Biology Commons^™

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Endemic Texas Crayfish Species Under Current Conditions, Sarah A. Burgett

Biology Theses

Crayfish play many important roles in freshwater ecosystems such as ecosystem engineering, bioindicator, and food resource. Even though they are important to ecosystems, they are highly understudied. There has been previous work done on ecological niche modeling on Texas crayfish species, but this study takes it a step further by combining soil, climate, and hydrology variables to model the ecological niches of three endemic species: Procambarus texanus, Procambarus nueces, and Procambarus fayettei. Ecological niche models were created for the three species of interest using the program Maxent. I found that P. texanus and P. fayettei have indistinguishable …

New Genera And Species Of Caulobacter And Brevundimonas Bacteriophages Provide Insights Into Phage Genome Evolution, Bert Ely, Michael Hils, Aaron Clarke, Maegan Albert, Nadia Holness, Jacob Lenski, Tannaz Mohammadi

Faculty Publications

Previous studies have identified diverse bacteriophages that infect Caulobacter vibrioides strain CB15 ranging from small RNA phages to four genera of jumbo phages. In this study, we focus on 20 bacteriophages whose genomes range from 40 to 60 kb in length. Genome comparisons indicated that these diverse phages represent six Caulobacter phage genera and one additional genus that includes both Caulobacter and Brevundimonas phages. Within species, comparisons revealed that both single base changes and inserted or deleted genetic material cause the genomes of closely related phages to diverge. Among genera, the basic gene order and the orientation of key genes …

Rodent-Mediated Seed Limitation Affects Woody Seedling Establishment More Than Invasive Shrubs And Downed Woody Debris, Brian M. Connolly, Chad Zirbel, John L. Orrock

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Seedling establishment is crucial for the development of self-regenerating tree populations. Determinants of tree establishment vary widely and may compound in their effects. Using a factorial experiment, we manipulated invasive shrubs, downed woody debris (DWD), and rodent access to evaluate factors limiting the establishment of six woody species (five native trees, one invasive shrub). Our results suggest these factors independently contribute to tree seedling establishment. Exclusion of rodents increased establishment threefold. Invasive shrub removal (Elaeagnus umbellata; Lonicera maackii) and the presence of DWD promoted establishment of two native trees (Pinus strobus; Sassafras albidum). Notably, …

Parasite Diversity Of The King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah), Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas Mucosa), And Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja), Bailey Tator

ALL - Honors Theses

Thus far, there has been little research on the parasitic biodiversity in wild reptiles, particularly in India. Research has been done on the parasite diversity of certain species, such as the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and the Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), however these samples were purely from captive animals (Rajesh, 2015). This gap in knowledge is important to address because of how critical parasites are to the ecosystem and understanding their host population (Hudson, 2006). Parasites are some of the most biodiverse organisms, yet there is little work done to describe them in biodiversity hotspots such as the Western Ghats …

An Analysis Of Novel Yeasts And Their Brewing Potential, Hannah Murray

Research Honors

Within the brewing community, there is a race to discover new ways to brew beers to create new flavor and smell profiles. Scientists across the globe are searching for novel species of yeasts which have the potential to enhance the flavor and smell of their beer. While most beers are brewed using one of a handful of domesticated yeast strains -- also known as pitching yeasts -- finding “wild” yeasts is one way to change fermentation products. Experimentation has been started on this front due to the wide array of properties that a wild yeast can change in a brew. …

Effects Of Wind Turbine Noise On Songbird Behavior During Nonbreeding Season, Yael Lehnardt, Jesse R. Barber, Oded Berger-Tal

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Anthropogenic noise is one of the fastest growing, globally widespread pollutants, affecting countless species worldwide. Despite accumulating evidence of the negative impacts of wind turbines on wildlife, little is known about how the noise they generate affects ecological systems. Songbirds may be susceptible to noise pollution due to their reliance on vocal communication and thus, in this field study, we examined how songbirds are affected by wind turbine noise. We broadcasted noise produced by one wind turbine in a migratory stopover site during the nonbreeding season. Throughout the study, we repeatedly monitored the acoustic environment and songbird community before, during, …

The Virginia Academy Of Science: A Scholarly Forum Over Decades For Students Of A Plant Ecologist, Stewart Ware

Virginia Journal of Science

As a newcomer to Virginia in 1968, I learned that annual meetings of the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) were regarded as an excellent place for students to have their first experience giving a talk about their research to fellow scientists, and a place for faculty to get to know other Virginia scientists in their fields. Over the next four decades William and Mary students (undergraduate and graduate) and I were presenters or co-authors of 42 talks or posters at VAS annual meetings, 29 of them based on studies of plant ecology across Virginia. Two were talks by colleagues with …

Life Line Spring 2024, Otterbein Biology And Earth Science Department

Life Line - The Biology Department Newsletter

In this Issue:

The Department Welcomes Dr. Grooms; Otterbein's New Pollinator/Rain Garden; Alumni Return to Share Research; Svitana Serves on Ohio EPA VAP Rules Review Advisory Committee; Field Geology Students Explore Death Valley and the Grand Canyon; Students Volunteer at Remote Area Medical Clinic; The Mussels of the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek; More Than "Just" a Chickadee; An Enriching Time at the Zoo; Human Reaction Times; Using Computer Models to Inform Real World Control Methods in Street Dogs; Svitana Continues Work with NGWA; DIY Microbial Fuel Cell Challenge; Birds of a Feather...; Students Research Impact of Sunscreens on Corals; …

Adherent-Invasive Escherichia Coli (Aiec) Promotes Mild Colitis In The C57bl/6 Il-10 Ko Mouse Model Of Crohn's Disease, Sarah Sm Zaw

Senior Theses

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Interleukin-10 knockout (IL-10 KO) mice are crucial in CD research. Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) is a subgroup of E. coli. In one study, IL-10 KO mice colonized with AIEC developed colitis in the distal colon compared to wild-type (WT) mice. I investigated how AIEC NC101 WT affects colitis severity in IL-10 KO mice of the C57BL/6 genetic background. Similar results in both genotypes would enhance mouse strain accessibility. Germ-free C57BL6 IL-10 KO mice were divided into groups: colonized with AIEC NC101 for 12, 15, or 18 weeks, or kept germ-free. Histopathological …

Targeting Cholinergic Signaling In Glioblastoma, Sumyuktha Vijay Anand

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Primitive stem cell-like populations that are prone to malignant transformation reside in the brain throughout adulthood. My lab’s reports and many others have characterized subsets of glioma cells reminiscent of adult stem-like cells implicating them rational candidates for cell-targeted therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that the neurotransmitter microenvironment influences these stem-like cells during glioma progression providing an inroad to study neuromodulators in glioma. Some glioma stemlike cells share characteristics with adult tissue oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Primitive cells of the oligodendroglial lineage express muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), and their “stemness” is maintained by the acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter. Here, I conduct transcriptomic, electrophysiological, …

Mycoplasma Pneumoniae: Long-Term Effects On The Lungs, Alyssa David

Posters - 2024

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterium responsible for causing pneumonia in the lungs. M. pneumoniae is responsible for an average of 2 million cases of bacterial pneumonia in the United States each year (ASM Journal). When M. pneumonia infects the lungs, it releases community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS toxin), which is capable of two enzymatic functions, vacuolization and ADP-ribosylation. ADPribosylation is found in the N-terminal domain of the protein, and the glutamic acid at amino acid residue 132 is critical for enzymatic function. There is evidence that the vacuolization function is encoded by the C-terminal of the protein. Preliminary findings in …

The Effects Of Land Use Change On Ant Communities In New England, Amelia K.L. Curry, Joseph A. Nelsen, Dale R. Stevens, Kaitlyn A. Mathis

Biology

Urbanisation and agricultural expansion are two of the most prevalent and intense forms of land use change worldwide and can have dramatic consequences on biodiversity and biotic community structure. Ants are extremely widespread, ecologically diverse and small ectotherms that are sensitive to changes from a wide range of environmental factors. Therefore, ants make an ideal study organism to examine the effects of anthropogenic land use change on biotic communities. In this study, we examined differences in ant species richness and community composition between urban parks, farms and forest fragments, and related these differences to environmental factors that vary among each …

Population Genomics Provide Insight Into Ancestral Relationships And Diversity Of The Feral Horses Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Melissa A. Thompson, Blake E. Mccann, Turk Rhen, Rebecca Simmons

Biology Faculty Publications

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) manages a herd of feral horses (Equus caballus) which was present on the landscape prior to the establishment of the park. The population presents a unique scenario in that it has experienced fairly intensive and well-documented management since the park's establishment, including herd size reductions, intentional introduction of diversity, and subsequent attempts to remove introduced lineages. This provides an interesting case study on the genetic effects of diverse evolutionary forces on an isolated feral population. To explore the effects of these forces and clarify the relationship of this feral herd with other horses, …

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

Undergraduate Research Events

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. We designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive biology informed by the most current and accurate research and compared it to a traditionally taught biology lecture for first year majors. Students who received the experimental …

Asynchronous Video Directly Observed Therapy To Monitor Short-Course Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment: Results Of A Randomized Controlled Trial, Richard S. Garfein, Lin Liu, Javier Cepeda, Susannah Graves, Stacie San Miguel, Antonette Antonio, Jazmine Cuevas-Mota, Valerie Mercer, Mckayla Miller, Donald G. Cantazaro, Phillip Rios, Fredric Raab, Constance A. Benson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Observing medication ingestion through self-recorded videos (video directly observed therapy [VDOT]) has been shown to be a cost-effective alternative to in-person directly observed therapy (DOT) for monitoring adherence to treatment for tuberculosis disease. VDOT could be a useful tool to monitor short-course latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing VDOT (intervention) and clinic-based DOT (control) among patients newly diagnosed with LTBI who agreed to a once-weekly 3-month treatment regimen of isoniazid and rifapentine. Study outcomes were treatment completion and patient satisfaction. We also assessed costs. Pre- and posttreatment interviews were conducted.

Results …

Optimization Of In-Vitro Regeneration And Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation Of Lactuca Sativa, Mohamed Omer Elsiddig

Theses

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a leafy vegetable consumed worldwide, mainly as a green salad. It is an herbaceous, self-pollinated annual plant of the family Asteraceae. Lettuce is low in calories, fat, and sodium. It is a good source of fiber, iron, folate, and vitamin C. Improving existing lettuce varieties for water use efficiency, photosynthesis efficiency, salt tolerance, increased nutritional content, etc., is the need of the hour, considering that lettuce is a crop ideal for vertical farming in the UAE.

This study aimed to develop a highly efficient in vitro regeneration and Agrobacterium- mediated transformation protocol for a popular …

Satellite-Based Spatial And Temporal Characterization Of Rainfall Over The Uae, Yassin Ibrahim Ahmad

Theses

Studies on rainfall characteristics have been of particular interest in the arid and semi-arid regions, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to its impact on the built and natural environment. Rainfall represents a vital water source and a potential threat to the built environment, particularly during flash rainfall. This thesis evaluates spatial and temporal variation of rainfall in the UAE. The UAE is classified into four ecosystems with a distinct distribution of precipitation (East Coast, Mountains, the Gravel Plains, and Desert Foreland). Satellite data on daily rainfall for the years starting from 2001 up to 2020 was obtained from …

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, And Anti-Breast Cancer Evaluation Of Haplophyllum Tuberculatum, A Medicinal Plant Native To The Emirate Of Ras Al Khaimah, Uae, Aaesha Mohammad Adam

Theses

Breast cancer (BC) emerges as the prevailing cancer type diagnosed in women, with more than 2 million new cases documented in 2020 worldwide. BC is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases and injuries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There are multiple treatment options for breast cancer including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Nevertheless, these treatments often impact surrounding tissues and cause side effects. Consequently, researchers seek an alternative approach that offers high efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity. Medicinal plants serve as a promising alternative for cancer treatment due to their accessibility, efficacy, and lower toxicity. Haplophyllum tuberculatum is …

Increasing The Phytoremediation Efficiency Of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils In The Uae Using Endophytic Actinobacteria For Sustainable Agriculture, Archana Mathew Mathai

Theses

Pollution caused by heavy metals (HMs) is a major environmental concern worldwide. Human actions, agriculture practices and industrial activities can cause the release of HMs into the environment. Soil contamination with HMs may have negative effects on crops, thus disrupting the food chain and posing risks to human health. Lead (Pb) is a common pollutant found in the soil when at high concentrations. Conventional land remediation techniques depending on chemical and mechanical methods are quite expensive and would lead to long-term deterioration of the ecosystems, while phytoremediation can serve as an alternative, eco-friendly approach to restore the lands for agricultural …

Expression Of Human Arginine Vasopressin In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Assessment Of Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Maitha Salem Aldarmaki

Theses

Human Arginine Vasopressin (HsAVP) is a nona-peptide that acts as an antidiuretic hormone. In human AVP regulates water permeability through the regulation of the water channel, aquaporin 2. The process begins with the binding of vasopressin to V2 receptor which activates cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). PKA phosphorylates aquaporin-2 at Ser256 and allows the aquaporin-2-containing vesicle to fuse with the apical membrane which increases water permeability. The present study describes the functional analysis of the codon-optimized HsAVP overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. The main objective of the study is to assess if HsAVP affects drought and salinity stress …

Synthesis And Biological Assessment Of Safranal-Loaded Metal-Organic Framework Nanostructures, Alia Musabbeh Alkaabi

Theses

Liver cancer remains a primary worldwide health concern, necessitating the development of innovative and effective treatment options. In this study, we present a biocompatible iron-based metal-organic framework (Fe-MOF) consisting of iron ligands connected by terephthalate linkers loaded with safranal, a major biomolecule of saffron (the stigmas of Crocus sativus flower), as therapeutic intervention with dual efficiency. This compound not only meets the demand for improved liver cancer therapies but also exhibits antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus. The synthesis stage of the study focuses on preparing MIL-88B(Fe) and loading safranal into/onto its structure (SAF@MIL-88B(Fe)). The material's composition and …

The Thermodynamics And Structure Of Tumor Suppressor P53 And Helical Mutants Binding To Inhibitors Mdm2 And Mdmx At The Primary And Secondary Sites, Pirada Serena Higbee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

p53 is an intrinsically disordered protein that is a tumor suppressor. The transactivation domain is split into two parts (TAD1 and TAD2). These TADs bind to inhibitors MDM2, and a homolog, MDMX, but TAD1 binds with greater affinity. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that leads to the degradation of p53. MDMX is not an E3 ubiquitin ligase, but it does prevent p53 from binding to DNA, thus preventing its tumor suppressor role.

Previous research showed that increasing p53 helicity by mutating prolines to alanines increased p53's helicity but not the length of the helix. The increase in helicity increased …

Pulsed Electric Fields Sensitize Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus To Antibacterial Therapies And Stimulate Host Immune Responses, Alexandra E. Chittams-Miles

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

This research explores the impact of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) on two fronts: their immune stimulatory effects and their potential as a novel strategy to enhance the sensitivity of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to clinically relevant antibiotics. While pulsed electric fields have been reported to have an immune stimulatory effect, the mechanisms responsible for these effects have yet to be determined.

Our investigation addresses the rising concern of MRSA derived skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Consistent with other publications, we found that nsPEF alone cause modest inactivation of planktonic MRSA. We then investigated the effects of nsPEF in …

Differential Gene Expressions Patterns In Diabetes In Relation To Cognitive Declines Associated With Diabetes, Dylan Downs

Honors Theses

The chronic metabolic disorder classified as diabetes, is growing at an alarming rate in many countries all across the globe. Diabetes is characterized by an above average blood glucose measurement, due to insulin production and insulin response abnormalities within the body. This increase in blood glucose has detrimental effects on all physiological systems, commonly associated with organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. One of the less understood and commonly disregarded side effects of diabetes is related to the cognitive declines associated with the disease. Cognitive declines associated with diabetes include memory loss, speech impairments, and decreased motor …

Bioaerosol Size As A Potential Determinant Of Airborne E. Coli Viability Under Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation And Ozone Disinfection, Weixing Hao, Yue-Wern Huang, Yang Wang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and ozone disinfection are crucial methods for mitigating the airborne transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in high-risk settings, particularly with the emergence of respiratory viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza viruses. This study quantitatively investigates the influence of UVGI and ozone on the viability of E. coli in bioaerosols, with a particular focus on how E. coli viability depends on the size of the bioaerosols, a critical factor that determines deposition patterns within the human respiratory system and the evolution of bioaerosols in indoor environments. This study used a controlled small-scale laboratory chamber where E. …

A Hypothesis-Based Hop Microbiology Laboratory Module Testing The Plausibility Of The Mythical Origin Of The India Pale Ale, Julio Molina Pineda, Amanda N. Scholes, Jeffrey A. Lewis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

As one of the most famous fermented drinks in the world, beer is an especially relatable topic for microbiology courses. Here, we describe a short and easily adaptable module based on the antibacterial properties of hops used in brewing. By the 15th century, beer recipes included hops (the flower of the Humulus lupulus plant) as a bittering agent and antimicrobial. By the 19th century, the highly hopped Indian Pale Ale (IPA) became popular, and a modern myth has emerged that IPAs were invented to survive long ocean voyages such as from Britain to India. With that myth in mind, we …

Notes On The Ecological Distribution Of The Myxomycete Arcyria Globosa, Steven L. Stephenson, Rollins W. Rollins, Theda Win Coco, Randy G. Darrah

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract

Prior to the virtual elimination of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) from the forests of eastern North America by the chestnut blight fungus, Arcyria globosa was commonly found on old chestnut burs that had fallen to the ground. The association of this myxomycete with chestnut burs was not absolute, but occurrences on other substrates appear to have been rare. During field collecting carried out in a forest in northern Thailand, it was noticed that old fallen cupules (burs) of Castanopsis indica often had scattered fruiting bodies of A. globosa present. Castanea and Castanopsis belong to the same family (Fagaceae) and …

Did God Create Viruses?, James Hayward

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Lunar Magnetic Field And Lunar Regolith Simulant On The Growth And Bioactive Compounds Production Of Chlorella Vulgaris Microalgae, Jeries Philip Butros Abedrabbo

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Since humans last went to the moon on the Apollo missions, there has been a fascination with inhabiting and colonizing other planetary objects, starting with the Earth’s Moon, Mars, and recently Jupiter’s moon, Europa. However, there is still lack of knowledge and science behind many of the extraterrestrial environmental effects on biological organisms living on Earth. Therefore, there is a need to study how such environments would affect these organisms. Moreover, how can we attain sustainable living in such environments as well through self-providing life support systems (LSS), without the need to provide for additional necessities back and forth from …

Climate Change-Associated Declines In Water Clarity Impair Feeding By Common Loons, Walter H. Piper, Max R. Glines, Kevin C. Rose

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Climate change has myriad impacts on ecosystems, but the mechanisms by which it affects individual species can be difficult to pinpoint. One strategy to discover such mechanisms is to identify a specific ecological factor related to survival or reproduction and determine how that factor is affected by climate. Here we used Landsat imagery to calculate water clarity for 127 lakes in northern Wisconsin from 1995 to 2021 and thus investigate the effect of clarity on the body condition of an aquatic visual predator, the common loon (Gavia immer). In addition, we examined rainfall and temperature as potential predictors …