Biology Commons^™

Annual Veg Change On The Arcss Subplots At Atqasuk And Utqiagvik, Jacob Harris

Student Scholars Day Posters

This research describes changes in plant cover in the landscapes near Atqasuk and Utqiagvik, Alaska. In each location 30 plots distributed in a matrix across the landscape were sampled annually from 2010 to 2019. Plant cover was classified into eight functional groups (deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs, forbs, graminoids, bryophytes, lichens, litter and standing dead). In Atqasuk, graminoids and litter have increased in cover while bryophytes, lichens and standing dead have decreased in cover. In Utqiagvik, graminoids and leaf litter have increased in cover while bryophytes and standing dead have decreased in cover. Graminoid cover increases at both sites appear to …

Structural Allometry Of Three Locally-Dominant Deciduous Tree Species In West Michigan, Joshua Stayman

Student Scholars Day Posters

Trees in a cold-temperate forest require stem strength sufficient for self-support to maximize canopy height and width while resisting stresses imposed by wind and snow. We compared optimization of self-support of three tree species native to Western Michigan (Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, and Quercus rubra) with their dominance in local forest stands. Optimization of self-support was investigated by analyzing branch architecture per the Uniform Stress and West-Brown-Enquist scaling models. Data were collected from thirty trees per species. Height and d.b.h. were measured in the field. Branch diameters and angles of the first three nodes were measured …

Miss Independent: Social Group Composition Influences Spatial Patterns In A Female Lion, Andrew Mayfield, Abigail Smith

Student Scholars Day Posters

The introduction of a new animal to a social group can cause individual zoo animals to alter their behavior. In 2019, a male lion was successfully introduced to an adult female at John Ball Zoo, after previously being exhibited with her sister in 2018. A second, older male continued to be exhibited alone, alternating with the pair in the same enclosure. Our study objective was to compare differences in behavior between 2018 and 2019 for the female (“experimental” animal whose social group changed) and the solitary male (“control” animal whose social group did not change). We used Zoomonitor to record …

Linking Vegetation Change With Functional Traits In A Changing Arctic, Katlyn Betway

Student Scholars Day Posters

The Arctic is warming more than twice the rate of the global average. Plant responses to warming have been documented in northern Alaska for decades and have shown that graminoids, deciduous shrubs, and evergreen shrubs are increasing in cover while forbs are decreasing in cover or remaining constant depending on the location. To better understand why growth forms are responding differently, nine functional traits were measured for 13 species at three sites in northern Alaska. Canonical correspondence analysis reveals that species increasing in cover are associated with high photosynthetic capacity and plant height. Species decreasing in cover are associated with …

The Organic Synthesis Of Anthranilic Acid Derivatives As Potential Active Antibiotics, Paul Chappell

Student Scholars Day Posters

The objective of this research project was to synthesize multiple derivatives of anthranilic acid. These derivatives will then be tested for antibiotic activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli). As bacteria become more resistant to penicillin-based antibiotics, the exploration of anthranilic acid-based antibiotics could serve an important role for future medical use. This research project included data collection via 1H-NMR, 12C-NMR, TLC, MP, and IR to determine purity for biological testing.

Impact Of Cell Density On Cx43 Expression In Endothelial Cells, Madison Goen, Kyle Morrison

Student Scholars Day Posters

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids benefits the cardiovascular system by reducing blood vessel inflammatory responses. Our recent work showed omega-3 fatty acids decrease connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in cultured endothelial cells after 1 day. Our interest in Cx43 was as marker of inflammation as omega-3 fatty acids are strongly implicated as anti-inflammatory agents. Localized inflammatory responses drive the growth of the atherosclerotic plaques responsible for a majority of cardiovascular diseases. Anything that affects the inflammatory response will affect the growth (and stability which is also important) of those plaques. This poster will summarize current knowledge of atherosclerosis and inflammation as …

Thing 1 And Thing 2 Are In A New Zoo: Changes In Behavior Of Amur Tigers Following Introduction To John Ball Zoo, Caitlin Gerke, Faith Hensley

Student Scholars Day Posters

Animals alter their behavior in response to changes in their environment such as alterations to their enclosure, social group, or husbandry routine. In 2018, two related, young adult Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) were transferred to the John Ball Zoo (JBZ). The male siblings were given access to a spacious, wooded outdoor enclosure (area = 920 m²). We used Zoomonitor in 2018 and 2019 to conduct focal-animal sampling of the two males. We recorded state behaviors in 30 sec intervals of scan sampling, and all occurrences of event behaviors, both during 30 min sampling sessions. Our study objective …

Assessing Seed Handling Processes To Facilitate A Community-Engaged Approach To Regional Forest Restoration, Meredith Cobb, Michaela J. Woods, Ryan Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

In the Midwestern United States, there is a strong management impetus toward reforestation to replace trees lost to due to tree mortality and to establish forests on previously cleared properties. Here, we describe a public outreach and volunteer effort that aimed to generate positive, community-engaged restoration outcomes and report on a practical experiment involving seed handling. We obtained tree seeds that were donated by members of the community to local land managers. We evaluated the size of the seeds collected and tested the influence of common stratification media (none, sand and vermiculite) and seed size on germination success of three …

Current And Future Applications Of 3d Printing Using Custom-Made Materials, Bridger T. Irons

Honors Thesis

The use of 3D printers has increased exponentially from its inception in the 1980s. Recently, the ability to design and create detailed objects has drawn the attention of many who wish to capitalize on this highly customizable process. With much of the focus in this industry being placed on finding new printable materials, many are overlooking the possibility of modifying existing materials. The aim of our research was to modify the materials already being used by 3D printers to alter their properties and explore future possible applications. We examined the addition of graphene powder, carbon microfibers, and other nanoparticles to …

Multiple Anti-Predatory Behaviors In Red-Tailed Monkey (Cercopithecus Ascanius) Groups Reveal Distinct Landscapes Of Fear, Lillian J. Fornof , '20

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Foraging opportunity and predation risk can act as opposing influences on an animal’s habitat use. This opposition can be addressed with a “landscape of fear” (LOF), where models predict the spatial distribution of predators or perceived predator presence using prey responses. LOF models are often generated using a single behavioral metric. Here, I expanded on the concept of LOF by measuring three anti-predatory behaviors—aggregation, alarm calling, and vigilance—in two groups of red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius). I also looked at the relationship of each type of anti-predatory behavior to habitat characteristics, age/sex class, seasonality, and their relationship to the …

Understanding The Role Of Cereblon In Hematopoiesis Through Structural And Functional Analyses, Afua Adutwumwa Akuffo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The discovery and implementation of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD®s) has revolutionized the treatment of many hematological malignancies due to the plethora of IMiD®-induced clinical responses that include anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumor effects, as well as enhanced erythropoiesis, immune modulation and improved metabolism. More ground-breaking was the identification of cereblon as the target of IMiD®s. Upon binding to thalidomide and other immunomodulatory drugs, the E3 ligase substrate receptor cereblon (CRBN) promotes proteosomal destruction of neo-substrates by engaging the DDB1-CUL4A-Roc1-RBX1 E3-ubiquitin ligase in human cells but not in mouse cells suggesting that sequence variations in CRBN may cause its inactivation. Therapeutically, CRBN engagers …

The Relationship Between Woodland Caribou, Soil Carbon Cycling And Soil Fertility On The Slate Islands Archipelago In Ontario, Canada, Melinda Kantola

All NMU Master's Theses

I investigated biogeochemical connections between woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) herbivory, vegetation, soil fertility, and soil carbon cycling on the Slate Islands Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Woodland caribou are threatened in Ontario, and the caribou population on the Slate Islands has declined steeply since 2015. Northern Michigan University (NMU) and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) ecologists established caribou and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) exclosures on the islands in 2006, and have routinely monitored the vegetation to study the effects of limiting herbivory.

This study explores the implications of limiting herbivory on soil …

Cytotoxicity Of Nio And Ni(Oh)₂ Nanoparticles Is Mediated By Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Death And Suppression Of Cell Proliferation, Melissa H. Cambre, Natalie J. Holl, Yue-Wern Huang, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

The use of nanomaterial-based products continues to grow with advancing technology. Understanding the potential toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) is important to ensure that products containing them do not impose harmful effects to human or environmental health. In this study, we evaluated the comparative cytotoxicity between nickel oxide (NiO) and nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂) in human bronchoalveolar carcinoma (A549) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. Cellular viability studies revealed cell line-specific cytotoxicity in which nickel NPs were toxic to A549 cells but relatively nontoxic to HepG2 cells. Time-, concentration-, and particle-specific cytotoxicity was observed in A549 cells. NP-induced oxidative …

Characterization Of De Novo Protein Aggregate Formation In S. Cerevisiae, Douglas Lyke

Dissertations (1934 -)

Misfolded proteins are commonly refolded to a functional conformation or degraded by quality control mechanisms. When misfolded proteins evade quality control, they often form aggregates that are sequestered to specific sites in the cell. The proper sequestration of aggregates is thought to prevent potential dysfunction, toxicity and disease that is often associated with the presence of aggregates. However, the cellular mechanisms that underlie the management of newly formed protein aggregates are unclear. To understand the cellular response to protein aggregate formation, I used the aggregation prone prion domain of the Sup35 protein (Sup35NM) in yeast. Previous work observing GFP-tagged Sup35NM …

Characterizing The Nf-Κb Pathway Of The Innate Immune System In The Sea Anemone Exaiptasia Pallida, Maria V. Ingersoll , '20

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Coral reefs are unique and globally important ecosystems that provide vital services to marine life as well as to human health and the economy. The survival of the reef ecosystem is based upon an endosymbiotic relationship between the coral and a photosynthetic microalgae of the family Symbiodiniaceae that inhabit the coral cells. The present study incorporates the use of a model organism for the Symbiodiniaceae-cnidarian symbiosis—Exaiptasia pallida—and cell biology methodology to characterize a specific pathway of the immune system hypothesized to play a key role in symbiosis: the NF-κB pathway. I identify three proteins, Aiptasia IκBcl3-A, IκBcl3-B, and …

Exosomes In Transmission And Blocking Of Arthropod-Borne Flaviviral Infection And Pathogenesis, Wenshuo Zhou

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are human illnesses that are transmitted by vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas. These arthropods transmit infectious pathogens such as viruses, protozoa, and bacteria, to humans during their blood-feeding. According to the estimation of the WHO, billions of people are affected by VBDs worldwide, and about 700,000 deaths are reported annually. Currently, very few reliable VBDs control approaches and vaccines available to treat various VBDs. Additionally, approaches to control arthropod’ proliferation and migration are difficult to develop. Furthermore, molecular determinants and mechanisms for the transmission are poorly understood. This work describes two studies identifying the novel …

Establishing The Roles Of The Dna Binding Domains Of Replication Protein A (Rpa), Nilisha Pokhrel

Dissertations (1934 -)

During DNA metabolic processes such as replication and repair, double-stranded DNA is transiently unwound to expose single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Such ssDNA intermediates are immediately coated by Replication Protein A (RPA), an essential single-stranded DNA binding protein present in all eukaryotes. RPA binding to ssDNA fulfills four goals: 1. The ssDNA is protected from degradation by endo- and exo-nucleases. 2. A cell-cycle checkpoint signaling cascade is triggered to indicate the presence of ssDNA. 3. RPA recruits other DNA metabolic enzymes on to the ssDNA. 4. Finally, RPA promotes the catalytic activity of the recruited enzyme. The overall objective of my thesis …

Olfactory Behavioral Responses Of Mosquito Vectors To Select Attractants And Floral Scents As Related To Circadian Rhythms And Photoperiod Regimes, Bernadette A. Ferraro

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation discusses mosquito behavioral activities involving circadian rhythms defined as insect sensitivity to select of chemical volatiles that vary throughout the 24-hour day. Circannual rhythms occur over seasons varying in photoperiod, defined as the seasonal cycle of light and darkness. These cycles can be endogenously controlled by circadian clocks. The impetus for this research was initiated when reading about the neglected temporal dimension in the context of insect chemical ecology, including insect olfaction. It was proposed that sensitivity to odors does not change in general, but specific sensitivities could vary according to time of day. Chemical scents emitted by …

A New Genus And Two New Species Of Unarmed Hymenolepidid Cestodes (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) From Geomyid Rodents In Mexico And Costa Rica, Scott Lyell Gardner, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan, Mariel Campbell, S. Elizabeth Rácz

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Two new cestodes of the family Hymenolepididae are described from two species of rodents of the family Geomyidae collected in Mexico and Costa Rica. One new species of Hymenolepis is described from Cratogeomys planiceps Merriam 1895 from near Toluca, Mexico and another that we allocate to a new genus is described from Heterogeomys heterodus (Peters, 1865) from near Irazú Volcano, Costa Rica. Hymenolepis s. str. includes those Hymenolepididae with an apical organ, with no hooks on suckers or apical organ, and three testes. Hobergia irazuensis n. gen., n. sp. includes a hymenolepidid with an apical organ, unarmed scolex, small …

Identifying And Characterizing Transgenic Lines That Drive Gene Expression In The Adult Fat Body Of The Drosophila Melanogaster, Michael Edward Meyerink

Theses and Dissertations

Adult Drosophila Melanogaster is a powerful model organism in genetic studies and has high tissue and gene homology to humans. Like humans, Drosophila tissues communicate in order to respond to physiological stimuli, such as diet, aging, and disease. The fat body, homologous to human adipocytes and hepatocytes, functions as both an endocrine and energy storage organ; and has been shown to play a critical role in many metabolic processes. The aim of this study is to characterize differences in fat body gene expression to ultimately identify if there are subpopulations of adipocytes with different functions related to fat body communication …

Natural Product Berbamine Enhances The Efficacy Of Doxorubicin Treatment For Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Jake Tyler

Theses and Dissertations

According to breast cancer statistics, 279,100 new cases are expected in the United States in 2020 (Siegel et al., 2020). Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a significantly shorter median overall survival compared to other subtypes of breast cancer. Unlike hormone-positive or HER2-positve breast cancers with effective hormonal or targeted therapies available, there has been very little clinical success from targeted therapies for TNBC. Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most used chemotherapy drugs. The only limitation of Dox treatment is its cytotoxicity. Berbamine dihydrochloride (BBM) is a natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that …

Morphological Changes In The Visual Sensory System Of Congeneric Fishes Inhabiting Clear And Turbid Aquatic Environments, Habeeb Mohsin Hammadi Alsudani

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the histological aspects of the visual system of six species of fish. Menidia extensa and Fundulus waccamensis are found in Lake Waccamaw, which is a unique aquatic environment of the Atlantic coastal plain characterized by low turbidity, higher pH and clarity. Menidia beryllina, Menidia menidia, Fundulus diaphanus and Fundulus heteroclitus are found in the Waccamaw River, which is characterized by high turbidity. These species have undergone morphological changes likely related to inhabiting two ecological systems that differ in their environmental characteristics. We tested the hypothesis that fish modify their visual system to adapt to various environments.

The …

Temporal Variability Modulates Ph Impact On Larval Sea Urchin Development: Themed Issue Article: Biomechanics And Climate Change, Kit Yu Karen Chan, C. S. D. Tong , '20

Biology Faculty Works

Coastal organisms reside in highly dynamic habitats. Global climate change is expected to alter not only the mean of the physical conditions experienced but also the frequencies and/or the magnitude of fluctuations of environmental factors. Understanding responses in an ecologically relevant context is essential for formulating management strategies. In particular, there are increasing suggestions that exposure to fluctuations could alleviate the impact of climate change-related stressors by selecting for plasticity that may help acclimatization to future conditions. However, it remains unclear whether the presence of fluctuations alone is sufficient to confer such effects or whether the pattern of the fluctuations …

Prey Selection By Birds Of Prey, Anisha Pokharel

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Prey selection is key to determine predator prey interaction and understanding the complexity of food web structure. In this thesis, we used two different approaches to understanding prey selection by North American birds of prey. Using a conventional method, in Chapter 1 we compared pellet analysis and trapping data to assess patterns of prey selection of barn owls in western Nebraska. Microtus spp. comprised 55.8% of the prey items in the barn owl’s diet. The proportion of several prey types in the diet were significantly different from the expected proportion based on trapping. This pattern may indicate barn owls actively …

The Relationship Between The Cervical Microbiome And Cervical Cancer Risk In Sub-Saharan Africa, Cameron G. Klein

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Despite ongoing efforts, sub-Saharan Africa faces a higher cervical cancer burden than anywhere else in the world. Besides HPV infection, definitive factors of cervical cancer are still unclear. Dysbiosis of the cervicovaginal microbiota, particularly involving sexually transmitted infections, is associated with increased cervical cancer risk. Notably, HIV infection, which is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, greatly increases risk of cervicovaginal dysbiosis and cervical cancer. To better understand and address cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa, a better understanding of the regional cervicovaginal microbiome is required. In this study, I establish the relationship between cervical cancer, HPV, HIV, cervicovaginal infections, and the cervicovaginal …

Talking Trash: A Human Problem With Human Solutions, Lauren Wisbrock, Erin Reynolds, Jen Mertins, Anne Schultz, Timothy Hoellein, Lara K. Smetana

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

No abstract provided.

Field Evaluation Of Dna Detection Of Human Filarial And Malaria Parasites Using Mosquito Excreta/Feces, Corrado Minetti, Nils Pilotte, Michael Zulch, Tiago Canelas, Edward J. Tettevi, Francis B.D. Veriegh, Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboana, Steven A. Williams, Lisa J. Reimer

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We recently developed a superhydrophobic cone-based method for the collection of mosquito excreta/feces (E/F) for the molecular xenomonitoring of vector-borne parasites show-ing higher throughput compared to the traditional approach. To test its field applicability, we used this platform to detect the presence of filarial and malaria parasites in two villages of Ghana and compared results to those for detection in mosquito carcasses and human blood. We compared the molecular detection of three parasites (Wuchereria bancrofti, Plas-modium falciparum and Mansonella perstans) in mosquito E/F, mosquito carcasses and human blood collected from the same households in two villages in the Savannah Region …

Before The Pandemic Ends: Making Sure This Never Happens Again, Daniel R. Brooks, Eric P. Hoberg, Walter A. Boeger, Scott Lyell Gardner, Sabrina B. L. Araujo, Katalin Bajer, Sebastian Botero-Cañola, Brian Byrd, Gábor Földvári, Joseph A. Cook, Jonathan L. Dunnum, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan, László Zsolt Garamszegi, Dávid Herczeg, Ferenc Jakab, Alicia Juarrero, Gábor Kemenesi, Kornélia Kurucz, Virginia León-Règagnon, Hugo H. Mejía-Madrid, Orsolya Molnár, Richard A. Nisbett, Wolfgang Preiser, Michael Stuart, Eors Szathmary, Valeria Trivellone

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Introduction

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Global Health Emergency of international concern attendant to the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, nearly two months after the first reported emergence of human cases in Wuhan, China. In the subsequent two months, global, national and local health personnel and infrastructures have been overwhelmed, leading to suffering and death for infected people, and the threat of socio-economic instability and potential collapse for humanity as a whole. This shows that our current and traditional mode of coping, anchored in responses after the fact, is not capable of dealing with …

Role Of Ixodes Scapularis Sphingomyelinase-Like Protein (Issmase) In Tick Pathogen Interactions, Pravesh Regmi

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Arthropod-borne diseases are one of the major concerns throughout the world. Ixodes scapularis (hard tick) is one of the major vectors that is involved in arthropod-borne disease transmission. Langat virus (LGTV) is a model pathogen that is very similar to other medically important flaviviruses such as Tick-Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Powassan virus (POWV). Sphingomyelinase-like protein (IsSMase, a Sphingomyelinase D or SMase D, a venomous protein ortholog of spiders) is an enzyme present in ticks that helps to catalyze the hydrolysis of the sphingomyelin (cell membrane lipid) into phosphocholine and ceramide. The objective of our study is to delineate the …

Moderately Elevated Corticosterone Levels Increase Mate Choosiness In Female Cope’S Gray Treefrogs Without Impacting Sexual Proceptivity Or Preferences, Stewart C. Silver , '20

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

Female mate choice and its effects on sexual selection have largely been considered with regard to sex steroids; however, an increasing body of literature suggests that glucocorticoids have important effects on female mate choice behavior. Females must balance current reproductive efforts against survival and future reproductive efforts, thereby incurring substantial tradeoffs while breeding. Glucocorticoid levels are elevated during the breeding season and are also produced in response to environmental stressors. To test the hypothesis that elevated glucocorticoids degrade female mate choice by interrupting the energetic demands required for reproduction, I assessed the impact of elevated corticosterone (CORT) on aspects of …