Biology Commons^™

Relationship Of Mastication Rate And Body Length In West Indian Manatees, Adam Weir

Honors Theses

This study investigates the intraspecific relationship between body length and chewing cycle duration (CCD) among West Indian manatees (Trichechus  manatus).  We recorded 18 captive manatees of varying body lengths consuming two food types.  Additionally, nine of these manatees were recorded on two separate occasions, six years apart, allowing us to control for individual variation to test whether CCD increases as the manatees grow.  CCD was determined from the recordings using Raven Pro 1.5 bioacoustic analysis software.  Food type (r=0.78, p=6.8x10-5, n=17) and body length (r=0.53, p=0.033, n=17) significantly affected CCD.  Manatees chew at a consistent rate, so it may be …

Deciphering The Molecular Mechanism Through Which Rhus Coriaria Exerts Its Anti-Cancer Activity, Khawlah Najib Saeed Athamneh

Dissertations

Cancer remains a major health problem around the globe. Among various types of treatments, plants have been shown to have great capacity in cancer treatment, one of which is Rhus coriaria. Commonly known as sumac, Rhus coriaria is a culinary herb that is known to possess different therapeutic values including anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities.

In this Ph.D. project, we tested the effect of Rhus coriaria extract (RCE) on the migration, invasion, and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. We showed that non-cytotoxic concentrations of RCE inhibited migration and invasion, blocked adhesion to fibronectin, and downregulated MMP-9. Additionally, we found …

Geometric Effects Of Open Hollow Hydroxyapatite Microspheres Influence Bone Repair And Regeneration In Sprague Dawley Rats, Youqu Shen, M. N. Rahaman, Yongxian Liu, Yue-Wern Huang

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective regeneration of bone defects caused by trauma or chronic diseases is a significant clinical challenge. Bone deficiency is overcome using treatments that rely on bone regeneration and augmentation. While various treatments have been investigated with encouraging results, complete and predictable bone reconstruction is often difficult [1]. Synthetic bone grafts have advantages such as consistent quality, safety, and good tissue tolerance. They usually function as inert or osteoconductive implants. Encouraging results from synthetic grafts have been reported. For instance, hollow hydroxyapatite (HA) microspheres showed the ability to facilitate bone repair in rats with non-healing calvarial defects [2,3]. However, new bone …

Coupling Metaproteomics With Taxonomy To Determine Responses Of Bacterioplankton To Organic Perturbations In The Western Arctic Ocean, Molly P. Mikan

OES Theses and Dissertations

Understanding how the functionality of marine microbial communities change over time and space, and which taxonomic groups dominate distinct metabolic pathways, are essential to understanding the ecology of these microbiomes and the factors contributing to their regulation of elemental cycles in the oceans. The primary goal of this dissertation was to investigate the community metabolic and taxonomic responses and the degradation potential of two compositionally distinct marine microbiomes within the shallow shelf ecosystem of the Chukchi Sea after rapid fluctuations in algal organic matter availability. Novel bioinformatics tools were collaboratively developed and used together with community proteomics (metaproteomics) to characterize …

The Ecological Niche Of Echinococcus Multilocularis In North America: Understanding Biotic And Abiotic Determinants Of Parasite Distribution With New Records In New Mexico And Maryland, United States, Sebastian Botero-Cañola, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan, Sara E. Rácz, Parker V. Lowe, John E. Ubelaker, Scott Lyell Gardner

Scott L. Gardner Publications

English abstract: Understanding the factors shaping the niche of parasites and its expression over geographical space and through time continues to be a modern scientific challenge with the results of research in this area directly influencing both theoretical and applied biology. This is especially important for proactive management of zoonotic parasites such as Echinococcus multilocularis, the etiologic agent of alveolar echinococcosis. Echinococcus multilocularis has a Holarctic distribution; with its geographic range and prevalence increasing recently in areas of the western Palearctic, while its distribution dynamics are poorly understood in the Nearctic. In this paper, we use an ecological niche …

High-Resolution Melt (Hrm) Analysis For Detection Of Snps Associated With Pyrethroid Resistance In The Southern Cattle Fever Tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus (Acari: Ixodidae), Guilherme M. Klafke, Robert J. Miller, Jason P. Tidwell, Donald B. Thomas, Daniela Sanchez, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, Adalberto A. Perez De Leon

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is the most economically important ectoparasite of cattle worldwide. A limitation for sustainable control and eradication is the emergence of acaricide resistance among tick populations. Molecular diagnostic tools offer the opportunity to detect resistance rapidly, which can be complemented with confirmatory bioassays with larvae and adult ticks that are more resource and time consuming to generate. Synthetic pyrethroid resistance is one of the most prevalent and well-studied forms of resistance in arthropods, being linked with target site alterations in the sodium ion channel gene. Here, we report …

Individual-Based Modeling Of Amazon Forests Suggests That Climate Controls Productivity While Traits Control Demography, Sophie Fauset, Manuel Gloor, Nikolaos M. Fyllas, Oliver L. Phillips, Gregory P. Asner, Timothy R. Baker, Lisa Patrick Bentley, Roel J. W. Brienen, Bradley O. Christoffersen, John Del Aguila-Pasquel

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Climate, species composition, and soils are thought to control carbon cycling and forest structure in Amazonian forests. Here, we add a demographics scheme (tree recruitment, growth, and mortality) to a recently developed non-demographic model—the Trait-based Forest Simulator (TFS)—to explore the roles of climate and plant traits in controlling forest productivity and structure. We compared two sites with differing climates (seasonal vs. aseasonal precipitation) and plant traits. Through an initial validation simulation, we assessed whether the model converges on observed forest properties (productivity, demographic and structural variables) using datasets of functional traits, structure, and climate to model the carbon cycle at …

Cryptic Herbivorous Invertebrates Restructure The Composition Of Degraded Coral Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Florida, Usa, Angelo Jason Spadaro

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Coral reefs have been on a trajectory of decline for nearly a century due to a variety of factors that have contributed to the shift in these communities away from dominance by reef-building corals, with commensurate changes on community composition and function. Florida’s reefs are a compelling example of a degraded system that has undergone a phase shift, and thus offered an excellent model system for my study of the effects of grazing by cryptic herbivores on community composition and their potential restoration value. I had four major objectives: (1) determine the suitability of Maguimithrax spinosissimus for manipulating grazing intensity …

Agro-Morphological Characterization Of The Wild Rice (Oryza Longistaminata) Populations From Selected Areas Of Tanzania, Hashim M. Mangosongo, Herbert V. Lyaruu, Emmarold E. Mneney

Tanzania Journal of Science

The study assessed the variations in ten agro-morphological characters among and within the wild rice (O. longistaminata) populations from four selected areas, namely Bagamoyo, Kibaha, Kilombero and Mbarali in Tanzania. The study was carried out through measurement of ten quantitative agro-morphological characters, based on morphological descriptors for wild and cultivated rice species developed by Bioversity International and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Measurement of morphological characters of O. longistaminata plants was done soon after heading. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the variations in quantitative characters between O. longistaminata populations from the four study areas. The results …

Cytotoxic And Antimicrobial Activities Of The Constituents Of Ten Plant Species From Tanzania, Joan J. E. Munissi

Tanzania Journal of Science

This paper reports on the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of crude extracts from the plant species Clemaptosis scabiosifolia (Ranunculaceae), Diospyros mafiensis (Ebenaceae), Dolichos kilimandscharicus (Leguminosae), Gnidia kraussiana (Thymelaeaceae), Hugonia castaneifolia (Linaceae), Neorautanenia mitis (Pappilionaceae), Tagetes minuta (Asteraceae), Uvaria acuminata (Annonaceae), Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) and Zanha africana (Sapindaceae). All crude extracts were screened for their cytotoxicities in the brine shrimp lethality test (BST). Fractions and pure compounds from Hugonia castaneifolia, Diospyros mafiensis and Uvaria acuminata were tested for their cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities against ten microorganisms, namely Candida albicans, Bacillus anthracis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiela pneumoniae, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, …

Assessment Of Oyster Mushroom Production And Profitability In Harare Urban Andperiurban Areas (Ruwa), Zimbabwe, Memory Mutema, Kiswell Basira, Dexter Savadye, Wilson Parawira

Tanzania Journal of Science

The study is an evaluation of the profitability of oyster mushroom production by small scale producers in urban and peri-urban settings with particular attention on trends in production and revenue during the period of 2014–2017. The Net Present Value (NPV), Discount rate and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) were used to evaluate profitability. The average values of NPV, BCR and IRR for the year 2014–2017 were 13036.46, 15.75 and 141.42%, respectively. These values show that mushroom production has been very profitable during the period. Furthermore, production decreased between 2014 and 2015 before rising exponentially from …

Prevalence Of Zoonotic Parasites In Stray Dogs In Rural Communities, Tanzania, Winifrida Kidima

Tanzania Journal of Science

The aim of this study was to identify and establish the baseline information on the prevalence of zoonotic parasites in stray dogs in Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted in Katavi, Arusha and Rukwa Regions in Tanzania. Intestinal parasites were analyzed from faecal samples collected from 364 dogs using modified sedimentation technique. Sixty-sixpercentage (66%) of the faecal samples were positive for gastrointestinal parasites while 7% had mixed infections, 27% were negative for the parasites. Higher proportions of the faecal samples were positive for gastrointestinal parasites in Arusha and Rukwa compared to Katavi (p< 0.0001). The prevalence of Ancylostomacaninum(49%) was higher compared to that of other parasites (p <0.0001). Prevalence of A. lumbricoideswas significantly higher compared to that of E. granulosusand S. stercoralis(p = 0.0046). There was a positive association between parasite positivity rates and collecting dog’s faecal samples near domestic animals (p < 0.00001). Parasite diversity was higher in stray dogs from Katavi and Arusha (p > 0.05). There was no association between …

Ribosomal/Nucleolar Stress Induction Regulates Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide (Tbhp) Mediated Oxidative Stress In Anopheles Gambiae Midguts, Brian B. Tarimo, Bernadette A. Hritzo, Henry Chun Hin Law, Dingyin Tao, Rebecca Pastrana-Mena, Stefan M. Kanzok, Joram J. Buza, Rhoel R. Dinglasan

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Objective

A fundamental understanding of redox homeostasis in Anopheles gambiae midgut cells under different oxidative conditions is missing. Such knowledge can aid in the development of new malaria transmission-blocking strategies aimed at disrupting natural homeostatic processes in the mosquito during Plasmodium parasite uptake (i.e. blood feeding). The aim of this study was to understand how the An. gambiae midgut regulates oxidative stress to reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially to a potent ROS-inducer such as tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP).

Results

Initial studies using quantitative immunoblot indicated that the expression of the classical antioxidant protein An. gambiae thioredoxin-1 (AgTrx-1) remained unchanged …

The Effects Of Bacterial Endotoxin Lps On Synaptic Transmission At The Neuromuscular Junction, Robin L. Cooper, Micaiah Mcnabb, Jeremy Nadolski

Biology Faculty Publications

The direct action of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) endotoxin was shown to enhance synaptic transmission and hyperpolarize the membrane potential at low doses, but block glutamatergic receptors and decrease observable spontaneous events at a high dosage. The dosage effects are LPS type specific. The hyperpolarization is not due to voltage-gated potassium channels or to activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The effects are induced directly by LPS, independent of an immune response.

The Influence Of Hibernation Temperature On Deiodinase 2 In Red-Sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis), Kalera Stratton

Dissertations and Theses

Environmental cues such as day length and temperature contribute to timing of biological rhythms in seasonal breeders. Life-history transitions such as spring emergence from hibernation, migration, or mating must be coordinated with environmental conditions or survival is compromised. Therefore, there must be chemical signaling pathways in the brain that transduce seasonally-changing sensory inputs into signals that initiate a hormonal cascade, culminating in reproductive behavior. The relative importance of environmental cues to reproductive timing varies with species, time of year, and sex, and the mechanisms driving these differences remain unknown. The role of photoperiod in regulating reproductive behavior has been explored …

Impact Of Intrinsic Physiological Factors In The Population Recovery Of Myotis Lucifugus (Little Brown Myotis) From White-Nose Syndrome, Caroline Burke, Caitlin Looney, Alissah Sillah, Christopher Richardson

Lesley University Community of Scholars Day

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has decimated populations of hibernating bats in the US. In particular, Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis) has been one of the most affected. We investigated the energetic cost of innate immune response and Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) fungal activity on post-hibernating little brown myotis and the link with the recovery of local populations in New England from WNS. We captured bats at one of each of 4 colonies in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, consecutively, every 14 days to minimize disturbance to the colony. Blood samples were collected from each bat. Respirometry trials were performed on each …

Regulation Of Plant Secondary Metabolism By Carbon-Based Nanomaterials, Diamond Mcgehee

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental stress can change the metabolic profile of plants. Some metabolites produced by plants are pharmaceutically active and used to treat conditions like inflammation and cancer. Demand for plant metabolite pharmaceuticals has led scientists to search for ways to increase their production, especially for compounds that cannot be synthesized on a mass scale in commercial laboratories. Genetic modification, although a popular technique, does not work for all plant types and is not readily accepted by society. Previous research has shown that carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs), when applied to model plants, activate genes related to plant stress response. We have applied carbon-based …

Status Of The Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys Montanus Griseus) In Eastern Nebraska, Keith Geluso, Greg D. Wright

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

In eastern Nebraska, current status of the Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus griseus) is not well understood. Infrequent captures during the last century have led to a paucity of information regarding this taxon, and some researchers postulate that its distribution has contracted in the state. In 2008, we conducted a field survey for R. m. griseus in eastern Nebraska, amassed prior specimen records, and examined most of the specimens for this subspecies from the state to better understand its distribution, natural history, and subspecific status. In our field efforts, we only captured a single individual despite …

Interfacial Stress In The Development Of Biologics: Fundamental Understanding, Current Practice, And Future Perspective, Jinjiang Li, Mary E. Krause, Xiaodong Cheng, Yuan Cheng, Weiguo Dai, John J. Hill, Min Huang, Susan Jordan, Daniel Lacasse, Linda Narhi, Evgenyi Shalaev, Ian C. Shieh, Justin C. Thomas, Raymond Tu, Songyan Zheng, Lily Zhu

Publications and Research

Biologic products encounter various types of interfacial stress during development, manufacturing, and clinical administration. When proteins come in contact with vapor–liquid, solid–liquid, and liquid–liquid surfaces, these interfaces can significantly impact the protein drug product quality attributes, including formation of visible particles, subvisible particles, or soluble aggregates, or changes in target protein concentration due to adsorption of the molecule to various interfaces. Protein aggregation at interfaces is often accompanied by changes in conformation, as proteins modify their higher order structure in response to interfacial stresses such as hydrophobicity, charge, and mechanical stress. Formation of aggregates may elicit immunogenicity concerns; therefore, it …

The Effect Of Phylogenetic Uncertainty And Imputation On Edge Scores, K. Bodie Weedop, Arne Ø. Mooers, Caroline M. Tucker, William D. Pearse

Biology Faculty Publications

Faced with the challenge of saving as much diversity as possible given financial and time constraints, conservation biologists are increasingly prioritizing species on the basis of their overall contribution to evolutionary diversity. Metrics such as EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) have been used to set such evolutionarily based conservation priorities for a number of taxa, such as mammals, birds, corals, amphibians, and sharks. Each application of EDGE has required some form of correction to account for species whose positions within the tree of life are unknown. Perhaps the most advanced of these corrections is phylogenetic imputation, but to date …

Cell Differentiation And Proliferation During Brain Development, Sarah Maxson

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

During brain development, cells can proliferate and differentiate into either neuronal or glial cells. Neuronal cells are capable of sending signals, while glial cells function to provide nutrients and structural support. The ratio of these cell types can give insight into brain function in comparative studies among species and in studies of phylogenesis and pathology. In order to complete this project in neuroscience, a new technique called the isotropic fractionator was utilized to estimate a neuronal vs. non-neuronal cell count of the rodent brain. Brains ranging from age postnatal day 1 to postnatal day 23 were dissected into 4 regions …

Genomics Based Approaches To Fungal Evolution, Aaron J. Robinson, Donald O. Natvig

Biology ETDs

Advances in DNA sequencing and data analysis make it possible to address questions in population genetics and evolution at the genomic level. Fungi are excellent subjects for such studies, because they are found in diverse environments, have short generation times, can be maintained in culture and have relatively small genomes. My research employed genetic approaches using a variety of sequencing technologies and methods of analysis to explore questions in fungal evolution.

In one study, I explored the genetics behind differences in thermotolerance between isolates of Neurospora discreta from Alaska and New Mexico. Isolates from the two states exhibited differences in …

Enzyme Kinetics Of Dutpase From The Planarian Dugesia Ryukyuensis, Shahanoor Alam, Hideaki Moriyama

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objective: Planarians including Dugesia ryukyuensis (Dr) have strong regenerative abilities that require enhanced DNA replication. Knockdown of the DUT gene in Dr, which encodes deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate pyrophosphatase (dUTPase), promotes DNA fragmentation, inhibits regeneration, and eventually leads to death. dUTPase catalyzes the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate. dUTPase is known to prevent uracil misincorporation in DNA by balancing the intracellular ratio between dUTP and dTTP, and contributes to genome stability. Nevertheless, the catalytic performance of Dr-dUTPase has not been reported.

Results: To confirm the catalytic activity of Dr-dUTPase, we cloned and expressed Dr-DUT in E. coli. Then, we purified …

Effect Of Stress And Methylmercury Exposure On Song Sparrows (Melospiza Melodia) Energy Balance., Claire Bottini

Western Research Forum

Mercury is an endocrine disruptor well known for its deleterious impacts on wildlife and humans but its effects on songbirds’ populations still require more investigation. In their natural habitat, birds face multiple stressors (e.g. predation, food unpredictability, inclement weather) in addition to pollutants. However the accumulated effects of both stress and pollutants are rarely studied. Such co-occurring pressures may synergistically increase risk for birds as both stress and mercury exposure may disrupt energy acquisition and/or allocation. My project aims to determine the interactive effects of stress and mercury exposure on songbird energy balance. Adults’ song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) …

The Status Of The Kisatchie Painted Crayfish (Faxonius Maletae) In Louisiana, Jade L.M. Mccarley

Biology Theses

The Kisatchie Painted Crayfish, Faxonius maletae, are considered to be imperiled and potentially endangered in Texas and Louisiana. There are two known subpopulations, and previous work suggested these subpopulations may be highly genetically differentiated and therefore deserving of different subspecies or species status. Upon field sampling and performing DNA extractions, Restricted Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-Seq) was performed based on Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) to assess genetic variability between Texas and Louisiana subpopulations. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two subpopulations are not genetically differentiated from one another. Population genetic analyses further supported that the species are not genetically differentiated …

Species Abundance, Spatial And Vertical Distributionsof Large Heteropods (Pterotracheidae And Carinariidae)In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Kristine A. Clark

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A description of species abundance, richness and distribution, and eye size of heteropod molluscs from the families Pterotracheidae and Carinariidae in the oligotrophic ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is described based on discrete-depth sampling protocols. The collections were comprised from two midwater sampling programs conducted sequentially after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS): the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program (ONSAP, 2011) and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico (DEEPEND, 2015-2018). Study materials from DEEPEND were collected during the initial five cruises of 2015-2017. These programs collected over 3,495 heteropods in two …

Phylogeography Of The Neotropical Fish Genus Rhoadsia (Teleostei: Characidae) In Ecuador, Roberto Valentino Cucalón Tamayo

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Western Ecuador is considered a biodiversity hotspot. Nevertheless, studies of population genetic structure and variation are rare, especially in aquatic species. The genus Rhoadsia is an endemic freshwater fish in this region with two recognized species, Rhoadsia minor and R. altipinna. Little is known about the evolutionary relationships of their populations, and due to morphological similarities, their validity as distinct species has been questioned. The present study uses a phylogeographic approach to examine the evolutionary history of the genus and the validity of the two described species. Furthermore, I investigated the possible geographical origin of the genus based on patterns …

Sex Differences In Behavioral Responses To Repeat Subconcussive Events, Rebecca J. Wilson

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Although concussions, especially those in athletes and military, have become a popular focus of neurotrauma research, subconcussions occur with higher frequency and are less well-studied. A subconcussion is loosely defined as an impact to the head that does not result in a diagnosable concussion but can result in neuronal alterations. Repeat subconcussions have been shown to produce behavioral impairments along with neuropathology that is similar to or worse than those seen in a single concussion injury. These studies have primarily included male subjects. Given the potential effects of hormones and NIH’s call for sex-inclusion in biomedical research, assessing female responses …

Microbial Community Of Saline, Alkaline Lakes In The Nebraska Sandhills Based On 16s Rrna Gene Amplicon Sequence Data, Nicole A. Fiore, David D. Dunigan, Julie J. Shaffer, Ryan Roberts, Sanjay Antony-Babu, Bradley A. Plantz, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Andrew K. Benson, Karrie A. Weber

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The Nebraska Sandhills region contains over 1,500 geochemically diverse interdunal lakes, some of which are potassium rich, alkaline, and hypersaline. Here, we report 16S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing data on the water and sediment microbial communities of eight alkaline lakes in the Sandhills of western Nebraska.

Consequences Of Intraspecific Variation In Seed Dispersal For Plant Demography, Communities, Evolution And Global Change, Rebecca S. Snell, Noelle G. Beckman, Evan Fricke, Bette A. Loiselle, Carolina S. Carvalho, Landon R. Jones, Nathanael I. Lichti, Nicky Lustenhouwer, Sebastian J. Schreiber, Christopher Strickland, Lauren L. Sullivan, Brittany R. Cavazos, Itamar Giladi, Alan Hastings, Kimberly M. Holbrook, Eelke Jongejans, Oleg Kogan, Flavia Montaño-Centellas, Javiera Rudolph, Haldre S. Rogers, Rafal Zwolak, Eugene W. Schupp

Biology Faculty Publications

As the single opportunity for plants to move, seed dispersal has an important impact on plant fitness, species distributions and patterns of biodiversity. However, models that predict dynamics such as risk of extinction, range shifts and biodiversity loss tend to rely on the mean value of parameters and rarely incorporate realistic dispersal mechanisms. By focusing on the mean population value, variation among individuals or variability caused by complex spatial and temporal dynamics is ignored. This calls for increased efforts to understand individual variation in dispersal and integrate it more explicitly into population and community models involving dispersal. However, the sources, …