Biology Commons^™

Masking Away Our Emotions, Marshall White, Kyle Hiatt

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The use of face masks has the potential to greatly reduce the efficacy and ability of nonverbal communication during in-person social interactions. The purpose of this study is to determine the consequences and implications that face masks have on nonverbal communication, as well as the effect that the use of face masks has on an individual's ability to perceive emotions based on facial expressions. It is believed that an individual would be statistically successful matching an unmasked facial expression to a pictured emotion, but not as statistically successful matching a masked facial expression to a pictured emotion. This study will …

Why Is It Beneficial For Crustaceans To Become Crab-Like?, Dylan Blanton

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

There are two types of crabs, true crabs and false crabs. The true crabs, Brachyurans, evolved from the original lineage and false crabs, Anomurans, have evolved from separate lineages. The main research plan is to analyze the use of each morphological feature that is similar between the Brachyurans and Anomurans and identify if it provides an edge over other competitive organisms that do not exhibit that trait. This is planned to be studied by identifying and observing if certain crab-like morphological traits provide any advantage over organisms without those traits. This will be executed by finding several locations associated with …

Celebrating The Stories Of Black Cellular Biologists And The Path Towards Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Stem, Henning Schneider, Nipun Chopra, Kenneth Brown, Scott Stetson, Wendy Tomamichel, Rebecca Kinney, Valerie O'Hair

President Lori S. White Inauguration Symposium

Black scientists have made major contributions to their scientific communities, but their stories and work have not received well-deserved recognition due to systemic inequities within science and academia. By celebrating the stories of Black scientists, we aim to encourage students of color and underrepresented groups to pursue a caree in the natural sciences. Here we tell the stories of Ernest E. Just, Sandra A. Murray and Avery August, three Black cellular biologists from three different generations who have made major contributions to the scientific community using microscopy. The presented project is carried out as part of the Buehler Biomedical Imaging …

Summer To Autumn Population Of Wild Eumaeus Atala On The Ft. Lauderdale Campus Of Nova Southeastern University, Alexandra M. Lens

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Eumaeus atala is an endangered tropical butterfly native to the Caribbean and some parts of Florida, USA. Following population reductions primarily due to habitat loss, E. atala populations are now increasing due to conservation efforts of its cycad host plants, especially Zamia integrifolia (coontie). The purpose of this study was to observe, document, and measure the population of wild E. atala on the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida campus of Nova Southeastern University where landscaping use of host plants supports a natural population of E. atala. Forty-four host plants located in two different sites were observed for 14 weeks. One site …

Partnering With Archivists To Process The Manuscript Collection Present At The Marshall University Herbarium, Pamela Puppo, Lori Thompson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

The Marshall University Herbarium (MUHW) is located on the third floor of the Science Building at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, United States. It was founded in the 1930's by Dr. Frank A. Gilbert when Marshall was still Marshall College. Today, MUHW is the second largest herbarium in West Virginia with about 50,000 specimens, including 20 types. Mostly composed of vascular plants, the herbarium also contains small collections of non-vascular plants, fungi, algae, fossils, and some ethnobotanical material, mainly brought from Ecuador by one of the former curators, Dr. Dan Evans between the 1980's and 2000's. Apart from these …

Ahr Expression On Rorc-Expressing Immune Cells Is Essential For I3c-Mediated Protection Against Colitis, Michal C. Williams

Senior Theses

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD) whose etiology is attributed to modification in the luminal microbiota and dysregulation in the immune response. Indole is a signaling molecule which is naturally produced by gut luminal microbiota. Indole-3- carbinol (I3C) is a compound commonly found in vegetables and a ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Previous studies have detected decreased expression and activation on the AhR receptor in colitis patients, thought to possibly alter gut microbiota metabolism, subsequently promoting colitis. 1 AhR, expressed in a variety of immune and epithelial cells, contributes to gut homeostasis by affecting vital mediators such …

The Presence Of Transposable Elements In Actinopterygii, The Ray Finned Fish, Matthew Rock

Biology Student Scholarship

Purpose: My project developed after I was introduced to the idea of horizontal gene transfer in various species. I wanted to further understand one of the largest known mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, SINE and LINE elements. This project is centered around the analysis of Transposable Elements in various Actinopterygii populations. Transposable Elements are extremely common in The Ray Finned Fish, however analysis of their frequency and position has yet to be done in a majority of the class. I plan to identify their presence in three groups of Ray Finned Fish – Atlantic Killifish, African Cichlids, and Guppies – …

The Effect Of Circadian Phase Shifts On Cellular Respiration In Wild Type And Flies With Mutant Circadian Genes, Shannon Maguire, Michael Yarrows, Kathryn Donohue

Biology Student Scholarship

Shannon Maguire ’22, Major: Biology
Michael Yarrows ’22, Majors: Biology and Health Policy and Management
Kathryn Donohue ’22, Majors: Biology and Spanish

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pamelas Snodgrass-Belt, Biology

Over the past semester, our team’s research has focused on circadian rhythms in wild type and mutant flies. Circadian rhythms, our body’s internal clock, are the biological processes which regulate the sleep/wake cycle as well as other physiological rhythms in all living organisms. Following a 24-hour light/dark cycle, circadian rhythms influence eating habits, physical activity, and metabolism. An organism’s circadian rhythms can be disrupted by an offset light/dark cycle, food availability, or …

Pectin And Alginate Extraction To Treat Liquid Cafo Manure, Clare Sunderman

Honors Projects

For this project, various extraction methods were used to extract pectin from Pastinaca Sativa and alginate from Macrocystis. These extractions were then dried and used in treating 250mL of manure along with a CaCl₂ or FeCl₃ coagulant. It was found that CaCl₂ was not as effective as FeCl₃ in coagulating manure. But the results obtained suggest that pectin and alginate obtained with a simpler extraction method is just as effective as the highly purified and refined pectin and alginate produced for the food industry, in the treatment of CAFO manure. The liquid portion of the …

Infectious Diseases In A Warming World: Using A Modified Sir Model To Investigate The Incidence Rates Of Lyme Disease In The New England Area, Carly Sullivan

Honors Projects in Science and Technology

The effects of climate change are global and unprecedented in scale. Public health is likely to suffer as a result of the warming climate, and one particular risk is the increase in the occurrence of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in different regions across the world. The purpose of this project is to investigate the impact of rising temperatures on the incidence rates of Lyme disease in the New England area. Following a review of the existing literature relating to the impact of climate factors on VBDs, an SIR model modified for temperature conditions will be utilized to produce several simulated scenarios. …

Stuck In Hot Water: Environmental Conditions Affecting Mysid Populations, Kristian Tomasic, Lauren Flynn, Jordan Pagliuca

Biology Student Scholarship

Kristian Tomasic ’21, Biology major
Lauren Flynn ’21, Biology major
Jordan Pagliuca ’21, Biology and Mathematics major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Arévalo

Elbow Motion In Walking Alligators, Thao Pham, Luciana Emmanuelli, Megan Rowlings, Nina Pitre

Biology Student Scholarship

Thao Pham ’21, Biology
Megan Rowlings ’21, Biology
Nina Pitre ’22, Biology
Luciana Emmanuelli ’23, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Baier, Biology

Crocodylia regularly use a “high-walk” during terrestrial locomotion unlike other non-mammals, thus drawing interest from both biomechanical and evolutionary research communities. Here, we employ the highly accurate XROMM (X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology) method to measure joint motion between the three forelimb bones (humerus, ulna, and radius) of alligators performing high-walks on a treadmill. This method literally “re-animates” bone motion by combining bi-planar X-ray video with digital bone models from CT scans in the animation program Maya (Autodesk).

The Big Picture: Consolidating National Government And Cites Records Of Animal Trade In The Philippines From 1975 To 2019, Ronald Allan L. Cruz, Catherine Genevieve B. Lagunzad

Biology Faculty Publications

The Philippines has exceptionally high biodiversity but is also a hotspot. It is a recognized source; destination; and transit point for the global wildlife trade; which drives biodiversity loss. There is an abundance of data from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on the Philippines; but this data has not been assessed for historical trends. Confiscation data reflecting the illegal trade is scarcer; coming from recent (2008 onward) records of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ___ Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). CITES data …

Sciadopitys Verticillata (Japanese Umbrella Pine), #1065-1067, Grace C. Kubat

BIO 140 Arboretum Project

Over the course of the 2021 spring semester, I observed a grove of Japanese Umbrella Pines. These trees are a part of the University's arboretum. In addition to making weekly observations, I researched the cultural significance of the Umbrella Pines. My research will hopefully contribute to future projects regarding the trees and help to enrich the University's arboretum project.

Density Dependent Growth Of Pseudomonas Fluorescens In The Presence And Absence Of C. Elegans Predation In Liquid Media, Jack Landmann

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to understand the predator-prey relationship between C. elegans worms and P. fluorescens bacteria in liquid media. We were aiming to create a predation model of the relationship between these two species.

This study was performed through three experiments. Using 96-well plates, we were able to measure the change in optical density (OD) of these wells and calculate the growth rate. This growth rate was then graphed and analyzed. The first experiment contained P. fluorescens and KB liquid media, this study demonstrated that the bacterial population has a carrying capacity. We were also able to …

Fagus Sylvatica (European Beech), #1009, Megan L. Trafford

BIO 140 Arboretum Project

No abstract provided.

Tilia Cordata (Littleleaf Linden) #1059, Heather Noel Mckee

BIO 140 Arboretum Project

In this paper I studied the Tilia cordata, more commonly known as the Littleleaf Linden, over the course of three months. I included the history and uses of the Linden tree along with its symbolic value in European culture. This tree symbolizes friendship and peace which coincides with the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy.

Black Apollo Of Science: The Life Of Ernest Everett Just - Summarizing Timeline, Sumitography And Concept Poster, Lillie R. Jenkins

Perkins Faculty Research and Special Events

This two-part chronology is based on Kenneth R. Manning’s biography, Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just (1983). Like other such timelines, this one details Just’s life and pioneering research work. Additionally, and distinctively, this timetable lays out Just’s pioneering fund-seeking and his work mentoring African American female co-researchers (Part 1). A sumitography featuring the United States Postal Service’s postage stamp (1996) recognizes Just’s innovative thinking in biology (Part 2). Following this logic, the author includes a proof-of-concept poster commending E.E. Just’s work as a forward-thinking administrator. This timeline summarizes, chronicles, and aims to re-frame Just’s …

Cyclic Fluctuations Of Zooplankton Dynamics In A Tidal Salt-Marsh Basin, Jamaal Jacobs

Senior Theses

Zooplankton are pelagic aquatic animals that are limited in their movements by the water currents around them and are major links in aquatic food webs between primary producers and higher trophic levels. Their populations are temporally and spatially variable, as they are sensitive to changes in salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. This is especially true in highly dynamic environments, like estuaries, where environmental conditions are highly variable across seasonal and daily cycles. In order to examine the variability in zooplankton populations across a tidal cycle, we collected zooplankton samples from North Inlet Estuary at 30-minute intervals over a half tidal …

Comparing Expression Of Green Fluorescent Protein (Gfp) With Different Plasmids, Tinsae Alem, Charles Curbeam, Mackenzie Woody

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

How do different plasmids carrying different promoters affect the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) expression? If the appropriate promoter is not used within the bacterias, then the bacterias will not be able to survive and glow.

Techniques Learned By Students To Determine Which Agar Coated Plates Will Show Bacterial Growth And Glow., Lilly Rogers, Hannah Spencer

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The process in which students conducted a series of experiments to find if agar plates would produce the GFP gene.

The Transformation Of E. Coli Using The Pglo Plasmid, Hailee Banks, Kira Edens

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The experiment was based on taking E. coli and transforming those cells using pGLO plasmid. It was questioned whether colonies will grow after genetic modification using GFP and if so, will the colonies present a fluorescent green glow. With the consideration of GFP and pGLO being normally associated with each other, it was hypothesized that the colonies will present a fluorescent green glow after using biotechnology processes. This experimental process undergone various steps to successfully verify the presence of GFP and then transform the E. coli. PCR amplicon via gel electrophoresis, purification of amplicon sequence, and transformation using agar plates …

Encouraging Public Outreach And Education To Drive Covid-19 Vaccination In Farmville, Grace Freeman, Marcia Lanasa, Mitchell Sharry

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

As part of our Biology Capstone, we have created a white paper to communicate the importance of public outreach and education regarding the current COVID-19 vaccines to the Farmville Town Council. Previous research has shown that available vaccinations help to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and highlights the importance of widespread community vaccination. Our recommendation to the Farmville Town Council is to create an educational campaign to encourage vaccination within the Farmville community.

Which Weather And Water Conditions Affect The Biodiversity And Abundance Of Macroinvertebrates The Most?, Alyssa Oppedisano, Phil Anderson, Val Phillips

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Macroinvertebrates are important biological monitors that play a valuable role in the metabolism of freshwater food chains. Previous studies have suggested that conditions such as dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, precipitation, and air temperature can affect the abundance of macroinvertebrates which can in turn affect the health of freshwater ecosystems. This research aimed to find the relationship between macroinvertebrate biodiversity and various environmental conditions in freshwater ecosystems. Weather data was taken from a weather station at Lancer Park and water data was taken on-site at Wilson stream, both locations in Farmville, Virginia. Sample collection and identification occurred twice a week …

Transformation Of E. Coli And Regulation Of Gfp In Pglo, Melanie Rowland, Emily Edwards

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Research Question: Will the presence of pGLO plasmid containing GFP gene produce glowing cells?  Hypothesis: In the presence of pGLO plasmid containing GFP gene, the production of glowing cells will occur. 

The Abundance Of Soil Microbes In Relationship To Proximity To The Urban Area Of Lancer Park In Farmville, Virginia, Christian Michael, Callie Cutrell, Miguel Diaz-Montealegre

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Soil microbes are microorganisms found in soil that serve various critical roles and functions in the environment, such as decomposition and the cycling of nutrients in ecosystems. Natural and human-caused factors can have positive and/or negative impacts on soil microbes. The objective of this study is to examine the abundance of soil microbes in relationship to proximity to the urban area of Lancer Park in Farmville, Virginia. Soil samples were taken from four locations within Lancer Park: the upper and lower floodplain of Buffalo Creek, the bottom of a large stormwater detention pond, and adjacent to an ephemeral channel connecting …

Combined Effects Of Allelochemical And Pesticide Treatment On The Growth Of Cucumber Plants, Samue Morgan

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Allelochemicals are biochemicals produced by one plant that inhibits the success of other plants in its vicinity. These allelochemicals are sometimes produced naturally or as a result of stimulus or stress. Ferulic acid is a widespread allelochemical found in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). Artificial inhibitory chemicals such as the pesticide zeta cypermethrin may create new interactions with ferulic acid. We found that cucumbers acclimate to ferulic acid over time while the inhibitory effects of pesticide remained relatively constant over 14 days.

Activating The Innate Immune Response By Utilizing Macrophages As Aâ Defense For Immunosuppressed Individuals And Covid-19, Ashley Coddington, Christina Amoruso, Emma Rogers

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The activation of the innate immune response by utilizing Interferon-Gamma to activate macrophages will provide for immunosuppressed individuals an additional treatment option for COVID-19.

Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution For The Homeless Population In Virginia, Brandi Joyner, Hunter Gillespie, Terika Williams

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Due to the lack of proper personal hygiene, clean water and housing, the homeless population is more susceptible to infections. In addition, the homeless are more likely to have compromised immune systems (i.e., HIV/AIDS) due to illicit drug use and sex work. Furthermore, there is not a current systematic state program that allows feasible access to the COVID-19 vaccine due to limited internet access and/or phone access. We are proposing that the Virginia House of Delegates provide state funding for vaccination drives in areas with high poverty rates. Locations can be at soup kitchens, food banks, domestic abuse shelters, and …

Evolution And Development Of Staminodes In Paronychia (Caryophyllaceae), Andrea D. Appleton

Honors College Theses

Staminodes are infertile stamens that have evolved numerous times in flowering plants and exhibit a vast array of forms and functions. Variation in staminodes suggests that numerous evolutionary processes underlie their origins, but to understand their how and why they evolved, comparative studies are needed in groups of closely related species. Identifying structures as staminodes is not always straightforward and sometimes requires corroborating phylogenetic and developmental evidence. Staminodial structures in Paronychia (Caryophyllaceae), for example, vary in shape and size and have been referred to as both petals and staminodes, rendering their homology uncertain. The development of staminodes was compared across …