Biology Commons^™

Unpacking Drivers Of Heterotrophic N2 Fixation Across Aquatic Redox Gradients: A Mathematical Model With Bioenergetic And Stoichiometric Constraints, Corday R. Selden, Rebecca A. Everett, Halvor M. Halvorson, Megan Berberich, Luca Schenone, Angela Peace, Renn Schipper, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, James Powell, Keisuke Inomura, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Amy Marcarelli, J. Thad Scott

Michigan Tech Publications

N2 fixation by aquatic organoheterotrophs supplies bioavailable nitrogen to the biosphere and thereby supports ecosystem production; yet the factors which drive this activity are poorly understood. Here, we present a generalized chemostat model to investigate stoichiometric and energetic constraints on free-living heterotrophic diazotrophs across gradients in redox state, resource quantity/quality, and resource stoichiometry. The model couples nutrient uptake and allocation functions to predict elemental fluxes with an energy dissipation model to calculate growth efficiency. After constraining model parameters with relevant culturing (e.g., Azotobacter) and environmental literature, we assessed model sensitivity to these parameters using Latin Hypercube Sampling and the statistical …

Assessment Of Aluminum-Based Drinking Water Treatment Residuals From Multiple Utilities In The United States As Green Sorbents For Pfas, Parisa Javidan, Roxana Rahmati, Zhiming Zhang, Anshuman Satpathy, Steven Larson, Rupali Datta, Dibyendu Sarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants causing human health concerns. In this study, five aluminum-based drinking water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) were evaluated as green adsorbents for the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) from water. Al-WTRs are nonhazardous solid wastes generated during the coagulation process of water treatment using aluminum salts or polymers. Although high PFAS adsorption capacity of Al-WTRs generated in one facility in the US has been reported, no study exists assessing PFAS adsorption capabilities of WTRs generated in multiple facilities using various types of aluminum coagulants. Batch adsorption experiments of PFOA …

Selenium-Thioredoxin Axis Contributes To Ferroptosis Resistance In Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Arslan Amer, Micah Olamide Idowu, Aqsa Ahsan, Alyssa A. Abbas, Tahiyat Alothaim, Xiaohu Tang

Michigan Tech Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) shows substantial heterogeneity in cysteine dependence and ferroptosis sensitivity. We identify two PDAC subtypes distinguished by EMT status: mesenchymal-like cells are highly cysteine-dependent and rapidly undergo ferroptosis upon cystine deprivation or system xc⁻ inhibition, whereas epithelial-type cells are ferroptosis-resistant. Selenium supplementation protects cells from erastin-induced ferroptosis, and this protection persists even when intracellular glutathione (GSH) is depleted, supporting an additional GPX4-independent protective mechanism. Sepp1 knockdown does not alter sensitivity, indicating that selenium’s protective effect is independent of Sepp1. Instead, epithelial-type cells rely on both cytosolic and mitochondrial thioredoxin reductases (TrxR1 and TrxR2) to maintain ferroptosis …

Intense Solar Radiation Constrains Plant Species Richness In Global Grasslands, Marie Spohn, Carlos Alberto Arnillas, Jonathan D. Bakker, Elizabeth T. Borer, Kari Anne Bråthen, Marc W. Cadotte, Erika I. Hersch-Green, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

The search for predictors of plant diversity has challenged scientists for decades. Here we identify intense photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) as a major factor constraining plant species richness in global grasslands. We show that the strength of the negative relationship between species richness and PAR increases with increasing elevation and that species richness is more strongly correlated with intense PAR than with UV-B radiation, climate variables, and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. In addition to species richness, plant biomass was also negatively correlated with PAR at higher elevations, indicating that intense PAR also constrains plant biomass in montane grasslands. Furthermore, we show …

The Global Extent Of The Grassland Biome And Implications For The Terrestrial Carbon Sink, A S. Macdougall, B Vanzant, J Sulik, S Bagchi, D Naidu, T O. Muraina, E. Hersch-Green

Michigan Tech Publications

Land cover data are commonly used to model the terrestrial carbon (C) sink, yet these data have wide margins of error that significantly alter estimates of global C storage. Here we demonstrate this data vulnerability in grasslands, which are critical to C cycling but whose estimated distribution has varied by >50 million km (3.5-42% of the Earth's terrestrial surface). Comparing multiple high-resolution land cover products with expertly annotated grassland data from six continents, we show sources of mapping error and discuss C implications based on 2023 United Nations (UN) FAO estimates. Past misidentification arose from inconsistent definitions on grassland identity …

Insights On Global Rangeland Ecosystem Services Shaped By Grazing And Fertilization, Laura Yahdjian, Sofía Campana, Pedro M. Tognetti, Juan Alberti, Pamela Graff, Cecilia Molina, Elizabeth T. Borer, Eric W. Seabloom, Suzanne M. Prober, Andrew S. Macdougall, Anita C. Risch, Jodi N. Price, Sally A. Power, Isabel C. Barrio, Erika Hersch-Green, Philip A. Fay, Sumanta Bagchi, Jonathan D. Bakker, Dana Blumenthal, Elizabeth H. Boughton, Cynthia S. Brown, Miguel N. Bugalho, Marc Cadotte, Maria C. Caldeira, Jane A. Catford, Clinton Carbutt, Qingqing Chen, Scott L. Collins, Thomas W. Crowther, Carla D’Antonio, Christopher R. Dickman

Michigan Tech Publications

Rangelands are crucial to human well-being, but their ability to provide ecosystem services is threatened. We (1) quantified key ecosystem services provided by rangelands, (2) assessed short- and long-term impacts of fertilization (nutrient addition) and the exclusion of large grazing herbivores with fences (herbivore exclusion) on services, and (3) identified synergies and trade-offs among services. We measured indicators of ecosystem services and plant diversity at 79 sites across six continents in the global Nutrient Network. Short-term herbivore exclusion increased forage quantity and soil fertility, but longer-term herbivore exclusion decreased both along with plant richness and pollination. Nutrient addition improved forage …

Mental Health Literacy In Biology Graduate Teaching Assistants: Perception, Knowledge, And Training Needs In College Stem Education, Kanza Arshad, Ricardo Montoya, Nicole Scheuermann, Heather E. Bergan-Roller

Honors Capstones

College students experience a high prevalence of mental health challenges, and STEM students exhibit lower mental health literacy than students in other disciplines. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) play a crucial role in supporting undergraduate students, yet little is known about their mental health literacy (MHL) or how they navigate student disclosures in instructional settings. This preliminary study examines MHL among GTAs in biology, as well as their knowledge, perceptions, and training needs regarding MHL. We used semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to examine how biology GTAs understand mental health, their responsibility related to student well-being, and what supports they identify …

Emerging Tools In Plant Genome Editing, Shilpi Sharma, Naveen Kumar Saroha, Abhilasha Sehrawat, Guiliang Tang, Deepali Singh, Sachin Teotia

Michigan Tech Publications

Plant genome editing has undergone a transformative shift with the advent of advanced molecular tools, offering unprecedented levels of precision, flexibility and efficiency in modifying genetic material. While classical site-directed nucleases such as ZFNs, TALENs and CRISPR-Cas9 have revolutionized genome engineering by enabling targeted mutagenesis and gene knockouts, the landscape is now rapidly evolving with the emergence of novel systems that go beyond the conventional double strand break (DSB)-mediated approaches. Advanced and recent tools include LEAPER, SATI, RESTORE, RESCUE, ARCUT, SPARDA, helicase-based approaches like HACE and Type IV-A CRISPR system, and transposon-based techniques like TATSI and piggyBac. These tools unlock …

Prevalence Of Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli In Illinois Bison Herds, Adam M. Baldocchi

Honors Capstones

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) represents an important group of zoonotic pathogens that pose ongoing risks to public health through foodborne outbreaks and environmental transmission. This project evaluated the prevalence and genetic distribution of stx1 and stx2 toxin genes in fecal samples collected from Illinois bison Bison bison) managed under either commercial or preservation conditions. A total of 320 fecal samples were screened for STEC presence by performing enrichment culturing and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for stx1, stx2, and uidA, which confirmed E. coli identity. Of all tested samples, 28.4% were STEC-positive, with stx2 (21.3%) …

Adsorptive Removal Of Arsenite And Cobalt By Commercial Sorbents, Sevda Joudiazar, Sushma Yadav, Zhiming Zhang, Anshuman Satpathy, Eustace Fernando, Roxana Rahmati, Junchul Kim, Rupali Datta, Dibyendu Sarkar

Michigan Tech Publications

Despite the prevalence and toxicity of heavy metals in the environment, arsenic and cobalt are of particular concern due to their high mobility and bioaccumulation potential, particularly in contaminated groundwater. Herein, we studied the adsorption behavior of commercially available sorbents, including Fluorosorb-100 (FS-100), Fluorosorb-200 (FS-200), and Filtrasorb-400 (F-400), for the removal of arsenite (As(III)) and cobalt (Co(II)), aiming at the selection of filter media in terms of future groundwater remediation. Kinetic analysis revealed that As(III) adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, while Co(II) showed mixed first- and second-order behavior, reflecting sorbent-dependent mechanisms. Equilibrium isotherm modeling revealed strong correlations with both Langmuir …

Dissolved Organic Matter Composition Differs Across Water Types In Mid-Atlantic And Great Lakes Coastal Regions, Jesse Alan Roebuck, Allison N. Myers-Pigg, Peter Regier, Nicholas D. Ward, Matthew J. Cooper, Kenneth M. Kemner, Amy Marcarelli, Elizabeth C. Minor, Michael Philben, Bongkeun Song, Rodrigo Vargas, Jianqiu Zheng

Michigan Tech Publications

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in coastal surface waters influences local water quality and is an important component of biogeochemical cycling in coastal systems. Many studies have highlighted transformations of DOM along longitudinal river to estuary transects; however, processes that alter DOM composition along lower reaches of rivers and nearshore estuarine waters is poorly understood. The high productivity of coastal environments and their limited representation in Earth System Models further highlights a need for better understanding of DOM transformations along coastal reaches. We leverage a spatially distributed community sampling effort that spans coastal ecosystems across two regions to identify broad spatial …

Correction: Turn-On Fluorescent Glucose Transport Bioprobe Enables Wash-Free Real-Time Monitoring Of Glucose Uptake Activity In Live Cells And Small Organisms, Monica S. Hensley, David Hutchings, Abdelrahman Ismail, Micaela Rayne Geborkoff, Thomas Werner, Marina Tanasova

Michigan Tech Publications

Correction for “Turn-on fluorescent glucose transport bioprobe enables wash-free real-time monitoring of glucose uptake activity in live cells and small organisms” by Monica S. Hensley et al., RSC Chem. Biol., 2025, 6, 987–995, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CB00239C.

The authors regret that two contributors, Micaela Rayne Geborkoff and Professor Dr Thomas Werner, were inadvertently omitted from the original author list of this article. Both individuals made significant contributions to the research reported.

Micaela Rayne Geborkoff was involved in the design, planning, and execution of the Drosophila experiments, specifically in the growth and treatment of fruit fly larvae. Professor Dr Thomas Werner provided …

Response Of Various Body Parts Of House Flies, Musca Domestica, To Sucrose, Panchalie B. Gunathunga, Merveille Muyizere, Bethia H. King

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Insects use multiple body parts, not just their mouth, to taste. Whether a particular body part has a taste function can be determined by examining the morphology or electrophysiological response of its sensilla (sense organs) or by its behavioral response. The present study investigated taste response of each of the three pairs of tarsi, tibiae, femurs, as well as the antennae and wings, in house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). This was done by measuring the proboscis extension response (PER), and in the case of the wings, also the grooming behavior. PER is a visible precursor to consumption. The …

Activation Of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Promotes The Expression Of Inflammatory Mediators And Cell Proliferation Of Human Polycystic Kidney Disease Cells, Yang Zhang, Matthew Plansinis, Sophia Peak, Elisabeth Weber, Aiping Wei, Yu Xu, Madelyn Ross, Abigail Leagjeld, Darren P. Wallace, Yan Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the progressive enlargement of fluid-filled cysts, leading to a decline in renal function. Toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and TLR4 are pattern recognition receptors and components of the innate immune response. We found that mRNA levels for TLR2 and TLR4, an adaptor protein MyD88, and the transcription factor NF-κB were elevated in the kidneys of ADPKD patients and PKD mice. There was decreased expression of IκBα, an inhibitory protein sequestering NF-κB in the cytosol, and increased NF-κB nuclear translocation in human ADPKD kidneys compared with normal human kidneys (NHK). Pam3CSK4, a synthetic TLR2 …

Sustainable Management Of Copper-Contaminated Soils Using Vetiver Root Biochar, Sameer Neve, Dibyendu Sarkar, Zhiming Zhang, Rupali Datta

Michigan Tech Publications

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, copper mining was a predominant industry in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, resulting in substantial environmental issues due to the generation of mining waste. This waste, referred to as stamp sands, was disposed of in Lake Superior, causing severe harm to aquatic ecosystems. Later, the stamp sands were dredged and deposited along the lake shores, causing large-scale contamination with copper. This rendered the land incapable of supporting vegetation. This study investigates the efficacy of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) root biochar as a soil amendment to enhance the quality of copper-contaminated stamp sands. The biochar was produced …

Effects Of Chronic Metal Exposure And Metamorphosis On The Microbiomes Of Larval And Adult Insects And Riparian Spiders Through The Aquatic-Riparian Food Web, Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, Amy Marcarelli, Gordon Paterson, David M. Walters

Michigan Tech Publications

The macroinvertebrate microbiome controls various aspects of the host's physiology, from regulation of environmental contaminants to reproductive output. Aquatic insects provide critical nutritional subsidies linking aquatic and riparian food webs while simultaneously serving as a contaminant pathway for riparian insectivores in polluted ecosystems. Previous studies have characterized the transport and transfer of contaminants from aquatic to riparian ecosystems through insect metamorphosis, but both contaminant exposure and metamorphosis are energetically intensive processes that may cause host microbiomes to undergo radical transformation in structure and function, potentially affecting the host's physiology. We collected arthropods from three sites within Torch Lake, a historical …

Interactions Among Nutrients Govern The Global Grassland Biomass–Precipitation Relationship, Philip A. Fay, Laureano A. Gherardi, Laura Yahdjian, Peter B. Adler, Jonathan D. Bakker, Siddharth Bharath, Elizabeth T. Borer, W. Stanley Harpole, Erika Hersch-Green, George R. Wheeler

Michigan Tech Publications

Ecosystems are experiencing changing global patterns of mean annual precipitation (MAP) and enrichment with multiple nutrients that potentially colimit plant biomass production. In grasslands, mean aboveground plant biomass is closely related to MAP, but how this relationship changes after enrichment with multiple nutrients remains unclear. We hypothesized the global biomass–MAP relationship becomes steeper with an increasing number of added nutrients, with increases in steepness corresponding to the form of interaction among added nutrients and with increased mediation by changes in plant community diversity. We measured aboveground plant biomass production and species diversity in 71 grasslands on six continents representing the …

Impacts Of Riverine Heatwaves On Rates Of Ecosystem Metabolism In The United States, Spencer J. Tassone, Michelle Kelly, Olivia N. Beidler, Michael L. Pace, Amy Marcarelli

Michigan Tech Publications

Rivers produce and decompose large amounts of carbon globally due, in part, to high rates of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER), collectively known as ecosystem metabolism. Water temperature is a major driver of ecosystem metabolism, and in-stream temperatures are increasing globally, including extreme temperature events called heatwaves. This study used published estimates of daily GPP and ER from 48 stream and river locations in the United States to examine how ecosystem metabolism responds to riverine heatwaves. During low-severity heatwaves, GPP and ER increase proportionally, resulting in no net difference. However, during severe and extreme heatwaves, GPP declined …

Removal Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using Commercially Available Sorbents, Zhiming Zhang, Sevda Joudiazar, Anshuman Satpathy, Eustace Fernando, Roxana Rahmati, Rupali Datta, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants of growing environmental and human health concern, widely detected across various environmental compartments. Effective remediation strategies are essential to mitigate their widespread impacts. This study compared the performance of two types of commercially available sorbent materials, granular activated carbon (GAC, Filtrasorb-400) and organoclays (OC-200, and modified organoclays Fluoro-sorb-100 and Fluoro-sorb-200) for the removal of three representative PFAS compounds: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from water. Both organoclays and modified organoclays outperformed GAC, likely due to electrostatic interactions between the anionic PFAS compounds and the cationic …

Coastal Environments: Lidar Mapping Of Copper Tailings Impacts, Particle Retention Of Copper, Leaching, And Toxicity, W. Charles Kerfoot, Gary Swain, Robert Regis, Varsha K. Raman, Colin N. Brooks, Chris Cook, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Tailings generated by mining account for the largest world-wide waste from industrial activities. As an element, copper is relatively uncommon, with low concentrations in sediments and waters, yet is very elevated around mining operations. On the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan, USA, jutting out into Lake Superior, 140 mines extracted native copper from the Portage Lake Volcanic Series, part of an intercontinental rift system. Between 1901 and 1932, two mills at Gay (Mohawk, Wolverine) sluiced 22.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) of copper-rich tailings (stamp sands) into Grand (Big) Traverse Bay. About 10 MMT formed a beach that has migrated 7 km …

Trpv4 Dominates High Shear-Induced Initial Traction Response And Long-Term Relaxation Over Piezo1, Mohanish Chandurkar, Manli Yang, Majid Rostami, Sangyoon J. Han

Michigan Tech Publications

Modulation of endothelial traction is critical for the responses of endothelial cells to fluid shear stress (FSS), which has profound implications for vascular health and atherosclerosis. Previously, we demonstrated that under high FSS, endothelial cells rapidly increase traction forces, followed by relaxation, with traction aligning in the flow direction. In contrast, low shear preconditioning induces a modest short-term increase in traction (min), followed by a secondary long-term (>14 hr) rise, with traction/cells aligning perpendicular to the flow. The upstream mechanosensors driving these responses, however, remain unknown. Here, we sought the roles of Piezo1 and TRPV4 ion channels in shear-induced …

A Global Dataset Of Nitrogen Fixation Rates Across Inland And Coastal Waters, Robinson W. Fulweiler, Megan E. Berberich, Shelby A. Rinehart, Jason M. Taylor, Michelle Catherine Kelly, Nicholas E. Ray, Autumn Oczkowski, Sawyer J. Balint, Alexandra H. Geisser, Catherine R. Mahoney, Mar Benavides, Matthew J. Church, Brianna Loeks, Silvia E. Newell, Malin Olofsson, Jimmy C. Oppong, Sarah S. Roley, Carmella Vizza, Samuel T. Wilson, Peter M. Groffman, J. Thad Scott, Amy Marcarelli

Michigan Tech Publications

Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of dinitrogen (N2) gas into bioavailable nitrogen by microorganisms with consequences for primary production, ecosystem function, and global climate. Here we present a compiled dataset of 4793 nitrogen fixation (N2-fixation) rates measured in the water column and benthos of inland and coastal systems via the acetylene reduction assay, 15N2 labeling, or N2/Ar technique. While the data are distributed across seven continents, most observations (88%) are from the northern hemisphere. 15N2 labeling accounted for 67% of water column measurements, while the acetylene reduction assay accounted for 81% of benthic N2-fixation observations. Dataset median area-, volume-, …

Diversity And Distribution Of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Genes In The Cold Seeps From The Mediterranean And Caspian Seas, Yogita Warkhade, Laura G. Schaerer, Isaac Bigcraft, Terry C. Hazen, Stephen M. Techtmann

Michigan Tech Publications

Marine cold seeps are unique ecological niches characterized by the emergence of hydrocarbons, including methane, which fosters diverse microbial communities. This study investigates the diversity and distribution of hydrocarbon-degrading genes and organisms in sediments from the Caspian and Mediterranean Seas, utilizing 16S rRNA and metagenomic sequencing to elucidate microbial community structure and functional potential. Our findings reveal distinct differences in hydrocarbon degrading gene profiles between the two seas, with pathways for aerobic and anaerobic hydrocarbon degradation co-existing in sediments from both basins. Aerobic pathways predominate in the surface sediments of the Mediterranean Sea, while anaerobic pathways are favored in the …

Post-Transcriptional And Post-Translational Regulation Of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis In Sweetpotato By Ib-Mir2111 And Ibkfb: Implications For Health Promotion, Ruimin Tang, Cailiang Zhao, Jingjian Dong, Xiayu Liu, Lu Chang, Jianghui Li, Haitao Dong, Yuntao Lv, Zhuang Luo, Meiling Wu, Shan Shen, Qianwen Shan, Yuan Li, Qijun Chen, Runzhi Li, Liheng He, Qinghe Cao, Guiliang Tang, Xiaoyun Jia

Michigan Tech Publications

Introduction: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a genetically intricate hexaploid crop. The purple-fleshed variety, enriched with anthocyanin pigments, is an outstanding source for creating high-value functional products. Previous research on anthocyanin biosynthesis has primarily focused on the above-ground plant parts at the transcriptional level. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in underground tuberous roots of sweet potato remain largely unexplored. Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms of Ib-miR2111 and its target gene IbKFB in anthocyanin synthesis in sweet potato. Methods: Genetic manipulation techniques were used to validate the function of Ib-miR2111 and …

A Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Remediating Toxic Metals In Mine-Affected Soil, Sonali Banerjee, Jajati Mandal, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Pradip Bhattacharyya

Michigan Tech Publications

Mines are natural reservoirs of various minerals, metals, and metalloids. Several heavy metals (HMs), such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni, are major anthropogenic pollutants that cause severe environmental pollution. The accumulation of these toxic HMs in soils has raised several concerns for crop growth, food safety, and marketing. Physiological and biochemical processes in plants are severely impacted by HMs, disrupting normal metabolic activities and reducing biomass production. Phytoremediation plays a pivotal role in addressing HM contamination by offering an eco-friendly, economical, and holistic solution. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a significant role by forming a symbiotic relationship …

Metal-Rich Lacustrine Sediments From Legacy Mining Perpetuate Copper Exposure To Aquatic-Riparian Food Webs, Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, Kate M. Campbell, Marie-Noële Croteau, Tyler J. Kane, Amy Marcarelli, R Blaine Mccleskey, Gordon Paterson, Craig A. Stricker, David M. Walters

Michigan Tech Publications

Historic copper mining left a legacy of metal-rich tailings resulting in ecological impacts along and within Torch Lake, an area of concern in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA. Given the toxicity of copper to invertebrates, this study assessed the influence of this legacy on present day nearshore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We measured the metal (Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in sediment, pore water, surface water, larval and adult insects, and two riparian spider taxa collected from Torch Lake and a nearby reference lake. Overall, elevated metal and metalloid concentrations, particularly Cu, were measured in all …

Behavioral Response Of House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) To 3 Bittering Agents, Panchalie B. Gunathunga, Bethia H. King, Christopher J. Geden

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

House flies, Musca domestica L., are pests at livestock facilities. House fly numbers are controlled mainly by manure management and chemical controls, like use of toxic baits. Some toxic baits contain denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent, to avoid poisoning of children. House fly behavioral response to denatonium benzoate was examined, using 2 different diluents, sucrose solution or orange juice. Response of flies to quinine and sucrose octaacetate, 2 other bittering agents, was also examined in sucrose. Sucrose is the sweetener in commercially available toxic house fly baits. The proboscis extension response of both male and female flies was significantly …

The Responses Of Insect Herbivores And Local Food Webs To Invasive Shrubs, Logan W. Huber

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species cause widespread ecological disruption and economic loss. Invasive plants in particular have the potential to reshape forest food webs from the bottom up. However, the extent to which herbivores colonize and assimilate invasive plants into their diets remains unclear. To address this, I surveyed caterpillar abundance, richness, and herbivory on two invasive shrubs, Lonicera maackii and Elaeagnus umbellata, across regions differing in infestation history. Lonicera maackii supported lower overall caterpillar abundance and richness but hosted a more diverse and abundant caterpillar community in the heavily infested region. E. umbellata supported robust caterpillar communities and experienced herbivory levels comparable …

Determinants Of Bat Activity And Habitat-Use At Runkle Woods And Huffman Metropark, Ohio, Heidi E. Orloff

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

North American bats are an excellent control of pests as most are insectivorous feeders. They face numerous threats including habitat loss, anthropogenic development, disease (White-nose Syndrome), and potentially artificial light at night (ALAN). It is important to track species populations and habitat-use to determine the magnitude of effects from these threats. Acoustic monitoring has proven a useful and non-invasive method for tracking bat populations. In my research, I conducted stationary acoustic surveys of bat activity at Wright State University’s Runkle Woods and nearby Huffman MetroPark during the summers of 2023 and 2024. I recorded bat calls in three different habitats …

Impacts Of Salinity And Drought On Growth And Carbon Sequestration In Acorus Americanus And Carex Scoparia, Eleora L. Mantle

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

From the late 18th century until the 1980s, Ohio lost close to 90% of its wetlands. Despite increased efforts to maintain what is left, many freshwater marshes are still being degraded due to pollutants, such as road salt, and the impacts of climate change. This study sought to understand how both road salt and drought could impact the health and carbon sequestration of two wetland species, Acorus americana and Carex scoparia, to better understand tolerance. To do this, both species were separated into groups and subjected to varying salt concentrations and drought conditions. After 9 weeks of treatment, plants were …