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Articles 61 - 90 of 164

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Distribution And Stability Of The Lampricide 3-Trifluoromethyl-4-Nitrophenol (Tfm) In Non-Target Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) And White Sucker (Catostomus Commersonii), Darren Foubister Jan 2018

Distribution And Stability Of The Lampricide 3-Trifluoromethyl-4-Nitrophenol (Tfm) In Non-Target Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) And White Sucker (Catostomus Commersonii), Darren Foubister

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) is applied to tributaries of the Great Lakes to control invasive sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus). Although TFM is selectively toxic to larval sea lampreys, non-target mortality can occur during lampricide treatments. It is important to know whether or not TFM played a role in the death of these fishes, and the most direct means to do this is using forensic science principles. The objectives of this study were to: (i) determine the acute toxicity of TFM to the non-target fishes, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii), and how the lampricide is …


Effects Of Wave Action On The Structure Of Fish Assemblages Across An Exposure Gradient, Lauren Liddon Aug 2017

Effects Of Wave Action On The Structure Of Fish Assemblages Across An Exposure Gradient, Lauren Liddon

Master's Theses

Disturbance affects the function and diversity of ecosystems. Increased wave exposure to salt marsh can disturb sediments and cause a loss of habitat. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of increased wave exposure on diversity, abundance, and functional ecology of estuarine fishes. If increased wave exposure is acting as a disturbance to these habitats, ecological theory (Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis) predicts that diversity will peak at intermediate frequencies and intensities of disturbance. Fish were sampled from 10 sites monthly for 6 years. The sites were assigned to different exposure categories (Open, Intermediate, and Sheltered) using an exposure …


The Conservation Status Of Marine Bony Shorefishes Of The Greater Caribbean, Kent E. Carptenter, Christi Linardich, Gina Ralph, N. Cox, D. R. Robertson, H. Harwell, A. Acero P., W. Anderson Jr., F. Barthelat, J. -L. Bouchereau, J. J. Brown, J. Buchanan, D. Buddo, B. Collette, M. Comeros-Raynal, M. Craig, M. Curtis, T. Defex, J. Dooley, W. Driggers Iii, C. Elfes Livsey, T. Fraser, R. Gilmore Jr., L. Grijalba Bendeck, A. Hines, R. Kishore, K. Lindeman, J. -P. Maréchal, J. Mceachran, R. Mcmanus, J. Moore, T. Munroe, H. Oxenford, F. Pezold, F. Pina Amargós, A. Polanco Fernandez, B. Polidoro, C. Pollock, R. Robins, B. Russell, C. Sayer, S. Williams Jan 2017

The Conservation Status Of Marine Bony Shorefishes Of The Greater Caribbean, Kent E. Carptenter, Christi Linardich, Gina Ralph, N. Cox, D. R. Robertson, H. Harwell, A. Acero P., W. Anderson Jr., F. Barthelat, J. -L. Bouchereau, J. J. Brown, J. Buchanan, D. Buddo, B. Collette, M. Comeros-Raynal, M. Craig, M. Curtis, T. Defex, J. Dooley, W. Driggers Iii, C. Elfes Livsey, T. Fraser, R. Gilmore Jr., L. Grijalba Bendeck, A. Hines, R. Kishore, K. Lindeman, J. -P. Maréchal, J. Mceachran, R. Mcmanus, J. Moore, T. Munroe, H. Oxenford, F. Pezold, F. Pina Amargós, A. Polanco Fernandez, B. Polidoro, C. Pollock, R. Robins, B. Russell, C. Sayer, S. Williams

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The greater Caribbean biogeographic region covered in this report (representing 38 countries and territories) encompasses an outstanding marine bony shorefish richness of approximately 1,360 species, with many (53%) being endemic. This report provides an overview of the conservation status of greater Caribbean shorefishes, with detailed information available through the IUCN Red List, and gives recommendations.


Toxic Effect Of Lead Chloride On Antioxidant Enzyme In The Liver And Kidney Of Fish, Bakhtawar Raza, Muhammad Javed, Faiza Ambreen, Fariha Latif Nov 2016

Toxic Effect Of Lead Chloride On Antioxidant Enzyme In The Liver And Kidney Of Fish, Bakhtawar Raza, Muhammad Javed, Faiza Ambreen, Fariha Latif

Journal of Bioresource Management

The contamination of aquatic habitats has become a serious problem for sustainability of the fisheries sector in Pakistan. Among different pollutants, heavy metals are very toxic. Their toxicity can be assessed by using antioxidant enzymes as biomarkers. These enzymes protect the living organisms from the oxidative stress caused by the heavy metals. Therefore, the effect of lead chloride (PbCl2) on the peroxidase enzyme activity in the tissues (liver and kidney) of Cirrhinamrigala was investigated. Four groups of Cirrhinamrigala were exposed, separately, to 96-hr LC50 concentration of PbCl2 along with its sub-lethal concentrations, viz.2/3rd, 1/4th and 1/5th for a period of …


Effect Of Manganese Chloride (Mncl2) On Peroxidase Activity In Labeo Rohita, Nadia Altaf, Muhammad Javed, Sidra Abbas Nov 2016

Effect Of Manganese Chloride (Mncl2) On Peroxidase Activity In Labeo Rohita, Nadia Altaf, Muhammad Javed, Sidra Abbas

Journal of Bioresource Management

Four groups (n=10) of one year old Labeo rohita were exposed to 96-hr LC50 and sub-lethal (2/3rd, 1/4th and 1/5th) concentrations of MnCl2 for a duration of 30 days in the glass aquaria of 50L water capacity. After an exposure period of 30 days, the activity of peroxidase enzyme in the liver and brain of MnCl2 exposed fish was measured and compared with the control group. Physico-chemical parameters of the test media, viz. pH, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, total ammonia, total hardness, calcium and magnesium were also monitored on a 12 hour basis during the whole experimental duration by following …


Policy On The Application Of Fish Size Limits In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries Nov 2016

Policy On The Application Of Fish Size Limits In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

No abstract provided.


Green And Choking: Exploring The Dynamics Of Seasonal Productivity And Hypoxia In A Great Lakes Area Of Concern And Habitat Blueprint Estuary Using Time-Series Measurements, Anthony D. Weinke Aug 2016

Green And Choking: Exploring The Dynamics Of Seasonal Productivity And Hypoxia In A Great Lakes Area Of Concern And Habitat Blueprint Estuary Using Time-Series Measurements, Anthony D. Weinke

Masters Theses

Although hypoxia (dissolved oxygen <4 mg L-1) in the bottom waters of lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries may be a natural product of stratification in eutrophic or mesotrophic systems, there is increasing concern because the occurrence of hypoxia is spreading in many areas where hypoxia did not previously exist. Part of this new knowledge can be attributed to time-series data from buoy observatories that monitor systems in good weather and in bad, and allowing insight into the inner workings of a lake where sampling only a few times per year would not. This study made use of a five-year time-series of meteorological and water quality data in order to examine the effect of episodic wind-events on stratification and hypoxia within Muskegon Lake, Michigan, as well as performing bi-weekly lake-wide monitoring to evaluate the effects of stratification, hypoxia, and wind-events on the lake. In the wind-event portion of the study, we found that events where wind speeds were above average for an extended period of time occurred fairly frequently on the lake, but that thermal stratification allowed only the strongest events to significantly mix the water column at the buoy location a few times per year. This provided infrequent relief of hypoxia in the bottom waters. The second portion of the study found extensive effects on the water quality and biology in the bottom of the lake due to hypoxia such as increased phosphorus concentrations, enhanced phycocyanin following a strong windevent, and decreased fish abundance, richness, and size. We also found that hypoxia occurred lake-wide at all four sample locations, but was most stable at the deepest point in the lake that was least influenced by wind-events. It is possible that the combination of hypoxia and strong episodic wind-events leads to entrainment of phosphorus-rich waters to the surface initiating or continuing an algal bloom. Hypoxia and wind-event mediated internal loading of phosphorus could be a positive feedback loop for cyanobacterial blooms and hypoxia in Muskegon Lake.


Population Viability Analysis For Endangered Roanoke Logperch, James Henry Roberts, Paul L. Angermeier, Gregory B. Anderson Jun 2016

Population Viability Analysis For Endangered Roanoke Logperch, James Henry Roberts, Paul L. Angermeier, Gregory B. Anderson

Biology: Faculty Publications

A common strategy for recovering endangered species is ensuring that populations exceed the minimum viable population size (MVP), a demographic benchmark that theoretically ensures low long-term extinction risk. One method of establishing MVP is population viability analysis, a modeling technique that simulates population trajectories and forecasts extinction risk based on a series of biological, environmental, and management assumptions. Such models also help identify key uncertainties that have a large influence on extinction risk. We used stochastic count-based simulation models to explore extinction risk, MVP, and the possible benefits of alternative management strategies in populations of Roanoke logperch Percina rex, an …


Using Rad‐Seq To Recognize Sex‐Specific Markers And Sex Chromosome Systems, Tony Gamble May 2016

Using Rad‐Seq To Recognize Sex‐Specific Markers And Sex Chromosome Systems, Tony Gamble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Next‐generation sequencing methods have initiated a revolution in molecular ecology and evolution (Tautz et al. 2010). Among the most impressive of these sequencing innovations is restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing or RAD‐seq (Baird et al. 2008; Andrews et al. 2016). RAD‐seq uses the Illumina sequencing platform to sequence fragments of DNA cut by a specific restriction enzyme and can generate tens of thousands of molecular genetic markers for analysis. One of the many uses of RAD‐seq data has been to identify sex‐specific genetic markers, markers found in one sex but not the other (Baxter et …


The Effect Of Seasonal Fish Migration On Energy Budgets In Two Coastal Michigan Streams, Emily M. Dean Apr 2016

The Effect Of Seasonal Fish Migration On Energy Budgets In Two Coastal Michigan Streams, Emily M. Dean

Masters Theses

Migratory fish are known to seasonally enter coastal stream systems but the magnitude of the effects these migrations have on stream energy budgets is not fully understood. The Laurentian Great Lakes have several introduced and native adfluvial fish, where only a few studies have investigated the impacts of their migration on energy budgets in Michigan coastal streams. We quantified the contribution of energy from Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) muscle and eggs, steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs, and larval white suckers (Catostomus commersonii) to coastal stream energy budgets. Energy densities and energy delivered to streams were estimated using bomb calorimetry and annual …


A Genetically Distinct Hybrid Zone Occurs For Two Globally Invasive Mosquito Fish Species With Striking Phenotypic Resemblance, Rebecca J. Wilk, Lisa Horth Jan 2016

A Genetically Distinct Hybrid Zone Occurs For Two Globally Invasive Mosquito Fish Species With Striking Phenotypic Resemblance, Rebecca J. Wilk, Lisa Horth

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Hybrid zones allow for the investigation of incipient speciation and related evolutionary processes of selection, gene flow, and migration. Interspecific dynamics, like competition, can impact the size, shape, and directional movement of species in hybrid zones. Hybrid zones contribute to a paradox for the biological species concept because interbreeding between species occurs while parental forms remain distinct. A long‐standing zone of intergradation or introgression exists for eastern and western mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki and G. affinis) around Mobile Bay, AL. The region has been studied episodically, over decades, making it perfect for addressing temporal dynamics and for providing …


A Missing Link In The Ionoregulatory Strategy Of Larval Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) And African Lungfish (Protopterus Annectens): A Closer Look Into The Role Of The Non-Gastric H+/K+-Atpase, Justine E. Doherty Jan 2016

A Missing Link In The Ionoregulatory Strategy Of Larval Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) And African Lungfish (Protopterus Annectens): A Closer Look Into The Role Of The Non-Gastric H+/K+-Atpase, Justine E. Doherty

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Fishes living in freshwater need to actively compensate for the diffusive loss of ions and osmotic gain of water. The gill is the primary organ of ion regulation and contains an array of ion transport proteins to help maintain homeostasis. Two of the more well studied ion pumps are the Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) and vacuolar type proton ATPase (V-ATPase). This thesis focuses on another ion pump known as the non-gastric H+/K+-ATPase (ngHKA). The ngHKA (gene: atp12a) has not been found in any of the teleost fishes, indicating loss from that lineage. In …


No Cortex, No Cry, Vladimir Dinets Jan 2016

No Cortex, No Cry, Vladimir Dinets

Animal Sentience

In his target article, Key (2016) argues that since fish don’t have a frontal cortex (part of the brain known to be important for feeling of pain in humans and rodents), they cannot feel pain or other noxious stimuli. I comment on the logic used in this extrapolation and other arguments presented in the paper.


Development Of Ecogeomorphological (Egm) Stream Design And Assessment Tools For The Piedmont Of Alabama, Usa, Brian Helms, Jason Zink, David Werneke, Tom Hess, Zan Price, Greg Jennings, Eve Brantley Jan 2016

Development Of Ecogeomorphological (Egm) Stream Design And Assessment Tools For The Piedmont Of Alabama, Usa, Brian Helms, Jason Zink, David Werneke, Tom Hess, Zan Price, Greg Jennings, Eve Brantley

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Regional data needed for effective stream restoration include hydraulic geometry relationships (i.e., regional curves) and reference channel morphology parameters. Increasingly ecological conditions are being considered when designing, implementing, and assessing restoration efforts. We provide morphology relationships and associated ecological endpoint curves for reference streams in the Alabama piedmont. Twenty-one reference stream reaches were identified in the Tallapoosa drainage of Alabama, ranging from 0.2 to 242 km2 drainage area. Geomorphic surveys were conducted in each stream to measure riffle cross-sections and longitudinal profiles and related to drainage area to develop regional curves. Fish, crayfish, and benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from each …


Environmental Effects On Fish Escape Responses: Impact Of Flow On The Escape Performance Of The Hawaiian Stream Goby, Sicyopterus Stimpsoni, Kelly Diamond Aug 2015

Environmental Effects On Fish Escape Responses: Impact Of Flow On The Escape Performance Of The Hawaiian Stream Goby, Sicyopterus Stimpsoni, Kelly Diamond

All Theses

The ability of fish to escape from predators is a critical behavior for their survival. Experimental measurements of escape performance in fishes have typically been based on trials conducted in still water; however, such environmental conditions are rare in nature due to waves and currents that expose fishes to unsteady and/or directional flow. I examined the effects of water flow and predator attack direction on the escape behavior of fish, using juveniles of the amphidromous Hawaiian goby Sicyopterus stimpsoni as a model system. In nature, these fish must escape ambush predation by the Hawaiian sleeper, Eleotris sandwicensis, while exposed …


Diverging Predation Environment Between Two Sister Species Of Live Bearing Fish: Boldness, Activity, And Exploration., David Money, Jerald B. Johnson May 2015

Diverging Predation Environment Between Two Sister Species Of Live Bearing Fish: Boldness, Activity, And Exploration., David Money, Jerald B. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our study takes advantage of a unique species pair within Brachyrhaphis, Brachyrhaphis roseni and B. terrabensis,, which provides insight into how divergence proceeds once speciation is complete. Brachyrhaphis roseni and B. terrabensis are sister species that occur in the same river drainages throughout northwestern Panama. A similar pattern occurs between these two species as occurs within other species of Brachyrhaphis, such that B. roseni lives in the presence of ambush predators (e.g., Hoplias microlepis and Gobiomorus dormitor) in lower elevation streams, and B. terrabensis, lives in largely predator-free, higher elevation streams. Therefore, using B. roseni and …


Parasite Infection Mediates Trait Tradeoffs In Fundulus Heteroclitus, Sarah Dunn May 2015

Parasite Infection Mediates Trait Tradeoffs In Fundulus Heteroclitus, Sarah Dunn

Honors College Theses

To be successful, an animal must eat, grow, and reproduce. With limited resources, there are tradeoffs between these critical life history parameters but the direction of the tradeoffs is largely unknown in a changing environment. To determine whether environmental context affects life-history tradeoffs, I surveyed and quantified investment into reproduction, growth, and a proxy for immunity (parasitism), in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, a common inhabitant of salt marshes in Georgia. Three salt marsh sites along coastal Georgia (Shellman Bluff, Skidaway Island, and Tybee Island) were selected using a proxy for anthropogenic disturbance (impervious surface), which also fell along a …


The Effects Of Suspended Sediment On Japanese Medaka (Oryzias Latipes) And Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis) Metabolism, Brandy L. Bossle, Ruben R. Goforth, Shem D. Unger, Olin E. Rhodes Jr. Apr 2015

The Effects Of Suspended Sediment On Japanese Medaka (Oryzias Latipes) And Mosquitofish (Gambusia Affinis) Metabolism, Brandy L. Bossle, Ruben R. Goforth, Shem D. Unger, Olin E. Rhodes Jr.

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Sedimentation is recognized as a significant environmental stressor in aquatic ecosystems and high amounts of suspended sediments (SS) in streams are known to negatively affect aquatic organisms. In particular, it has been hypothesized that many fish species mayexhibit increased respiration rates when exposed to elevated SS. To evaluate this hypothesis, we evaluated the acute response (3 hour exposure) of two small, freshwater fish species exposed to high suspended sediment loads using experimental respirometry chambers which measure oxygen consumption as a proxy of metabolism. Our results indicate that Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) did not exhibit a significantly greater oxygen …


Father Convict Cichlids Bite Intruders More Often In Hot Temperatures, Jesse L. Heckendorf Jan 2015

Father Convict Cichlids Bite Intruders More Often In Hot Temperatures, Jesse L. Heckendorf

STAR Program Research Presentations

Convict cichlids (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) have evolved to be extremely good parents by protecting their brood. Parental care leads to aggressive biting, chasing, and gill flaring to intimidate predators. In this experiment, we show that environmental factors, such as the changing of temperature in this case, affect a male convict cichlid’s aggression toward caring for his offspring when an intruder is introduced. Male convict cichlids attack more in warmer water.


Organ-Specific Antioxidant Defenses And Ft-Ir Spectroscopy Of Muscles In Crucian Carp (Carassius Auratus Gibelio) Exposed To Environmental Pb2+, Sher Ali Khan, Xiaoyu Liu, Hong Li, Wenting Fan, Bakht Ramin Shah, Jingna Li, Lu Zhang, Suyan Chen, Sher Bahadar Khan Jan 2015

Organ-Specific Antioxidant Defenses And Ft-Ir Spectroscopy Of Muscles In Crucian Carp (Carassius Auratus Gibelio) Exposed To Environmental Pb2+, Sher Ali Khan, Xiaoyu Liu, Hong Li, Wenting Fan, Bakht Ramin Shah, Jingna Li, Lu Zhang, Suyan Chen, Sher Bahadar Khan

Turkish Journal of Biology

Being a nonessential element, lead (Pb2+) can be toxic in trace amounts for freshwater fish. The present study was designed to evaluate the induction of oxidative stress, tissue-specific antioxidant response, acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) activities, and biochemical content of muscle in Crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) after 96 h of acute exposure and 21 days of chronic exposure to various environmental concentrations (5, 10, and 30 µg L-1) of waterborne Pb2+. The results indicated that exposure to 10 and 30 µg L-1 Pb2+ significantly altered the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in different tissues, while malondialdehyde content increased …


Life-History Aspects Of Moxostoma Cervinum (Blacktip Jumprock) In The Roanoke River, Virginia, Dezarai A. Thompson, John S. Bentley, Steven L. Powers Jan 2015

Life-History Aspects Of Moxostoma Cervinum (Blacktip Jumprock) In The Roanoke River, Virginia, Dezarai A. Thompson, John S. Bentley, Steven L. Powers

Virginia Journal of Science

Life-history aspects of Moxostoma cervinum(Blacktip Jumprock) were identified using specimens from recent collections and the Roanoke College Ichthyological Collection. The largest specimen examined was a female 161.27 mm SL and 66 months of age. Spawning appears to occur in May, with a mean of 2477.6 oocytes (SD = 2825.3) up to 1.54 mm diameter in gravid females. Sexual maturity appears to occur by 1-2 years of age in males and 2-3 years of age in females. Male to female ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Chironomidae composed the bulk of the diet; while detritus, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Acari …


Effects Of The Algal Toxin Microcystin On Fishes In The James River, Virginia, Maxwell D. Haase Jan 2015

Effects Of The Algal Toxin Microcystin On Fishes In The James River, Virginia, Maxwell D. Haase

Theses and Dissertations

With the global rise in frequency of harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments comes an increase in prevalence of toxic metabolites, such as microcystin (MC), that some of the cyanobacteria involved will produce. At high concentrations, MC may accumulate in consumer tissues and have deleterious effects on organisms; however impacts of the toxin on aquatic living resources at ecologically relevant concentrations have not been widely documented. We analyzed the effects of MC on juveniles of five fish species from the James River, Virginia to determine if MC has the potential to impede growth. Using three separate experimental approaches, it was …


Parental Care In The Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid, Herichthys Minckleyi (Teleostei: Cichlidae), Ronald G. Oldfield, M. Xavier Nieves Oct 2014

Parental Care In The Cuatro Ciénegas Cichlid, Herichthys Minckleyi (Teleostei: Cichlidae), Ronald G. Oldfield, M. Xavier Nieves

Faculty Scholarship

Behavioral studies have often examined parental care by measuring phenotypic plasticity of behavior within a species. Phylogenetic studies have compared parental care among species, but only at broad categories (e.g., care vs. no care). Here we provide a detailed account that integrates phylogenetic analysis with quantitative behavioral data to better understand parental care behavior in the Cuatro Ciénegas cichlid, Herichthys minckleyi. We found that H. minckleyi occurs in a clade of sexually monochromatic or weakly dichromatic monogamous species, but that male and female H. minckleyi have dramatically different reproductive coloration patterns, likely as a result of sexual selection. Furthermore, we …


Coral-Fish Dynamics And Interactions: A Case Study Of Grand Cayman, Eileen Shea Davis Jun 2014

Coral-Fish Dynamics And Interactions: A Case Study Of Grand Cayman, Eileen Shea Davis

Lawrence University Honors Projects

To better understand the ecological interactions of coral reefs, it is important to understand the mechanisms that control the distribution and abundance of reef-building corals as well as the mechanisms that control the diversity and abundance of the fish community that inhabits these reef habitats. The purpose of this study was to identify specific coral-fish interactions among the reefs of Grand Cayman in order to gain insight into the biological effects of fish on the assemblage of hard corals. Using data collected by the Lawrence University Marine Program (LUMP), a number of exploratory statistical analyses were run in order to …


Diet Of A Cryptic But Widespread Invader, The Oriental Weatherfish (Misgurnus Anguillicaudatus) In Idaho, Usa, Alexander N. Urquhart, Peter Koetsier Jun 2014

Diet Of A Cryptic But Widespread Invader, The Oriental Weatherfish (Misgurnus Anguillicaudatus) In Idaho, Usa, Alexander N. Urquhart, Peter Koetsier

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) is invasive to 13 U.S. states and at least 9 other countries. Although this cryptic fish species is widespread, very little is known regarding its ecology. We used baited minnow traps to collect 237 individuals from water bodies connected to the Boise River, Idaho. To determine the diet of the fish within this invasive population, we dissected and examined stomach contents of the sampled fish. Most of the stomachs (158 of 237) were empty, and 42 contained only the trap bait. However, 37 contained natural food items. Gravimetric analysis, frequency of occurrence, and …


A Passive Acoustic And Experimental Study Of Juvenile Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus, Sound Production And Agnostic Behavior In The Tidal Freshwater James River, Laura Morgan May 2014

A Passive Acoustic And Experimental Study Of Juvenile Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus, Sound Production And Agnostic Behavior In The Tidal Freshwater James River, Laura Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, are an invasive species in the James River, VA. They produce stridulation sounds and passive acoustic monitoring may prove useful in locating and monitoring their populations. Little is known about their behavior, therefore my goal was to examine agonistic behavior and the use of sound in defending a territory. This thesis consists of two manuscripts: 1) A passive acoustic study of the tidal freshwater James River, 2) An experimental study of agonistic behavior in juvenile Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus. The first study showed that three sounds (click, run croak) occurred more often in warmer months than …


Phenotypic Divergence Of Boldness In Brachyrhaphis Fishes, Joseph Nelson, Jerald B. Johnson Apr 2014

Phenotypic Divergence Of Boldness In Brachyrhaphis Fishes, Joseph Nelson, Jerald B. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The general public has a fairly good understanding of evolution and how physical characteristics of a species can change to adapt to environmental inconsistencies. In times of drought, flood, or other natural stress that commonly occur in nature, animals must adapt to their surroundings, or die. The example of the Galapagos finches is one of the most popular used illustrations of this concept. The size, shape and usefulness of a finch’s beak were some few of the things that the great scientist Charles Darwin first noticed on his trip to the Galapagos Islands over 170 years ago. As Darwin determined …


A Female Audience Increases Frequency Of Showy Agonistic Displays In Male Siamese Fighting Fish, Raisa Lück Apr 2014

A Female Audience Increases Frequency Of Showy Agonistic Displays In Male Siamese Fighting Fish, Raisa Lück

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The audience effect refers to a situation where individuals alter displays in the presence of bystanders. By changing display choice, displayers can optimize their effectiveness against both the opponent and audience. Many displays – territorial, aggressive, warning, and threatening – fall into the broad category of agonistic behavior. Male Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are known for being territorial, and they use the same set of stereotypical displays repeatedly from one male to the next. I observed effects of a female audience on male Betta displays to determine if males use certain displays more frequently than others when a female …


Using Indicators Of Biotic Integrity For Assessment Of Stream Condition, Stephanie A. Ogren Jan 2014

Using Indicators Of Biotic Integrity For Assessment Of Stream Condition, Stephanie A. Ogren

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Multiple indices of biotic integrity and biological condition gradient models have been developed and validated to assess ecological integrity in the Laurentian Great Lakes Region. With multiple groups such as Tribal, Federal, and State agencies as well as scientists and local watershed management or river-focused volunteer groups collecting data for bioassessment it is important that we determine the comparability of data and the effectiveness of indices applied to these data for assessment of natural systems. We evaluated the applicability of macroinvertebrate and fish community indices for assessing site integrity. Site quality (i.e., habitat condition) could be classified differently depending on …


Approaches To Improving Detection Of Invasive Fish Species In Western Lake Erie Through Analysis Of Monitoring Efficiencies And Metrics Of Community Distribution, Joshua Alan Southern Jan 2014

Approaches To Improving Detection Of Invasive Fish Species In Western Lake Erie Through Analysis Of Monitoring Efficiencies And Metrics Of Community Distribution, Joshua Alan Southern

Wayne State University Theses

Efficient monitoring programs are essential for the early detection of invasive species. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) monitoring program encompassing 21 years of fish survey data from western Lake Erie was evaluated using Chao biodiversity analysis to determine the efficiency and precision of collection strategies of trawl and gillnet sampling, at detecting rare or non-native species. Overall, ODNR sampling annually accounted for ~80% of extant fish species, leaving gaps in coverage where rare and invasive species may be overlooked and proliferate.Obtaining 90% efficiency would require an estimated doubling of previous sampling effort. Computer simulations calculating different proportions of …