Biology Commons^™

Close Quarters: Seasonal Cestode-Microbe Interactions Within The Guts Of Two North American Sorex Shrew Species, Timothy L. Odom Jr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The mammalian gut microbiome has shown to be essential to host fitness and health assisting in both nutrient acquisition from diet as well as protection from pathogens and can include beneficial bacteria as well as parasites such as helminths and protozoans. In this study, I analyzed the cestode and bacterial communities found in the intestines of two North American species of shrew, Sorex monticola and Sorex cinereus. Specimens were collected approximately every three weeks from May to October during 2016 and 2017 as well as during April and May of 2018 and September of 2009 from the Sangre de …

Comparing Water Quality For Aquaponics Systems With Different Solids Removal Methods And Biofilter Media, And Effluent Output To Grow Beds, John W. Cutt, Heather M. Joesting, Brigette A. Brinton

Honors College Theses

Aquaponics is a closed-loop, sustainable method of food production that combines fish and plant production. This method of agriculture has the potential to bring fresh, local food to food-insecure areas, but challenges remain due to high operating costs. In order to develop a strong aquaponics industry, the creation of the most efficient system designs will be critical in optimizing production. This study’s purpose was to compare water quality between two aquaponics system designs that differ in filtration and solid removal methods. System 1 used a sock filter for solid removal and Kaldnes media for biofiltration while System 2 used a …

Using Phytoglycogen-Based Nanoparticles To Enhance Inosine Monophsophate Delivery Using Rainbow Trout And Bovine Models, Kristof Jenik

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Recently, there has been interest in the use of nucleotides in industrials feeds, with inosine monophosphate showing the most promising effects on growth and immunity. Rainbow trout and Alberta cattle are two of Canadas most profitable farmed animals, if their growth rates and immunity could be enhanced this would further improve their value. The impacts of IMP, a phytoglycogen-based nanoparticle (NP) and inosine monophosphate cationically bound to the phytoglycogen-based nanoparticle (IMP-NP) were characterized in rainbow trout in vivo and in vitro and in vitro in bovine cells. Rainbow trout that were fed an IMP-NP containing feed on average had higher …

Impacts Of Transportation Infrastructure On Water Quality, Sediment Loads, And Fishing Opportunities In The Gwich’In Settlement Area, Northwest Territories, Matthew Teillet

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The addition of gravel sediment to build ferry landings on the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers has been an ongoing concern for the Gwich’in communities of Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic that depend on the rivers for their livelihoods. Specifically, there are concerns that gravel from ferry landings is degrading water quality, harming fishing opportunities, and altering river morphology downstream. Previous reports concluded that ferry operations were not impacting downstream ecology. However, past studies had methodological shortcomings and community concerns about the ferry landings remain. To study the impact of the gravel landings on water quality, I utilized a multidisciplinary study design …

Effects And Modes Of Action Of Exogenous Androgens On Gonadal Steroidogenesis In Male Mummichog (Fundulus Heteroclitus), Robert Rutherford

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Androgens are a recognized class of endocrine disrupting compounds that are introduced into the aquatic environment through a variety of anthropogenic sources. Exogenous androgens can interact with the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in fish and alter its normal function, resulting in effects such as skewed sex ratios, intersex individuals, reduced fecundity, or altered mating behaviours. In fish, these apical effects are commonly correlated to depression of the terminal sex hormones testosterone, 17β-estradiol and 11-ketotestosterone (11KT). It is currently thought that the reduction in plasma sex hormones is an effect of negative feedback inhibition of steroid synthesis within the HPG axis after …

Assessing Threats And Mitigation For Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia Robusta) In Southwestern Ontario, Kayla Salive

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Scarlet Ammannia (Ammannia robusta) is an annual emergent wetland plant of the Lythraceae family. Throughout most of its distribution, the species population is stable under present conditions. However, this is not the case in Canada, where A. robusta is considered endangered with only a few small populations documented in British Columbia and Ontario. In response, a recovery strategy was created for A. robusta outlining the lack of information on the species biology and ecology, with a primary objective to assess the populations in Ontario and gain information on what may be contributing to the species rarity. To assess …

Investigation Of Rna Interference (Rnai)-Mediated Gene Silencing In Rainbow Trout, Sarah Au

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

RNA interference (RNAi) was first characterized in plants and invertebrates as an antiviral innate immune response. It is a natural antiviral defence mechanism to degrade viral RNA by virus-induced gene silencing. Studies showed synthetic long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA; >30bp) degraded Caenorhabditis elegans messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, resulting in sequence-dependent gene silencing. Currently, there is only limited research on RNAi in fish, particularly the use of long dsRNA to trigger sequence-specific gene silencing. This is because studies have shown long dsRNAs trigger interferon response that could mask gene-specific RNAi effects. This thesis explored long dsRNA-mediated RNAi pathways in rainbow trout cells …

The Development Of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (Cam) Photosynthesis In Cotyledons Of The C4 Species, Portulaca Grandiflora (Portulacaceae), Lonnie J. Guralnick, Kate E. Gilbert, Diana Denio, Nicholas Antico

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Portulaca grandiflora simultaneously utilizes both the C₄ and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathways. Our goal was to determine whether CAM developed and was functional simultaneously with the C₄ pathway in cotyledons of P. grandiflora. We studied during development whether CAM would be induced with water stress by monitoring the enzyme activity, leaf structure, JO₂ (rate of O₂ evolution calculated by fluorescence analysis), and the changes in titratable acidity of 10 and 25 days old cotyledons. In the 10 days old cotyledons, C₄ and CAM anatomy were evident within the leaf tissue. The cotyledons showed …

Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030: Reimagining The Potential Of Plants For A Healthy And Sustainable Future, Natalie Henkhaus, Madelaine Bartlett, David Gang, Lonnie J. Guralnick, Et Al.

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far‐reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education. The Decadal Vision was developed by the participants at the Plant Summit 2019, a community event organized by the Plant Science Research Network. The Decadal Vision describes a holistic vision for the …

Microfluidics In Haemostasis: A Review, Heta Jigar Panchal, Nigel Kent, Andrew Knox, Leanne Harris

Articles

Haemostatic disorders are both complex and costly in relation to both their treatment and subsequent management. As leading causes of mortality worldwide, there is an ever-increasing drive to improve the diagnosis and prevention of haemostatic disorders. The field of microfluidic and Lab on a Chip (LOC) technologies is rapidly advancing and the important role of miniaturised diagnostics is becoming more evident in the healthcare system, with particular importance in near patient testing (NPT) and point of care (POC) settings. Microfluidic technologies present innovative solutions to diagnostic and clinical challenges which have the knock-on effect of improving health care and quality …

Nutrition, Behavior Change And Physical Activity Outcomes From The Pears Rct—An Mhealth-Supported, Lifestyle Intervention Among Pregnant Women With Overweight And Obesity, Kate M. Ainscough, Eileen C. O'Brien, Karen L. Lindsay, Maria A. Kenneally, Elizabeth J. O'Sullivan, Orna A. O'Brien, Mary Mccarthy, Giuseppe De Vito, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe

Articles

Background: Diet quality and physical activity positively impact pregnancy outcomes among women with obesity, but successful lifestyle interventions require intense clinician time. We aimed to investigate the impact of a behavioral-lifestyle intervention (PEARS) supported by a smartphone app among pregnant women with overweight and obesity, on nutrient intake, behavioral stage-of-change and physical activity.

Methods: Pregnant women (BMI 25–39.9 kg/m2, measured, n = 565) were randomized at 15.6 weeks' gestation to the intervention (n = 278), or a control group (n = 287) (ISRCTN29316280). The intervention was grounded in behavior-change theory. Participants received nutrition (low glycaemic index and healthy …

Engaging New Audiences With Imaging And Microscopy, Michael J. Barresi, Enrico Coen, Elisabeth Kugler, Jamie Shuda, Derek C. Sung

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this Spotlight, we hear first-hand accounts from five scientists and educators who use microscopy and imaging to engage, entertain, educate and inspire new audiences with science and the field of developmental biology in particular. The 'voices' that follow each convey each authors' own personal take on why microscopy is such a powerful tool for capturing the minds, and the hearts, of scientists, students and the public alike. They discuss how microscopy and imaging can reveal new worlds, and improve our communication and understanding of developmental biology, as well as break down barriers and promote diversity for future generations of …

Modeling Mycorrhizal Fungi Dispersal By The Mycophagous Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia Bicolor), Melissa Danks, Natalie Simpson, Todd F. Elliot, C.E. Timothy Paine, Karl Vernes

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

No abstract provided.

Exploring Eight-Armed Intelligence Through Film, Tierney M. Thys

Animal Sentience

Mather (2019) provides a rich overview of the elements underlying octopus cognition and behavioral flexibility. Recently, two remarkable natural history films, My Octopus Teacher and The Octopus in My House have explored intimate human-octopus relationships with a wild (Octopus vulgaris) and a captive octopus (Octopus cyanea) respectively. Both films show rare behaviors that offer observations to test new hypotheses as well as a novel perspective on our own human relationships and place within the natural world. An interview with filmmaker Craig Foster from My Octopus Teacher reveals the profound and transformative power of forming a trusting …

Aquatic Plants And Their Application To Successful Floating Treatment Wetlands, Katherine May Mazanec

Masters Theses

“This research aims to mitigate eutrophication of freshwater habitats affected by urban stormwater runoff. Two highly impacted urban ponds near the Missouri S&T campus in Rolla were the focus of this research on the application of floating treatment wetlands (FTWs). An FTW consists of a man-made floating mat that is planted with emergent or floating macrophytes. The plants grow on the mat and their roots extend into the water column below the mat. Plant tissues, especially roots in direct contact with the water, take up nutrients, act as biofilm growth sites, and may facilitate precipitation of nutrients. With urbanization, ponds …

Astragalus Membranaceus And Punica Granatum Alleviate Infertility And Kidney Dysfunction Induced By Aging In Male Rats, Ameera Alshinnawy, Wael Elsayed, Alshaimaa Taha, Ahmed Sayed, Ahmed Salem

Turkish Journal of Biology

By aging, male fertility and kidney function decline. Therefore, the investigation of health span-extending agents becomes more urgent to overcome aging-induced infertility and kidney dysfunction. The current research was undertaken to investigate the antiaging efficacy of Astragalus membranaceus telomerase activator-65 (Ta-65) and pomegranate supplements. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into young rats, aged rats, aged rats treated with Ta-65 (500mg/kg/day), and aged rats treated with pomegranate (250mg/kg/day). Testosterone, FSH, LH, and kidney functions were measured in serum. Sperm analysis as well as testicular histological examination was performed. Aging caused an imbalance in male sex hormones resulting in sperm abnormality …

Two Boron-Containing Compounds Affect The Cellular Viability Of Sh-Sy5y Cells In An In Vitro Amyloid-Beta Toxicity Model, Mehmet Ozansoy, Mehmet Özgen Altintaş, Muzaffer Beyza Ozansoy, Necmeddi̇n Günay, Ertuğrul Kiliç, Ülkan Kiliç

Turkish Journal of Biology

Boron is a naturally occurring trace element found in organic and inorganic complexes. Boron-containing compounds are required for living organisms for diverse metabolic functions, including nitrogen fixation in microorganisms, cell wall stability in plants, and bone and carbohydrate metabolism in animals. The number of studies about the effect of boron in biological model systems is very limited; so far, there has been no study on the correlation between boron and amyloid-beta toxicity. Here, we investigated the possible effects of 2 boron-containing compounds-sodium borate decahydrate and boric acid-against amyloid-beta toxicity. In our in vitro amyloid-beta toxicity model, we showed that these …

Evaluation Of The Symbiotic Relation Between Endophyte And Poplar Trees Exposed To Landfill Leachate, Catalina Vega Hurtado

Masters Theses

“The contamination of soil and groundwater from leachate leakage from landfill has turned, nowadays, into a global public issue. One of the main concerns about this pollutant is the potential threat to human and ecosystem health. The current research studied endophyte bacteria in association with poplar trees (Populus sp.), as a method of bioremediation of landfill leachates. The objective of the project was to identify treatment strategies that may improve plant performance (survival rates, plant fitness, and degradation efficacy) with the purpose of being implemented in phytoremediation plots, aimed to intercept and treat landfill leachate, before the contamination of watershed. …

Evaluation Of Autoantibodies To Paraneoplastic Antigens As Early Detection Biomarkers For High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Laura Catherine Hurley

Wayne State University Dissertations

The majority of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage metastatic disease with poor prognosis due to non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection methods. This study evaluates autoantibodies against tumor antigens to identify candidate biomarkers for the early detection of ovarian tumors in high-risk women. Paraneoplastic antigens are associated with autoimmune diseases termed paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs), which develop when the unregulated immune response against a tumor also targets healthy cells. Notably, a set of antibodies is found in PNS patients with ovarian cancer, identifying highly immunogenic antigens in the tumor. In this dissertation work, we have …

Discovery And Optimization Of Anti-Cancer Properties Of Traditional Herbal Medicines Using Zebrafish-Human Tumor Xenografts, Ashleigh M. Solheim

Honors College Theses

Cancer is one of the most well-known diseases around the world. It hurts everyone in some way, whether they have it themselves or they know someone that is diagnosed. But the problem is not just this brutal disease, the problem is its invasive treatments. The most common treatments for cancer have harmful and painful side-effects that occur in most cases. As a solution to invasive cancer treatments, this experiment is testing herbal medications Neem, Nilavembu, Ashwagandha and Tulsi as potential nontoxic cancer treatments. First, the maximum tolerable dosage for each herbal agent was found. This dosage was used for the …

The Combined Effects Of Chemicals Used In Textile Processing On Plankton Communities., Diana Wilson

Honors College Theses

Industrial discharge, such as textile effluent, is a major source of chemical mixtures to surface waters. The effects of these mixtures on interacting aquatic organisms can be difficult to predict. We hypothesized that individual chemical effects on phytoplankton and a zooplankton grazer are altered by the presence of other chemicals in mixtures. Microcosms containing a phytoplankton food source (Chlorella sp.) and a zooplankton grazer (Daphnia magna) were exposed to THPC, ammonium, and hydrogen peroxide in a fully crossed design in a greenhouse for one week. Phytoplankton abundance was quantified and zooplankton response was measured as mortality and …

Plasticity And The Impact Of Increasing Temperature On A Tropical Ectotherm, Adam A. Rosso

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Organisms may respond to climate change through behavior, genetic adaptation, and/or phenotypic plasticity. Tropical ectotherms are thought to be especially vulnerable to climate change because most have a narrow range of thermal tolerance while living close to their upper thermal tolerance limits. Additionally, many tropical species live in closed-canopy forests, which provide homogenous thermal landscapes that prevent behavioral compensation for stressfully warm temperatures. Finally, tropical ectotherms are thought to have decreased capacity for phenotypic plasticity because they have evolved in thermally stable environments. We tested gene expression patterns and phenotypic plasticity in the Panamanian slender anole by a) measuring changes …

Predator-Based Selection And The Impact Of Edge Sympatry On Components Of Coralsnake Mimicry, Lauren E. Wilson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Studying warning coloration and mimicry is an effective way to understand predator-driven selection and phenotypic diversity. The presence (sympatry) or absence (allopatry) of a toxic model plays a role in shaping mimetic phenotypes. However, the impact of edge sympatry and allopatry on predation of mimetic phenotypes is not well understood. We studied coralsnake mimicry to test how edge sympatry and allopatry affect predation on mimetic phenotypes. Specifically, we tested 1) if overall attack rates varied with edge sympatry of coralsnakes 2) which color patterns conferred a fitness advantage 3) which specific mimetic signal components are important in driving predatory attacks …

Link Between Energy Investment In Biosynthesis And Cellular Resistance To Oxidative Insult: Test The Cost-Quality Hypothesis In Insects, Taiwo Bolanle Iromini

Masters Theses

“The metabolic cost of growth is the amount of energy invested to fuel the anabolic biochemical reactions of biosynthesis. It has been implicated in the efficiency of farm animals and fishes, thus, increased economic profit. The metabolic cost of growth in the cockroach nymph was reported to be 20-fold higher than that of the painted lady butterfly caterpillar. The cost-quality hypothesis was proposed to explain the extremely low biosynthesis energy cost in painted lady caterpillar when physiological and ecological processes the metabolic growth cost was attributed to could not. In this study, the cost-quality hypothesis was tested.

Midgut cells were …

Evaluation Of The Use Of Alternative Biomarkers As Indicators Of Post-Release Mortality In Blacktip Sharks (Carcharhinus Limbatus), Casey L. Zender

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The release of sharks caught in recreational fisheries or as by-catch in non-target commercial fisheries is generally regarded as a sustainable fishing approach. However, post-release mortality can occur in these fish due to physiological damage sustained during capture. It is important to determine the amount of mortality specifically attributed to capture so losses can be accounted for in population management practices. Previous studies have used electronic tagging and/or measurement of secondary stress indicators in plasma (e.g., pH, levels of lactate, glucose, pCO₂) to estimate rates of post-release mortality. These methods may not always be the best approaches, as …

Morphological And Heartwood Variation Of Santalum Macgregorii In Papua New Guinea, T. Page, G. K. Jeffrey, P. Macdonell, D. Hettiarachchi, Mary C. Boyce, A. Lata, L. Oa, G. Rome

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Santalum macgregorii (sandalwood), which is endemic to the southern part of Papua New Guinea (PNG), has been heavily exploited for its fragrant heartwood and is classified as threatened across its natural range. Domestication and smallholder agroforestry offer the means to preserve remaining diversity. This study was undertaken to understand the extent of remaining natural variation to support the species’s conservation and domestication. We evaluated morphological, heartwood and essential oil characters in 126 S. macgregorii trees in five populations (districts) in PNG’s Central, Gulf and Western …

Importance Of Taxonomic Group, Life Stage And Circumstance Of Rescue Upon Wildlife Rehabilitation In Ontario, Canada, Gillian Kelly, Javier Delbarco-Trillo

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Wildlife rehabilitation is an increasingly important and global practice, aiming towards advancements in animal welfare and species conservation. Although there are ongoing discussions on the benefits and limitations of wildlife rehabilitation, there is a general agreement on the importance of wildlife rehabilitation on improving the welfare of wild animals and identifying threats to wildlife. Determining which factors lead to a successful outcome of rehabilitation can allow wildlife rehabilitation centres to best focus their resources to benefit animals with the greatest chance of a successful release. In this study, three factors affecting the success of rehabilitation were evaluated: taxonomic group, life …

Tardigrade Abundance In Relation To Urbanisation And Highly Anthropogenic Substrates, Thomas Mccarthy, Javier Delbarco-Trillo

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Animals colonising urban environments are exposed to a series of novel stressors and ecological challenges, which can result in adaptations to alternative urban niches. Tardigrades are cosmopolitan invertebrates present in all types of ecosystems, including urban environments; and they can survive under extreme conditions, including periods of desiccation, thus allowing them to colonise novel harsh habitats. Tardigrades are thus a promising model to investigate the challenges and opportunities encountered by urban colonisers. Our aims were 1, to determine if tardigrade abundance in natural substrates (moss, lichen and leaf litter) differs between rural and urban sites and 2, to assess if …

Amphibian Vocalization: Implications Of A Novel Laryngeal Muscle In The Calling Mechanisms Of The TúNgara Frog Engystomops Pustulosus, Amy D. Lagorio

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The current functional model of the anuran larynx includes four pairs of laryngeal muscles. Their contractions do not account, however, for the behavioral control of call complexity observed in male túngara frogs (Engystomops pustulosus), which optionally add a secondary note with distinct harmonic structure to their advertisement call. Examination of the túngara frog's laryngeal morphology through dissection, microtomography, and resin histology has revealed that the m. dilatator laryngis is divided into two separate bundles (superficial and deep). The superficial bundle closely matches the typical description of the m. dilatator laryngis and is well positioned to open the glottis. …

Proteomic Analysis Of Fetal Rat Neural Stem Cells After Treatment With Hericium Erinaceus, Bright Adam Test

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The fungus, Hericium erinaceus, has outstanding chemical properties, displaying health benefits in digestive, hepatic, and nervous tissues. Its ease of accessibility and use makes it one of the most common substances used for treatment in Eastern medicine. More and more recent research is confirming the incredible health benefits of this fungus, especially the impact that is seen on nervous tissue growth and recovery post-treatment. Such neurite outgrowth and myelin sheath regeneration could illustrate the beginning of the cure to lifelong neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. In this first-of-its-kind study, we cultured and differentiated fetal rat neural stem cells while …