charles L. Webber Iii

Virginia Journal of Science

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), a warm-season annual plant, has shown potential as an alternate source of fiber in the United States. Although preliminary research has indicated feasibility of kenaf production in Virginia, production details are lacking. Field experiments were conducted during 1995 and 1996 to determine optimal row spacing and fertilizer needs, and to compare available kenaf cultivars. Although results indicated that differences in dry matter yields from four row spacings (30, 60, 90, and 120 cm) and four rates each of N, P, and K fertilizers (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha^-1) were not …

Changes In Bird Abundance After Wildfire: Importance Of Fire Severity And Time Since Fire, Kristina M. Smucker, Richard L. Hutto, Brian M. Steele

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Fire can cause profound changes in the composition and abundance of plant and animal species, but logistics, unpredictability of weather, and inherent danger make it nearly impossible to study high-severity fire effects experimentally. We took advantage of a unique opportunity to use a before–after/control–impact (BACI) approach to analyze changes in bird assemblages after the severe fires of 2000 in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana. Observers surveyed birds using 10-minute point counts and collected vegetation data from 13 burned and 13 unburned transects for five years before fire and three years after fire. We compared changes in vegetation variables and relative bird …

Coral Reef Ed-Ventures: An Environmental Education Program For School Children In San Pedro, Belize, H. Allen Curran, Susan Etheredge, Elizabeth Callaghan, Paulette M. Peckol

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fish Consumption Patterns Of Populations In Vicinities Of Lake Kastoria And Lake Pamvotis, Greece, Eugene G. Maurakis, David V. Grimes, Dimitra Bobori

Virginia Journal of Science

Objectives are to establish fish consumption patterns of populations in vicinities of two lakes (Kastoria and Pamvotis) in Greece for use in the assessment of risks associated with consumption of fishes in these agri-chemically impaired lakes. Parameters measured were demographics (i.e., gender, age, weight, education level, occupation, residency), freshwater fish eating frequency, species and sizes of fishes consumed, and fish consumption habits [i.e., quantity, parts, and preparation method). All annual mean site-specific consumption rates of the four gender-age class sub-populations surveyed in vicinity of Lake Kastoria (avg. range= 0.103-0.29 kg/day) exceed those of Greece (0.066 kg/day), EU (0.068 kg/day), Spain …

Redescripción De La Morfología Larval Externa De Dos Especies Del Grupo De Leptodactylus Fuscus (Anura, Leptodactylidae), José A. Langone, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Re-description of the larval external morphology of two species of the Leptodactylus fuscus group (Anura, Leptodactylidae). The larvae of Leptodactylus gracilis (D’Orbigny y Bibron, 1840) and L. mystacinus Bumeister, 1861 are re-described and compared with previous descriptions noting intraspecific variation in oral disc characteristics (arrangement of papillae and rows of cornified teeth). The external morphological analysis of larvae of the Leptodactylus fuscus group suggest that the lack of comparable descriptions among species, as well as the lack of analyses of their intraspecific variation, limits the use of larval characteristics for diagnostic purposes.

Structure Of Human Thymidylate Synthase Under Low-Salt Conditions, Leslie L. Lovelace, Wladek Minor, Lukasz Lebioda

Faculty Publications

Human thymidylate synthase, a target in cancer chemotherapy, was crystallized from PEG 3350 with 30 mM ammonium sulfate (AS) in the crystallization medium. The crystals are isomorphous with the high-salt crystals (~2.0 M AS) and the structure has been solved and refined (R = 22.6%, Rfree = 24.3%) at 1.8 Å resolution. The high- and low-AS-concentration structures are quite similar, with loop 181-197 is in the inactive conformation. Also, residues 95-106 and 129-135 (eukaryotic inserts region) show high mobility as assessed by poor electron density and high values of crystallographic temperature factors (residues 1-25 and 108-129 are disordered in both …

Online Dictionary Of Invertebrate Zoology: F, Mary Ann Basinger Maggenti, Armand R. Maggenti, Scott L. Gardner

Armand R. Maggenti Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology

face facet facette facetted facial facialium facies facio-orbital factor facultative faeces Fahrenholz's falcate falces falciform falciger falcis falculate falsadentes false falx famulus fan fang farctate farinaceous fascia fasciate fascicle fasciculus fasciole fascio-maculata fascio-punctate fastening fastigiate fastigium fat fate fauces fauna faunal faveolate feces fecula fecundate fecundity feedback feeder feeding feeler feet felt female femoro-alary femorogenu femorotibial femur fenestra fenestrate fenestration fenestrella fenestrule fente feral ferment fermentation ferreous ferruginous ferrule fertile fertility fertilization fertilizin festivus festoon festoons fetid fiber fibril fibrillar fibrin fibrinogen fibrocyte fibroin fibroplasm fibrous fibula fide filament filamentary filaria filariform filate filator file filial filiation filibranch filicornia filiform …

Online Dictionary Of Invertebrate Zoology: B, Mary Ann Basinger Maggenti, Armand R. Maggenti, Scott L. Gardner

Armand R. Maggenti Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology

baccate bacillary bacilliform back-cross back-mutation bacteremia bacteriophagous baculiform baculite baenomere baenopoda baenosome Baer's bailer balanced balancers balanoid balantin balantine Balbiani Balbiani's bald Baldwin ballonets ballooning band barb barbate, barbatus barbula bark baroceptor, baroreceptor barotropism barrier basad basal basalar basalia basalis base basement bases basicarnal basicerite basiconic basicosta basicostal basicoxite basifemoral basifemur basilaire basilar basilateral basilemma basimandibula basimaxilla basimetrical basinym basioccludent basiophthalmite basiperiphallus basipharynx basipod basipodite basiproboscis basipulvilli basirostral basis basiscopic basiscutal basisternum basistylus basitarsal basitarsus basitergal basitibial basitrich basitrichous basivalvula basket basopinacocytes batatiform Batesian bathmis bathyal bathylimnetic bathymetric bathypelagic battery batumen bave B-chromosome, bdelloid bead beaded beak beaked bean beard …

Online Dictionary Of Invertebrate Zoology: A, Mary Ann Basinger Maggenti, Armand R. Maggenti, Scott L. Gardner

Armand R. Maggenti Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology

abactinal abambulacral A-band abapertural abapical abaxial abbreviate abcauline abdomen abduct aberrant abient abiocoen abiogenesis abiology abiotic abjugal ablation aboral aboriginal abortion abranchiate abreptor abscission absorption abterminal abullate abyssal abyssobenthos abyssopelagic acanthaceous acanthella acanthocephalans acanthocyst acanthodion acanthodrilin acanthoparia acanthophore acanthophorites acanthopod acanthosphenote acanthostegous acanthostyle acanthozooid acariasis Acarina acarinarium acarocecidium acarology acarophily acaryote acaudal acclimation acclivous accretion acelomate acentric Acephala acephalocyst acephalous acerata acervate acescence acetabulum achaetous achlamydate achroacyte achroglobin achroic achromasia achromatic A-chromosome achroous acia acicle aciculiform acidic acidobiontic acidophilic acidophobic acidotheca aciduric acies aciform acinacicate acinaciform acinarious aciniform acinose aclid acline aclitellate acme Acoelomata acoelous acone acontioids acraein Acraspeda acrembolic …

Online Dictionary Of Invertebrate Zoology: C, Mary Ann Basinger Maggenti, Armand R. Maggenti, Scott L. Gardner

Armand R. Maggenti Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology

cadavericole caddis cadre caducous caecum Caenogaea caespitose Cainogea caisson calabar calamistrum calamus calathiform Calcarea calces calciferous calcipala calcospherites calice calicle calicoblastic caliology callous callow callus calobiosis calomus caloric calorigenic calorimetry calotte caltrop calva calx calyciform calycine calycle calyoptis calypto calyptra Calyptratae calyptron calyx camarodont camera camerostome campaniform campestral campi campodeiform campus Canadian canal canalaria canali cancellate cancrisocial cancroid cane canella canines canities cannibalism cannula canthariasis canthus capillary capillitium capita caprification capsule capuliform caput capylus caraboid carapace carbohydrates carcinoid carcinology cardate cardiac cardines cardinosternal cardinostipital cardioblasts cardiocoelomic cardo cardosubmental caria caridean caridoid carina carious carmine carnivore carnose Carolinian carolites carotene carotin …

Online Dictionary Of Invertebrate Zoology: D, Mary Ann Basinger Maggenti, Armand R. Maggenti, Scott L. Gardner

Armand R. Maggenti Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology

dacryoid dactyl dactylethra dactylognathite dactyloid dactylopodite dactylopore dactylozooid dactylus dance daphnid dart dart sac Darwinism dauer larvae dauermodification daughter daughter cells daughter cyst day-eye De Vriesianism dealate dealation death deaurate decacanth decalcification decamerous decapodid larvae decathecal decephalic deciduous deck declinate declivitous declivous deconjugation decorticate decumbent decurved decussated dedetermination dedifferentiation defaunate defecate deferent deficiency definition definitive host deflected deflected front deflexed defoliator deformed degenerate degenerate code degeneration dehiscence dehiscent deirids delamination delimitation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis delthyrial delthyrium deltidial deltidium deltoid demanian demarcation deme demersal demibranchs demiplate demiprovinculum Demospongiae denatant dendriform dendrite dendritic thickening dendrobranch dendrogram dendroid dendron dendrophagous dendrophilous denematize denizen …