Biology Commons^™

Male And Female Parental Care In The Golden-Rumped Euphonia (Euphonia Cyanocephala), Zachary Wright, Jeff Port, Harold F. Greeney

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A single nest of the Golden-rumped Euphonia (Euphonia cyanocephala) was filmed for 72 hours near the Yanayacu Biological Station in Ecuador located in tropical montane forest. Recording was between 15-21 February 2014. We report the first observations of incubation and feeding behavior by individual parents. We use the collected observations collected during the six day period after hatching to analyze visit frequency, duration, time, and activity patterns during visits. Both male and female visited at similar rates (mean male = 20.2 ± 1.8, mean female = 21.0 ± 1.3 visits/day) with an alternation of visits by members of the pair …

Breeding Bird And Bat Activity Surveys At Dairymen's Inc., Mandy M. Salminen

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to conduct baseline inventories of breeding birds and bat activity for the Dairymen's Inc. property. In addition, I compared the breeding bird communities of two habitats, black ash swamp and alder thickets. I conducted line transects and point counts to collect data on the breeding birds. For bat activity levels, I conducted acoustic point counts on the Dairymen's lakes. The data from this study, was used to predict the outcome of the white-nose syndrome and emerald ash borer becoming part of the landscape. The inventory data will be used to create a baseline for …

Assessment Of Disease Lesion Removal As A Method To Control Chronic Montipora White Syndrome, Silvia Beurmann, Christina M. Runyon, Patrick Videau, Sean M. Callahan, Greta S. Aeby

Research & Publications

Coral colonies in Ka–ne‘ohe Bay, Hawai‘i (USA), are afflicted with the tissue loss disease chronic Montipora white syndrome (cMWS). Here we show that removal of chronic disease lesions is a potential method to slow the progression of cMWS in M. capitata. Over the 24 wk observation period, treatment colonies lost almost half the amount of tissue that was lost by control colonies. The percentage of tissue loss at each sampling interval (mean ± SEM; treatment: 1.17 ± 0.47%, control: 2.25 ± 0.63%) and the rate of tissue loss per day (treatment: 0.13 ± 0.04%, control: 0.27 ± 0.08%) were both …

Identification And Characterization Of Fungal Isolates From Land-Applied Sewage Sludge, Vaille Swenson, Hope L. Juntunen, R Honour, R C. Hale, Michael Gaylor, Patrick Videau

Research & Publications

Approximately eight million dry tons of sewage sludge is generated in the U.S. each year, with more than half of that now land-applied as the primary method of disposal. Despite the proliferation of this practice, little is known about the microbial constituents of these noxious materials. To address this knowledge gap, we isolated and characterized fungi present in archived samples of land-disposed sewage sludge collected from the Snoqualmie National Forest (Washington State). Sludge samples were resuspended in sterile water and 15 fungal isolates were selected and purified on sabouraud dextrose agar plates supplemented with 50 mg/L of chloramphenicol. Fungal morphology …

The Hetz Gene Regulates Heterocyst Formation In Anabaena Sp. Strain Pcc 7120, Patrick Videau, Vaille Swenson, Michael Gaylor, S M. O'Hanlon, L M. Cozy

Research & Publications

To form a complex multicellular organism, stem cells must differentiate into each cell/tissue type along proper spatiotemporal scales. The study of differentiation and organismal development has historically been conducted in prokaryotes due to their genetic and morphological simplicity. Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 is a multicellular filamentous cyanobacterium that differentiates a morphologically distinct secondary cell type, the heterocyst, in response to a lack of combined environmental nitrogen. Heterocysts are regularly spaced along filaments and fix atmospheric dinitrogen to maintain organismal viability in its absence. Previous work suggested that the hetZ gene is involved in heterocyst differentiation, but the insertional mutants …

Lifelines Winter 2017, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Winter 2017 issue of Lifelines contains articles on life-long learning, taskforce work at Shenandoah Valley Academy, an alumni spotlight, and a pictorial directory of the 2017 biology and allied health graduates.

Northern Spotted Owl (Strix Occidentalis Caurina) Genome: Divergence With The Barred Owl (Strix Varia) And Characterization Of Light-Associated Genes, Christopher A. Emerling, Zachary R. Hanna, James B. Henderson, Jeffrey D. Wall, Jérôme Fuchs, Charles Runckel, David P. Mindell, Rauri C. K. Bowie, Joseph L. Derisi, John P. Dumbacher

Biology

We report here the assembly of a northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) genome. We generated Illumina paired-end sequence data at 90× coverage using nine libraries with insert lengths ranging from ∼250 to 9,600 nt and read lengths from 100 to 375 nt. The genome assembly is comprised of 8,108 scaffolds totaling 1.26 × 109 nt in length with an N50 length of 3.98 × 106 nt. We calculated the genome-wide fixation index (F_ST) of S. o. caurina with the closely related barred owl (Strix varia) as 0.819. We examined 19 genes that …

Diet, Gonadal Sex, And Sex Chromosome Complement Influence White Adipose Tissue Mirna Expression, Jenny C. Link, Yehudit Hasin-Brumshtei, Rita M. Cantor, Xuqi Chen, Arthur P. Arnold, Aldons J. Lusis, Karen Reue

Biology

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by targeting specific mRNA species for degradation or interfering with translation. Specific miRNAs are key regulators of adipogenesis, and are expressed at different levels in adipose tissue from lean and obese mice. The degree of lipid accumulation and distribution of white adipose tissue differs between males and females, and it is unknown whether sex differences in adipose tissue-specific miRNA expression may contribute to this dimorphism. Typically, sex differences are attributed to hormones secreted from ovaries or testes. However, the sex chromosome complement (XX versus XY) is also a …

Fostering Curiosity, Inquiry, And Scientific Thinking In Elementary School Students: Impact Of The Ne Stem 4u Intervention, Heather Leas, Kari L. Nelson, Neal Grandgenett, William E. Tapprich, Christine E. Cutucache

Biology Faculty Publications

In this qualitative study, we assessed the impact of the NE STEM 4U intervention on elementary school youth in terms of excitement, curiosity, and STEM concepts. The NE STEM 4U intervention incorporates a problem-based learning theoretical framework in an after-school time, weekly or twice-weekly intervention. We assessed student performance over two academic years of participation in the intervention using the Dimensions of Success observational tool. Ultimately, we link this mentor-led program with increases in curiosity, inquiry, and STEM concept gains. Taken together, these findings support after-school interventions in STEM areas as key encouraging excitement in youth and motivation to pursue …

A New Species Of Cyperus Section Incurvi (Cyperaceae) From Venezuela, Gordon Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Cyperus fedoniae is described as a new species. It is known from a single collection from the lowlands of southern Venezuela. It is a member of section Incurvi. It is related to C. dichromeniformis and C. inops, from which it can be distinguished by its smaller size and features of spikelets and achenes. A distinctive feature is the arching culms which take root at the base of the spikelets.Cyperus fedoniae es descrito como una nueva especie. Se conoce de una sola muestra de las tierras bajas del sur de Venezuela. Es un miembro de la secci.n Incurvi. Est. relacionada con …

Dataset From: Phylogeny And Ontogeny Of Lizard Display Behavior, Michele A. Johnson, E G. Cook, B K. Kircher

Biology Faculty Research

Appendix 1. Descriptions of lizard display.

This appendix provides the descriptions of display data for each lizard genus, compiled from a search of the primary scientific literature. Posture and motion displays components were categorized as types of postural changes, head movements, mouth displays, gular displays, limb movements, and tail movements. An “x” in a cell indicates that at least one species in that genus has been reported to use a given posture or motion in its display. Color displays were categorized by the body location of the color involved in display, with each color reported to be involved in at …

Data From: Seasonal Variation In The Utility Of A Status Signaling System: Plumage Ornament Predicts Foraging Success Only During Periods Of High Competition, Philip Queller, Troy G. Murphy

Biology Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Functional Responses Can’T Unify Invasion Ecology, James Vonesh, Mike Mccoy, Res Altwegg, Pietro Landi, John Measey

Biology Publications

Dick et al. (Biol Invasions, 2017) propose that the comparative functional response framework provides a unifying approach for the study of invasive species. We agree that functional responses are an important and powerful quantitative description of consumer effects on resources, and co-opting classical ecological theory to better predict invasive species impacts is a laudable move for invasion biology. However, we fear that the early successes of select examples of the comparative functional response (CFR) approach has led Dick et al. to exaggerate the generality of its utility, and about its ability to unify the field. Further, they fail to provide …

Nerve Conduction Through Dendrites Via Proton Hopping, Lemont B. Kier

Biology Publications

Background: In our previous studies of nerve conduction conducted by proton hopping, we have considered the axon, soma, synapse and the nodes of Ranvier. The role of proton hopping described the passage of information through each of these units of a typical nerve system. The synapse projects information from the axon to the dendrite and their associated spines.

Methods: We have invoked the passage of protons via a hopping mechanism to illustrate the continuum of the impulse through the system, via the soma following the dendrites. This is proposed to be a continuum invoked by the proton hopping method.

Results: …

Variation In Growth And Developmental Responses To Supraoptimal Temperatures Near Latitudinal Range Limits Of Gypsy Moth Lymantria Dispar (L.), An Expanding Invasive Species, Lily M. Thompson, Trevor M. Faske, Nana Banahene, Dominique Grim, Salvatore J. Agosta, Dylan Parry, Patrick C. Tobin, Derek M. Johnson, Kristine L. Grayson

Biology Publications

Variation in thermal performance within and between populations provides the potential for adaptive responses to increasing temperatures associated with climate change. Organisms experiencing temperatures above their optimum on a thermal performance curve exhibit rapid declines in function and these supraoptimal temperatures can be a critical physiological component of range limits. The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is one of the best-documented biological invasions and factors driving its spatial spread are of significant ecological and economic interest. The present study examines gypsy moth sourced from different latitudes across its North American range for sensitivity to high temperature in constant …

Genetic Differentiation Of Spring-Spawning And Fall-Spawning Male Atlantic Sturgeon In The James River, Virginia, Matthew T. Balazik, Daniel J. Farrae, Tanya L. Darden, Greg C. Garman

Biology Publications

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus, Acipenseridae) populations are currently at severely depleted levels due to historic overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. The importance of biologically correct stock structure for effective conservation and management efforts is well known. Recent improvements in our understanding of Atlantic sturgeon migrations, movement, and the occurrence of putative dual spawning groups leads to questions regarding the true stock structure of this endangered species. In the James River, VA specifically, captures of spawning Atlantic sturgeon and accompanying telemetry data suggest there are two discrete spawning groups of Atlantic sturgeon. The two putative spawning groups were …

Immediate Effects Of Microclimate Modification Enhance Native Shrub Encroachment, Joseph A. Thompson, Julie C. Zinnert, Donald R. Young

Biology Publications

Shrubs have become more dense and expanded beyond their range all over the world for a variety of reasons including increased temperatures, overgrazing, and alteration of historical fire regime. Native shrubs have been encroaching on Virginia barrier island grasslands for over half a century for unknown reasons. Species composition, soil nutrients, leaf area index (LAI), and ground and air temperature were recorded across the shrub to grass transition and at free-standing shrubs in a coastal grassland in order to determine the effect of shrub encroachment on plant community and microclimate. Species richness was significantly lower inside shrub thickets. Soil water …

Small Rho Gtpase Family Member Cdc42 And Its Role In Neuronal Survival And Apoptosis, Noelle Christine Punessen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are caused by a progressive and aberrant destruction of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. These disorders lack effective long term treatments, and existing options focus primarily on either delaying disease onset or alleviating symptomology. Dysregulated programmed cell death, known as apoptosis, is one of the most significant contributors to neurodegeneration, and is controlled by a number of different factors. Rho GTPases are a protein class with recognized importance in proper neuronal development and migration, and have more recently emerged as regulators of apoptosis and neuronal survival. …

Effect Of Human Cytomegalovirus (Hcmv) Us27 On Cxcr4 Receptor Internalization Measured By Fluorogen-Activating Protein (Fap) Biosensors, J. M. Boeck, Juliet Spencer

Biology Faculty Publications

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen and a member of the Herpesviridae family. HCMV has a large genome that encodes many genes that are non-essential for virus replication but instead play roles in manipulation of the host immune environment. One of these is the US27 gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the chemokine receptor family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The US27 protein has no known chemokine ligands but can modulate the signaling activity of host receptor CXCR4. We investigated the mechanism for enhanced CXCR4 signaling in the presence of US27 using a novel biosensor system comprised …

Pseudoalteromonas Piratica Sp. Nov., A Budding, Prosthecate Bacterium From Diseased Montipora Capitata, And Emended Description Of The Genus Pseudoalteromonas, Silvia Beurmann, Blake Ushijima, Christina M. Svoboda, Patrick Videau, Ashley M. Smith, Stuart P. Donachie, Greta S. Aeby, Sean M. Callahan

Research & Publications

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium designated OCN003T was cultivated from mucus taken from a diseased colony of the coral Montipora capitata in Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Colonies of OCN003T were pale yellow, 1–3 mm in diameter, convex, smooth and entire. The strain was heterotrophic, strictly aerobic and strictly halophilic. Cells of OCN003T produced buds on peritrichous prosthecae. Growth occurred within the pH range of 5.5 to 10, and the temperature range of 14 to 39 °C. Major fatty acids were 16 : 1!7c, 16 : 0, 18 : 1!7c, 17 : 1!8c, 12 : 0 3-OH and 17 : 0. …

Feeding Selectivity Of An Algivore (Tropheus Brichardi) In Lake Tanganyika, Robin Richardson-Coy

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Algivorous fish remove attached algae (periphyton) from the benthos in near shore areas of lakes. Periphyton has a complex three-dimensional structure dominated by Bacillariophyta (diatoms), Chlorophyta (green algae), and Cyanophyta (cyanobacteria). These three phyla vary in nutritional quality with diatoms providing essential fatty acids that consumers need for growth and reproduction. Selection of specific phyla may be driven by nutritional quality or it may be a function accessibility due to both mouth morphology of the fish and location of the algae in the periphyton community. I investigated whether Tropheus brichardi, an algivorous cichlid of Lake Tanganyika, selectivity feeds on …

Sensitivity Analysis Of Wolf Restoration In Yellowstone Nation Park Using Omnivory Models, Derek Fields

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In the ever-changing world of ecology, species survival often depends on approximations and measurements taken by biologists. These approximations help to ensure and predict the future of that given species. Our ecological community of interest involves wolves, elk, and berry producing shrubs within Yellowstone National Park. We use two different systems of ordinary differential equations, each increasing in complexity to model our community. In each model the predator (wolves) and consumers (elk) compete for a common resource, berry producing shrubs. We call this consumption of resources, from more than one trophic level, omnivory. We approximate each system with parameter values …

Patch-Occupancy Survey Of Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Surrounding Livingstone, Zambia, David Youldon, Jackie Abell, Joanne Briffitt, Bruce A. Schulte

Biology Faculty Publications

Wild elephants represent the biggest human–wildlife conflict issue in Livingstone, Zambia. However, little is known about their movements. This survey investigated elephants’ habitat use outside a core protected and fenced zone that forms part of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia. Using ‘patch-occupancy’ methodology, indications of elephant presence (feeding behaviour, dung and tracks) were surveyed. The survey aimed to assist proposed future monitoring exercises by defining the geographical extent that should be considered to improve accuracy in species abundance estimates. Results were supplemented using collected indications of elephant presence from prior monitoring exercises, and during this survey. Elephant presence was confirmed up …

A Spanner In The Works: Human–Elephant Conflict Complicates The Food–Water–Energy Nexus In Drylands Of Africa, Bruce Schulte, Mwangi Githiru, Urbanus Mutwiwa, Simon Kasaine

Biology Faculty Publications

The two major conservation issues for drylands of Africa are habitat loss or degradation and habitat fragmentation, largely fromagriculture, charcoal production, and infrastructural development. A key question for management is how these landscapes can retain their critical ecological functions and services, while simultaneously supporting resilient livelihoods. It is a clear nexus question involving food (agriculture), water, and energy (fuelwood), which is complicated by human–wildlife conflicts. While these could appear disparate issues, they are closely connected in dryland forest landscapes of Africa where elephants occur close to areas of human habitation. For instance, crop failure, whether due to weather or wildlife …

Utilization Of Pyrosequencing To Monitor The Microbiome Dynamics Of Probiotic Treated Poultry (Gallus Gallus Domesticus) During Downstream Poultry Processing, Vamsy Priya Guttala, Enrique G. Medrano, Joey Bray, Beatrice Clack

Faculty Publications

Antibiotic growth promoters that have been historically employed to control pathogens and increase the rate of animal development for human consumption are currently banned in many countries. Probiotics have been proposed as an alternative to control pathogenic bacteria. Traditional culture methods typically used to monitor probiotic effects on pathogens possess significant limitations such as a lack in sensitivity to detect fastidious and non-culturable bacteria, and are both time consuming and costly. Here, we tested next generation pyrosequencing technology as a streamline and economical method to monitor the effects of a probiotic on microbial communities in juvenile poultry (Gallus gallus …

Statistical Hybrid Detection And The Inference Of Ancestral Distribution Areas In Tolpis (Asteraceae), Michael Gruenstaeudl, Bryan C. Carstens, Arnoldo Santos-Guerra, Robert K. Jansen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Many historical biogeographic studies do not account for the effect of hybrid taxa on phylogenetic tree inference, despite recent advances in the statistical identification of such taxa. This investigation aims to illustrate the impact that hybrid taxa can have on ancestral area reconstructions of the plant genus Tolpis, which displays an evolutionary history possibly indicative of a back-colonization of the continental Mediterranean. We evaluate and apply two statistical hybrid detection methods, JML and STEM-hy, which assist in identifying reticulate patterns of allele coalescence. We also evaluate and apply a software tool, P2C2M, to test the fit of genetic loci to …

Differential Response Of Barrier Island Dune Grasses To Species Interactions And Burial, April Harris, Julie C. Zinnert, Donald R. Young

Biology Publications

Barrier islands are at the forefront of storms and sea-level rise. High disturbance regimes and sediment mobility make these systems sensitive and dynamic. Island foredunes are protective structures against storm-induced overwash that are integrally tied to dune grasses via biogeomorphic feedbacks. Shifts in dune grass dominance could influence dune morphology and susceptibility to overwash, altering island stability. In a glasshouse study, two dune grasses, Ammophila breviligulata and Uniola paniculata, were planted together and subjected to a 20 cm burial to quantify morphological and physiological responses. Burial had positive effects on both plants as indicated by increased electron transport rate and …

Aggregate Stability And Water Retention Near Saturation Characteristics As Affected By Soil Texture, Aggregate Size And Polyacrylamide Application, Amrakh I. Mamedov, Chi-Hua Huang, Fazil A. Aliev, Guy J. Levy

Biology Publications

Understanding the effects of soil intrinsic properties and extrinsic conditions on aggregate stability is essential for the development of effective soil and water conservation practices. Our objective was to evaluate the combined role of soil texture, aggregate size and application of a stabilizing agent on aggregate and structure stability indices (composite structure index [SI], the and n parameters of the VG model and the S-index) by employing the high energy (0-5.0 J kg(-1)) moisture characteristic (HEMC) method. We used aggregates of three sizes (0.25-0.5, 0.5-1.0 and 1.0-2.0 mm) from four semi-arid soils treated with polyacrylamide (PAM). An increase in SI …

Functional Traits Of Expanding, Thicket-Forming Shrubs: Contrasting Strategies Between Exotic And Native Species, Sheri A. Shiflett, Julie C. Zinnert, Donald R. Young

Biology Publications

Woody expansion has been documented for decades in many different systems globally, often yielding vast changes in ecosystem functioning. While causes and consequences of woody expansion have been well documented, few studies have addressed plant functional traits that promote dramatic and rapid expansion in range. Our objectives were to investigate plant functional traits that contribute to the colonization, rapid expansion, and thicket formation of an invasive, N-fixing shrub, Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (Elaeagnaceae), and a native, N-fixing shrub Morella cerifera (L.) Small (Myricaceae) and compare to native, sympatric, non-expanding shrub species. Quantified functional traits included morphological (e.g., specific leaf area, leaf …

Minion™ Nanopore Sequencing Of Environmental Metagenomes: A Synthetic Approach, Bonnie L. Brown, Mick Watson, Samuel S. Minot, Maria C. Rivera, Rima B. Franklin

Biology Publications

Environmental metagenomic analysis is typically accomplished by assigning taxonomy and/or function from whole genome sequencing or 16S amplicon sequences. Both of these approaches are limited, however, by read length, among other technical and biological factors. A nanopore-based sequencing platform, MinION™, produces reads that are ≥1 × 104 bp in length, potentially providing for more precise assignment, thereby alleviating some of the limitations inherent in determining metagenome composition from short reads. We tested the ability of sequence data produced by MinION (R7.3 flow cells) to correctly assign taxonomy in single bacterial species runs and in three types of low-complexity synthetic communities: …