Biology Commons^™

Effects Of Water Quality On Oyster Health On Georgia Coast, Laurel Henderson

Honors College Theses

ABSTRACT

Oysters are an economically and ecologically important shellfish species found along most coastlines. Along the Georgia coastline, oysters form extensive reefs, and are economically important as a food source. In addition, oysters perform a vital role in maintaining water quality due to their high filtration capacity in coastal waters. Oyster reefs form solid, 3-D substrate that prevent coastline erosion and provide structure for numerous other coastal species to grow, including many commercially and recreationally important species. Water quality factors, such as temperature and salinity, can influence oyster density, condition, and growth, and ultimately affect the services the reefs provide …

B-Vitamins Influence The Consumption Of Macronutrients In Honey Bees, Walaa Ahmed Elsayeh, Chelsea N. Cook, Geraldine A. Wright

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Insects require dietary sources of B-vitamins, but relatively little is known about whether they regulate B-vitamin intake in the same way they regulate other nutrients. Honey bees meet their B-vitamin requirements mainly from the pollen they collect. Employing the geometric framework for nutrition, we found that honey bees actively regulate their vitamin intake following Bertrand’s rule. We fed bees with a diet of essential amino acids (EAAs) and carbohydrate (C) to identify how the addition of B-vitamins affected the regulation of these macronutrients. In our experiments, honey bees preferred vitamins in concentrations comparable to those found in honey bee food …

Development And Analysis Of Next-Generation Polymeric And Bio-Ceramic Based Orthopedic Scaffolds By Advanced Manufacturing Techniques, Sudeep K. Gummadi

ETD Archive

Gliomas express mutant isocitrate dehydrogenases producing excessive amounts of D 2-hydroxyglutarate (D2HG) and releasing some of it into the environment. The immune surveillance is reduced as a result, however, the mechanisms behind lymphocyte suppression by the D2HG stereoisomer remain unknown. I incubated Jurkat T cells with D2HG at concentrations present within and surrounding gliomas, or its obverse L2HG stereoisomer, and quantified 2HG isomers within washed cells by TSPC derivatization with stable isotope-labeled D2HG and L2HG internal standards, HPLC separation, and mass spectrometry. D2HG was found in quiescent cells in double the amount of L2HG. External D2HG or L2HG increased the …

The Potential Role Of Phenotypic Plasticity In The Ability Of Hydrocotyle Bonariensis To Occupy Two Different Habitats, Harold Ralph Parsons Iii

Honors College Theses

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an organism to change morphology and/or physiology in response to changes in the environment. Hydrocotyle bonariensis is a coastal perennial herb found in both coastal sand dunes and inland coastal plain habitats in Georgia. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in leaf morphology for populations of H. bonariensis in coastal sand dune and inland coastal plain habitats. Leaf morphology and microenvironmental variables were compared between H. bonariensis populations at Tybee Island (TI), GA, representing the coastal sand dune habitat, and Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus (GSU) in Savannah, …

Four In One: Cryptic Diversity In Geoffroy’S Side-Necked Turtle Phrynops Geoffroanus (Schweigger 1812) (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) In Brazil, V. T. De Carvalho, R. C. Vogt, R. R. Rojas, M. D. S. Nunes, R. De Fraga, R. W. Ávila, A. G J Rhodin, R. A. Mittermeier, Tomas Hrbek, I. P. Farias

Biology Faculty Research

Turtles are one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates, with about 60% of species classified at some level of extinction risk. Compounding this extinction crisis are cryptic species and species complexes that are evaluated under a single species epithet but harbor multiple species, each of which needs to be evaluated independently. The Phrynops geoffroanus species group is a classic example. Described first in 1812, it is currently thought to harbor multiple species. To test this hypothesis, we collected mitochondrial and nuclear genomic data, morphometric data, and distribution and associated biome information. We applied statistically rigorous species delimitation analyses, taxonomic …

Biol 352 Cell Biology: Journey From The Center Of The Cell, Meredith A. Rowe Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

This project is intended to be a long-term, scaffolded project across an entire semester course. Due dates are spread throughout the semester, and points are distributed as the professor deems appropriate across the sections of the project.

Effects Of Glucocorticoids Upon Pro-Inflammatory Responses To Acute Sleep Fragmentation, Hunter Weaver

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sleep loss is a common problem in humans who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep aids in the regulation of immune responses, some of which induce inflammatory responses. Cytokines regulate the inflammatory process and are released in response to sleep fragmentation (SF) in mice. Glucocorticoids are hormones that are released from the adrenal cortices during a stress response and are considered to be anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive at high doses but may stimulate immune function on an acute level. The first hypothesis tested was that normal physiological expression of glucocorticoids (Sham) will display increased IL-1β and TNFα expression levels, while high …

Factors Influencing Tree Growth In A Bottomland Hardwood Along The Green River In Kentucky, Caleb Miller

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In bottomland hardwood forests, large fluctuations in moisture availability can lead to stress from both flooded and drought conditions. These forests can have a complex species composition with different water use and drought strategies. The bottomlands in which these species co-occur can have a complex spatial distribution of alluvial sediments due to the meandering and migration of river or stream channels, which may impact the hydrology, nutrient dynamics, and productivity. At Western Kentucky University's Green River Preserve, approximately 9 ha of bottomland hardwood forest were planted in 2006. Although these hardwoods have received equal amounts of sunlight, rainfall, and wind, …

Mechanistic Basis For The Role Of Resistance And Tolerance Determinants In Antibiotic Treatment Failure, Misha Iqbal Kazi

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Failure of antibiotics in treatment of nosocomial Gram-negative bacterial infections has created a substantial burden for global public health. The β-lactam class of antibiotics includes last resort carbapenems, which are used to combat multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Production of β-lactamase enzymes that degrade these antibiotics is the primary mechanism β-lactam resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. While FDA-approved serine-β-lactamase inhibitors are co-formulated with β-lactam antibiotics to prevent their inactivation during treatment, no metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors have been approved for clinical use. The first study employs an innovative antimicrobial discovery platform to identify peptide inhibitors against the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1), which is …

Pif Transposable Elements Domestication And Genetic Novelty In Insects, Fatema Ruma

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Transposable elements or TEs, are selfish genetic elements that represent a major component of a eukaryotic genome. They are genetic units that can move and amplify within a host genome. Mobilization of these TEs can be harmful to the host genome as they can transpose to new locations and can be a source of disruptions to the genetic information, DNA breakage and ectopic recombination. It has been shown, however, that TE proteins can be domesticated/co-opted and supply functions for major adaptations. There are two broad classes of TEs: Class I or retro-transposable elements and Class II or DNA elements. It …

Evolution Of Floral Microbes And The Resulting Effects On Pollinator Preference, Hailey Hatch

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Floral microbes are an overlooked aspect of the extended floral phenotype. Through altering floral nectar chemistry, they can mediate interactions between flowers, pollinators, and other floral microbes, with significant implications for plant and pollinator health. Interactions between floral microbes and pollinators are critically important to understand, as pollinators provide important ecosystem services in both natural and agriculture systems. Here, I explored how floral nectar traits affected both evolution and competition within the floral yeast Metschnikowia reukaufii, the floral bacterium Bacillus subtilis, and other microbes isolated from Brassica rapa nectar, an important plant model system and oilseed crop. To …

Effect Of Basal Diet And Black Raspberry Supplementation On Gene Biomarkers Of "Leaky Gut" In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Eliza Catherine Stewart

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Colorectal cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases significantly in individuals who suffer from colitis, which is inflammation of the colon lining, seen in Irritable Bowel Disease. The term “leaky gut” is often used to describe increased intestinal permeability and is closely related to colitis. Leaky gut is associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, which can occur through diet. This dysbiosis leads to prolonged inflammation and affects genes that encode for proteins involved in the tight junctions between cells. Compromised intestinal integrity allows for translocation of …

Global Change Effects On Carbon Cycling In Terrestrial Ecosystems, Guopeng Liang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since terrestrial ecosystems store approximately 3 times more carbon (C) than the atmosphere, they have a significant effect on the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Although many studies have been conducted to determine global change effects on C cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, I utilized meta-analysis, laboratory experiments, and soil microbial community analysis.

In chapter 2, I conducted a meta-analysis to examine whether effects of long-term N addition on plant productivity can shift over time. I found that 44% of studies showed a marked trend (increase or decrease) in the strength of …

Standardization Of A Protocol To Propagate Gateway Vectors, Kayla Suisse

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Cloning is an important technique in functional genomics, particularly genetics and molecular biology. Cloned genes can be used to facilitate protein expression; this is an essential step in understanding gene function. In traditional cloning, the gene of interest is amplified and tagged with a restriction enzyme sequence and ligated to the digested open vector. However, the GATEWAY™ Cloning Technology provides a speedy and more efficient route to insert the gene of interest in the desired vector, known as Destination vectors or Expression vectors, using site-specific recombination sites and recombinase enzymes.¹ Once DNA segments from the gene of interest are …

Evaluating Headstarting As A Conservation Strategy For Anegada Rock Iguanas (Cyclura Pinguis), Kelly Allison Bradley

Biology Theses - Archive

In an effort to combat the current extinction crisis, conservation biologists have developed a diverse set of tools, including conservation physiology. This scientific discipline applies physiological concepts and tools to generate conservation solutions for a broad range of species. The Anegada Rock Iguana (Cyclura pinguis) is a Critically Endangered species native to Anegada, British Virgin Islands. Feral cats depredate hatchlings within months of emergence, drastically reducing recruitment and population growth. By the 1990s, the population had declined by 80%. A headstart program was initiated in 1997 to combat this threat and increase the population. Wild collected hatchlings are reared in …

Global Mapping Of Protein-Nucleic Acid Interaction Of The Rle Line R2bm, Dhamala Santosh

Biology Theses - Archive

The R2 Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements (LINEs) is a widely distributed site specific non-LTR retrotransposons that integrates exclusively into host genome’s 28s rRNA genes and replicate by a process called Target Primed Reverse Transcription (TPRT) which is a “copy-out, copy-in” mechanism whereby element protein binds to the mRNA from which they are translated, forming ribonucleic acid protein particles (RNPs). The investigation of nucleic acid-protein interactions using chemical modification of surface amino acid residues on a protein in the presence and absence of nucleic acids is a relatively new application/technique in the field of Mass Spectrometry and particularly significant in studying …

The Evolution Of Neurosensory Structures: Evaluating Ecological Drivers Of Brain And Eye Size Variation, Kaitlyn J. Howell

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Neurosensory structures (i.e., brain and eye size) vary extensively across taxa. The evolution of large neurosensory structures has long been an area of interest for scientists, but focus has largely been placed on macroevolutionary patterns at or above the species level. Few studies have investigated the role contrasting ecological factors play in the evolution of such structures within species. My dissertation examines 1) how divergent ecological pressures, particularly predation and competition, drive evolutionary shifts in brain and eye size within species and across sexes, and 2) why such variation evolves, particularly if larger brains drive shifts in behavior and fitness. …

Evaluation Of Diaphragmatic Movement In The Respiratory System Of An Emphysema Patient, Aubri Ford

Honor’s College Freeman Research Journal

Respiration is an essential part of life. The diaphragm is the main muscle involved in the process of respiration. However, respiratory diseases such as emphysema alter the function of the diaphragm which sometimes leads to respiratory failure and death. This review compiles studies concerning emphysema and how the morphological changes in the lungs (i.e. hyperinflation) caused by the disease affect the diaphragm. The first major point covers the risks associated with developing the disease as a component of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Next, the paper outlines the pathophysiology of emphysema within the lungs, the methods used to diagnose emphysema, …

Generating And Sustaining Meaningful Professional Development Opportunities For Graduate Teaching Assistants Facilitating Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences In The Biological Sciences, Amie M. Kern

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Current national efforts to reform postsecondary laboratory education have emphasized the incorporation of authentic research opportunities into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) curricula. Within the last decade, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have emerged as a viable mechanism to achieve this goal. Evidence within the biology education literature suggests that student engagement in CUREs has the potential to positively impact their development of scientific inquiry and process skills, content knowledge, and affect in the domain. While the majority of studies have focused on student outcomes, few studies have examined instructor outcomes in CURE learning environments. This is especially true …

Understanding The Anticancer Mechanism Of Oridonin Using Proteomics Approach, Xiaojun Zhang

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Oridonin has attracted extensive attention from cancer biologists ascribed to its outstanding anticancer ability. It is a kaurane diterpene, the first bioactive natural compound from Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) Hara, a natural herb. Oridonin is conventionally used as an anti-tumor, ani-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial compound as well as an adjunct treatment for many cancers, especially gastrointestinal tumors, such as esophageal and liver cancers. Its antitumor effects have been connected to its interference with several pathways involved in apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, cell proliferation, autophagy, and cell migration. Presently, both the molecular chaperone Hsp70 and Nucleolin have been identified as targets interacting …

Time Course Investigation Of The Dermal Leukocyte Response To Lipoteichoic Acid In Chickens, Ian Gilbert

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is component of the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria that stimulates inflammation during bacterial infection. However, few studies have investigated the in vivo immune response to LTA, and none of the in vivo studies done have been performed in birds. For this project, the pulp (a skin-derivative) of growing feathers (GFs) of chickens were used as a test site to investigate the in vivo effects of intradermally injected LTA. In Study 1, the pulp of 12 GFs of 11-week-old Light-brown Leghorn (LBL) males were injected with 10 μL of differing concentrations of LTA (0.1, 1.0, 10, 100 …

The Effect Of A Health Educational Program On Sleep Related Health Outcomes, Swetha Sirigineedi

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sleep quality has effects on both physical and mental health. Because of this, sleep hygiene is an important health goal. Participation in health programs promoting healthy behaviors has helped people reach their health goals and elicited positive behavior change. Because of this, it was of interest to determine if participation in a virtual, multi-media health education program improved health and wellbeing outcomes of Arkansans. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of a 20-week behavior and health educational program on the ability of participants to achieve their health goals and improve their health behaviors related to …

Life After Death – Does Carcass Biodiversity Scale With Carcass Body Size?, Troy Warfield

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mammals play a large role in the ecosystems where some, especially large-bodied mammals, act as ecosystem engineers. Mammal carcasses, particularly those of large body mass act as a temporary island of dense nutrients that support other organisms, including other mammal species, for an extended period. Research in this field currently focuses on the link between mammal carcass size and nutrient availably or on non-mammalian size and biodiversity, but little is available on the correlation between mammal carcass size and its influence on ecosystem biodiversity. Here we ask, does the available biomass (i.e., body size) of the carcass affect its role …

Seasonality Of Orthohantavirus Seroprevalence In Northwest Arkansas Rodents, Amy Schexnayder

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Zoonotic viruses are viruses that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Rodent species are likely to be reservoirs for zoonotic viruses, and particular rodent-borne viruses, such as orthohantaviruses, may greatly threaten human health. Orthohantaviruses are a group of rodent-borne viruses that are at risk for spillover to human populations. Many aspects of orthohantaviruses have been well-researched, yet the seasonality of orthohantaviruses has not yet been thoroughly examined, especially in the southern United States. In this study, we captured 616 rodents trapped over 5953 trap nights across 13 grassland sites in Northwest Arkansas. Rodents were trapped for two consecutive nights …

Identifying The Distinct Adaptive And Plastic Gene Expression Patterns And Microbial Indicators That Mediate Coral Disease Resistance, Nicholas James Macknight

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Infectious diseases are an increasing threat to coral reefs, resulting in altered community structure and hindering the functional contributions of disease susceptible species. While forecasting disease outbreaks based on environmental factors has progressed, we still lack a comparative understanding of susceptibility among coral species that would help predict disease impacts on coral communities. This dissertation compared the phenotypic, microbial, and coral host gene expression responses of seven diverse Caribbean coral species after exposure to white plague disease. Disease incidence and lesion progression rates were evaluated over a seven-day exposure. Coral microbiomes and RNA were sampled after lesion appearance or at …

Evaluation Of Kappa Opioid Receptor Specific Compounds And Their Effect On Ptsd-Like Behavioral Activity, Daniel Murnock

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex and multifaceted neurological disorder that is characterized by intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Current studies utilize stress paradigms to mimic behavioral symptoms and neurobiological changes associated with PTSD. The project aims to instead utilize the kappa opioid system and three distinct Kappa Opioid Receptorspecific compounds (Salvinorin A, U50,488, and nor-BNI) to induce these changes. Pharmacokinetic analysis of Salvinorin A and U50,488 revealed a time of peak plasma concentration (Tmax) of 0.25 hours in both groups. 3-Chamber Social Novelty testing revealed a significant …

Feeding Preference Of The Sea Urchin Arbacia Punctulata For Algal Turf Over Kelp In A Degraded Kelp Forest Ecosystem, Kenneth J. Hamel

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Increasingly severe ocean warming and marine heatwave events are driving declines in habitat-forming kelps worldwide. Direct mortality from extreme temperatures, coupled with destabilization of kelp forest communities, commonly trigger ecological community shifts from dominant kelp forests to an algal turf dominated state. Opportunistic algal turf species are more resilient to warming and lack the fundamental structure of kelp forests, and thus reduce ecosystem services and biodiversity. Once in place, algal turf communities contain ecological feedback mechanisms, diminishing kelp recruitment, and potential recovery. The various feedback mechanisms and ecological thresholds that maintain or drive community shifts between kelp forest and algal …

The Impact Of Dance On Physical, Intellectual, And Social Aspects Of College Life, Jenna Jean Hensen

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study aimed to examine the physical, intellectual, and social impacts of dance on collegiate life. Members of the Butler University Dance Team were surveyed, and 3 members were interviewed in order to gain insight into how they perceived dance has impacted various aspects of their college life. Results showed that increased physical activity levels, academic motivation from teammates and coaching staff, as well as a positive relationship with teammates were positive aspects that dance team participants added to their college experience. Negatively, results showed lack of time for proper warm up, intense time commitments, and pressure to maintain a …

Investigation Into The Responses Of Physcomitrella Patens To Herbivory And The Influence Of Light On The Production Of Defense Compounds, Matthew Morris

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Plant defense mechanisms are well studied in many agriculturally relevant crops such as corn and tomatoes. Though less studied, the more ancestral nonvascular plants may be able to provide insights into the origin and working of modern plant defense systems. In this study, the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens was researched and the role of the jasmonic acid pathway in response to herbivory was investigated. Additionally, the impact of light intensity on the efficacy of this pathway was to be determined. After exposing the moss to various chemical elicitors and mechanical wounding, the activity of proteins produced in the JA pathway was …

Analysis Of Indianapolis Waterways For Evidence Of Eutrophication And Contamination Induced By Urban Pollution, Kiley Grace Wardwell

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

The focus of my research will be largely focused on the water quality of the White River throughout Indianapolis. I will be testing water samples from five different points along the White River to analyze three of its contents, assessing the differing levels of pollution along different points progressing down the river and through the city. The locations I have chosen to test coincide with water gauge sites along the White River and are as follows: Logan Street in Noblesville, 82nd Street, Broad Ripple Dam, Michigan Road and Raymond Street. The surface water at these five locations will be tested …