Biology Commons^™

Specific Measurements Of A Yellow Perch Head Compared To The Total Length, Alex Timm

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens is a popular fish for harvesting in Minnesota. Because of this the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources survey populations with gill nets, however, some water bodies have Rusty Crayfish Faxonius rusticus that commonly consume most of the body leaving only the head to be accurately measured. The goal of this research was to see if there is a relationship between specific measurements of the head and the total length of the fish. The number of Yellow Perch sampled in this study was 72 and all came from Lake Bemidji in Minnesota during the month of October …

Corals In Crisis: A Transcriptomic Investigation Of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, Kelsey M. Beavers

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Coral reefs face existential threats due to climate change and human activities. The combined effects of ocean warming, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction have fundamentally altered the functionality of coral reefs and are driving a drastic increase in the prevalence and severity of coral disease outbreaks. Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has emerged one of the most devastating disturbances to Caribbean reef ecosystems on record. Despite notable progress, the cellular mechanisms driving SCTLD pathogenesis remain poorly understood. To address this issue, my dissertation investigates the gene expression, histopathology, immune protein activity, and symbiont community dynamics involved in SCTLD progression …

Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Mangrove Along The Egyptian Red Sea Coast And Analysis Of Hydrological Impact On Growth Patterns, H. Sewilam, B. T. Hassan, B. S. Khalil

Faculty Journal Articles

This study presents an in-depth spatiotemporal analysis of mangrove ecosystems along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, utilizing satellite imagery and GIS to examine changes from 2003 to 2022. We evaluate the effects of hydrological factors, specifically rainfall and runoff -presented by Stream Power Index-, on mangrove growth patterns. Results indicate a significant increase in mangrove areas, with a notable annual growth rate, despite a reduction in a specific region. This research highlights the integral role of catchment area runoff (R2 = 0.735, R = 0.857, P-value = 0.003 < 0.05, CV = 70.26%), rather than direct rainfall, in mangrove expansion, contributing to the understanding of mangrove resilience and informing sustainable coastal management strategies. The study bridges a significant research gap by mapping decadal mangrove changes, offering insights into the dynamics affecting these crucial ecosystems.

Using Biological Parameters And Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Study The Status Of Spirinchus Starksi (Night Smelt) In Northern California, Z. Zenobia

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Night smelt spawns from central California to southeast Alaska, on the shore of sandy beach surf zones at night. This species is a vital part of regional food webs and, in California, is fished commercially primarily in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. It has cultural importance for dietary and subsistence needs to the Tribes across the coast, as well as inland. The objectives of this thesis are as follow: study the status of the population of night smelt in Humboldt and Del Norte counties by (A) comparing the abundance, length, weight, age, sex ratio, and timing of reproduction of the …

Influence Of Seeding Strategy On Insect Communities Within Utility Lands, Kylee E. Nissen

Masters Theses

Pollinator populations are in decline globally due to anthropogenic changes, particularly in areas affected by agricultural expansion and urbanization. Utility lands - managed to prevent tall vegetation encroachment - represent an opportunity to establish native grasslands and support pollinator communities. This study investigates how different seeding strategies used by utility companies influence pollinator community composition within a 15-acre electric right-of-way (ROW) outside St. Louis, Illinois. Despite the logical benefits of native seeding to pollinators, utility companies are often hesitant to do this, often favoring seeding to turf. Seeded in late 2021, the site incorporates randomized plots with turfgrass seeding (no …

Nocturnal Behavior Of Communally Roosting American Crows (Corvus Brachyrhynchos), Caitlin M. Mrowiec

Masters Theses

During the winter months in Charleston, Illinois, thousands of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) gather together each night to roost. While aspects of this impressive sight have been studied elsewhere, there is very limited information on how crows behave at night. Additionally, the mechanics and origins of communal roosting are not especially well understood, and the behaviors involved are not always consistently described. This study sought to provide a more complete assessment of crow communal roosting after sunset. I collected data between 2018 and 2020 by locating communal roosts and conducting continuous observations for 4 hours after sunset, with additional checks …

Kidney-Targeted Mrna Nanoparticles: Exploration Of The Mrna Loading Capacity Of A Polymeric Mesoscale Platform Employing Various Classes Of Excipients, Arantxa Roach

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mesoscale nanoparticles (MNPs) for the therapeutic relief of renal ailments can be modulated to deliver various payloads – including biomolecules such as mRNA. In preparing mRNA loaded-MNPs, we observed a point of saturation for mRNA loading of these particles, when aiming to increase the payload per particle. Here, we aimed to circumvent this limitation by incorporating various excipients that interact with mRNA for increased loading. These interactions involved the reduction of mRNA electrostatic repulsion and improving mRNA stability during formulation and release. Thereafter, we tested the encapsulation efficiency of these modified particles and compared it to our original formulation. Further, …

Unlv Title Iii Aanapisi & Mcnair Scholars Institute Research Journal 2024, Jesica Godinez-Paredes, Kian Hassankhan, Apia Hickman, Robin Ruth Kee, Kevin Ayala Pineda, Briana Melendez, Kalli Ramos, Saturn L. Reyes, Fabian Leija, Selena Pepe, Silva Topchyan, Celeste Ainsley, Mayra Arzate, Jessica Balistreri, Zantana Ephrem, Mirella Jasso, Karl Panou, Nichole Pelaez, Miklo Alcala, Akshay Dave, Mey Mey Heng, Michael Finkle, Janessa Montenegro, Reynafe Naol Aniga, Victor Mejia, Angelica G. Diaz, Anayeli Flores-Garibay, Kari Lee Joe Goold, Samantha Hernandez, Lianelys Cabrera Martinez, Caitlin Reynolds, Kimberly N. Usbeck, Abdulrahman Alahdal, Angelica Diaz, Willaine Mae Kahano, Raquel Jackson, Cecia Ruiz-Hernandez, Kers Ung-Watson, Yessenia Henriquez, Vanessa Marie Booth, Alexia Brown, Darlyn Magana, Bianca Navarro, Nicholas Pereira, Gia Renemae Calip, Lucky Heng, Ralph Sagun, Lucas Abreu, Alexandra Maria Acosta, Tristan Benally, Cosset Hernandez Pena, Adrian Montenegro, Cierra Paaaina-Daquioag, Nicole Torosian, Tracy Fuentes, Julissa Martinez, Medina Mcallister, Michal Newhouse-Van Vlerin, Tiria Carr, Nima Abkenar, Isabella Aceituno, Yuhan Bi, Victoria Campos, Melika Cummings, Zachary J. Johnigan, Alexis Sotolongo-Marin

McNair Journal

Journal articles based on research conducted by undergraduate students in the AANAPISI, LSAMP, and McNair Scholars Program.

Table of Contents

About AANAPISI

Dr. Chris Heavey, Interim President

Dr. Keith Rogers, Vice President for Student Affairs

Ms. Zhanna Aronov, Associate Vice President for Retention & Outreach

The Choice Is Hers: Floral Preference And Habitat Use Of Early Season Queen Bumble Bees In Restored Ecosystems, Kathryn E. Mccabe

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Restored ecosystems play a vital role in providing a sanctuary for native flora and fauna, offering crucial habitat and resources for many at-risk and declining taxa. Ensuring optimal functionality of these restorations is essential to supporting taxon like bumble bees. While many studies have focused on understanding the needs of bumble bees, much of this effort has relied on information gathered during their peak foraging season when workers are abundant, thus, neglecting other critical life stages, such as emerging spring queens. In this study, I investigated how spring queen bumble bees use three types of restored habitats (woodland, edge, and …

Roles Of Ppp1r15a (Gadd34) And Ppp1r15b (Crep) In Er Stress-Induced Apoptosis In Zebrafish Caudal Fin Epidermal Cells, Ayano Ohata

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

ER stress occurs in response to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, subsequently activating three signal transduction pathways collectively called the unfolded protein response (UPR). Although the goal of the UPR is to restore ER homeostasis, it can result in apoptosis when ER stress is too severe or prolonged. CHOP, which is induced by all three branches of the UPR, is central to inducing ER stress-induced apoptosis by regulating the expression of numerous pro-apoptotic genes. One of the downstream targets of CHOP is GADD34, which contributes to PP1-mediated dephosphorylation of eIF2α together with its homolog …

Softening And Cross-Susceptibility: Exposure To Heat And Desiccation Reduces Future Stress Tolerance In An Insect, Lauren Harter

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The frequency and duration of environmental stressors, such as heat waves and drought, will continue to grow due to ongoing climate change, thereby increasing the likelihood that organisms will experience stressors consecutively. Exposure to one stressor can improve or impair future tolerance to the same stressor (i.e., hardening or softening, respectively), or enhance or reduce future tolerance to a different stressor (i.e., cross-protection or cross-susceptibility, respectively). Understanding whether stress improves or impairs animals’ abilities to withstand future stressors is critical for determining the physiological sensitivity of animals to ongoing climate change. Here, I evaluated the responses to consecutive heat and …

Volume 15, Connor Thompson, Emily Steffenhagen, Emily Robertson, Luis Fernando Dos Reis, Emily Farmer, Samuel Villa, Robert Allison, Zachary Chessor, Megan Borden, Austin Burnett, Larry W. Grant Jr., Tristan Marowski, Emma Moore, Pearl Siff

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Connor Thompson

On Mentorship Dr. John Miller

The Meat of the Matter: Alien, Human, and Animal in Terry Bisson’s “They’re Made Out of Meat” by Emily Steffenhagen

“Please REBLOG!”: An Ethical Analysis of Doxxing, Internet Vigilantism and Racists Getting Fired by Emily Robertson

Journaling: Paper Has More Patience Than People by Luis Fernando Dos Reis

The Effects of Climate Change on the Archaeological World by Emily Farmer

Lowered Seat Height Does Not Impair Wingate Performance in Untrained Cyclists by Samuel Villa, Robert Allison, …

Population Viability Of Egyptian Tortoises: Analyzing Demographics Sensitivities And Extinction Risk In North Sinai, Basem Ahmed Rabia Motwaly

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigated the population viability of the critically endangered Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) across five populations in North Sinai, Egypt. The research aimed to assess demographic sensitivities, extinction risks, and the influence of environmental variables to guide conservation strategies. Using multistate mark-recapture models within a Bayesian framework, survival, transition, and recapture probabilities were estimated across life stages, integrating site-specific environmental data such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The analysis revealed stark contrasts between populations, with three sites demonstrating high extinction risk due to lower juvenile survival and limited recruitment. In contrast, two populations exhibited demographic …

Scent Trailing In Neonate Agkistrodon Piscivorus When Exposed To Conspecific And Heterospecific Chemical Cues, Samantha R. Grove

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chemosensation is central to snake ecology, playing an essential role in predator recognition, foraging success, and communication with conspecifics. In areas with cold winters, neonatal snakes often trail chemical cues from older individuals to locate communal hibernacula essential for winter survival. Juvenile Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) form social bonds with littermates and have been shown to trail chemical cues of conspecifics in the fall. However, the effect of relatedness on trailing phenomena has not been tested. Using y-maze experiments I evaluated trailing behavior of 32 captive-born neonate Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) to determine if (1) subjects prefer to trail siblings …

Diving At High Altitude: O2 Transport And Utilization In The Ruddy Duck And Torrent Duck In The Andes, Kevin G. Mccracken, Graham R. Scott, Luis Alza, Andrea Astie, Ciska Bakkeren, Emil Bautista, Mariana Bulgarella, Rebecca Cheek G. Cheek, Beverly A. Chua, Neal J. Dawson, Alexis Diaz, Catherine M. Ivy, Peter B. Frappell, Cecilia Kopuchian, Sabine L. Laguë, John N. Maina, Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes, Elizabeth R. Schell, Matthew M. Smith, Ryan J. Sprenger, Pablo L. Tubaro, Elizabeth R. Schell, Matthew M. Smith, Ryan J. Sprenger, Pablo L. Tubaro, Thomas Valqui, Roy E. Weber, Daniela Wilner, Robert E. Wilson, Julia M. York, William K. Milsom

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

Hypoxia and cold temperatures create unique physiological challenges for high-altitude organisms that can vary depending on lifestyle. While nearly all studies of air-breathing animals at high altitude are from terrestrial species, species that breath-hold dive underwater at high altitude encounter a very different set of selective pressures influencing their phenotype. The goal of this publication is to highlight the changes in O2 transport and utilization in high-altitude diving birds relative to divers at sea level, and the extent to which these changes are qualitatively distinct from phenotypic changes in non-diving species at high altitude. For example, while high capacities for …

Development Of Innovative Flocculation Technologies For Agricultural Water Treatment, Noor Haleem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of innovative flocculation technologies is essential for addressing the challenges of agricultural water treatment. These technologies play a crucial role in removing contaminants such as suspended solids and nutrients, thereby ensuring safer water for irrigation and livestock consumption. By enhancing water quality and wastewater management, they contribute significantly to environmental sustainability and public health in agricultural communities. This comprehensive thesis extensively explores various dimensions of flocculation, with a focused effort on methodologies and resources aimed at strengthening sustainability and efficiency. A pivotal aspect of the research involves synthesizing cationic starch (CS), a flocculant derived from an underutilized resource, …

Considerations And Applications Of Environmental Dna In Biodiversity Studies, Sarah Tomke

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling—the detection of species through genetic material shed into the environment—has become an efficient and reliable method for biodiversity assessments. The method has grown in popularity due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature, and has revolutionized monitoring efforts for rare, elusive, and cryptic species for which traditional sampling approaches are often costly and ineffective. Hundreds of studies have utilized this technique to study species occupancy, delineate distributions, and assess relative community composition. Although eDNA sampling is an effective strategy for many conservation and ecological studies, recently, light has been shed on some of its potential drawbacks and …

Ua94/6/18 Stephen Flora Student / Alumni Papers, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about Stephen Flora during his years as a student at Western Kentucky University.

Behavioral Ecology Of The Colorado Brown Tarantula (Aphonopelma Hentzi): Activities Displayed Around The Burrow Through Juvenile Group Dispersal, Bradley Allendorfer

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The life history strategy of the Colorado brown tarantula (Aphonopelma hentzi) typically includes males spatially scattering in search for a female mate in the fall, followed by female attendance of fertilized eggs the following summer. Here, I highlighted aspects associated with this female parental care. Specifically, I compared the activities of maternal (egg-attending) tarantulas to their non-maternal (not egg-attending) counterparts, as this may be a costly time for these egg-attending individuals. I concluded that maternal individuals tended to show reduced activity at the burrow entrance, however; these, results were significant in only one comparison. After weeks of this parental care, …

Maxent Ecological Niche Models For Alternanthera Philoxeroides, Amynothrips Andersoni, And Agasicles Hygrophila, Samuel A. Schmid, Andrés F. Sánchez-Restrepo, Alejandro J. Sosa, Gray Turnage, Gary N. Ervin

CAS Publications

Alternanthera philoxeroides is an aquatic invasive weed from South America with a long history of biological control. The well-studied Agasicles hygrophila (alligatorweed flea beetle) successfully controls Al. philoxeroides in some parts of its invaded range, but Ag. hygrophila is unsuitable in other areas due to its intolerance to cold temperatures. An understudied biological control agent, Amynothrips andersoni (alligatorweed thrips) has shown greater tolerance to cold temperatures, but no research has been conducted to determine its ecological niche with respect to Al. philoxeroides. Additionally, climate change is predicted to shift the ecological niches of species globally, and these changes must be …

Male Beetle Courtship Dance Analysis By Deeplabcut Technology, Andrea Newbrough

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Microbiological Investigation Of Local Native Clays And Samples From The Scripps Ceramic Studio, Kelly Fuller

Scripps Senior Theses

This study explores the relationship between microorganisms and clay using samples currently being utilized in the Lincoln Ceramics Studio at Scripps College. Clay science spans disciplines, from geology and soil science to industrial material development and artistic practices. Although biological processes have been thought to effect clay properties such as plasticity and malleability, the interplay between microorganisms and clay minerals has not been thoroughly investigated in the scientific community. Drawing from diverse disciplines, this research investigates the microbial ecology of clay bodies to unveil potential innovations in ceramics production. In this experiment, colony-forming unit (CFU) assays were performed in both …

Hamstring And Quadriceps Activation During Single Leg Hopping At Varying Frequencies: Electromyography Analysis, Jemma Bosselman

Scripps Senior Theses

Identification of knee motor control strategy is salient both for biomechanical understanding of the lower limb and for medical applications. Integral to knee function are the quadriceps and hamstring, an antagonistic muscle pair. Sub-optimal relative activation of the pair can increase injury potential. Muscle activation patterns are largely activity specific, necessitating muscle control research across various tasks. Single leg hopping has been sparsely studied, particularly for muscle activation in relation to hopping frequency. This project thus aimed to determine the effect of single leg hopping frequency on quadriceps and hamstring activation using surface electromyography (EMG), with the vastus lateralis (VL) …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Microbacterium Foliorum Phage Curie, A Podovirus Isolated From Soil In Spokane, Washington, Emma N. Horton, Kathryn T. Cook, Kyra G. Cronin, Avery T. Haag, Sierra M. Salter, Nicole A. Stojanovic, Zoe E. Fry, Brian M. Connolly, Rebekah F. Hare, Ann-Scott H. Ettinger, Marianne K. Poxleitner, Kirk Anders

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Bacteriophage Curie is a podovirus that infects Microbacterium foliorum. The Curie genome spans 16,810 bp, has 90 bp terminal inverted repeats, and includes 23 protein-coding genes. Its genome architecture resembles phage PineapplePizza and other phi29-like phages. Together, Curie and PineapplePizza form a new actinobacteriophage Cluster GI.

Persistence Of Wastewater-Associated Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria In River Microcosms, Aoife P. Mahaney

Theses and Dissertations

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) associated with wastewater is a significant environmental concern, but little is known about the persistence and proliferation of these organisms in receiving water bodies after discharge. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a series of microcosm experiments in which river water was amended with either untreated or treated wastewater, and the abundance of viable ciprofloxacin-, Bactrim-, and erythromycin-resistant bacteria was monitored for 72 hours.

Both types of wastewater amendments increased the initial abundance of ARB compared to microcosms containing only river water. The increase was greatest with untreated wastewater, but that effect decreased …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Seaweed Farm-Offshore Wind Co-Location In New Jersey, Brianna Delaney Reynolds

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

New Jersey’s offshore wind energy sector may provide an opportunity to advance the seaweed farming industry through ocean multi-use. Yet, opportunities, constraints, and knowledge gaps for seaweed farm-offshore wind co-location remain largely uninvestigated. Here, I determine the suitability of native seaweed species for offshore cultivation in New Jersey and conduct a quick scoping review (QSR) to assess the knowledge base surrounding seaweed farm-offshore wind multi-use. Saccharina latissima and Fucus vesiculosus were identified as native species with commercial value for cultivation in New Jersey. Yet, offshore waters at the location of a wind development site had insufficient nutrients to meet the …

Characterizing The Role Of Temperature On West Nile Virus Evolution And Vector-Virus Interactions, Rachel Lucy Fay

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous U.S. WNV is a member of the Flaviviridae family which is group of single stranded positive sense RNA genome viruses. It is commonly vectored by Culex mosquitoes and is found in a transmission cycle between its amplifying hosts of birds. Incidental hosts of WNV include people and animals. WNV is known to cause flu-like illness and in rare cases can become neuroinvasive. There are currently no approved therapeutics on the market for WNV. Since the beginning of the 20th century the earth’s average temperature has increased by …

Loss Of Courtship Suppression Memory In A Drosophila Melanogaster Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Eric Robles, Johannes Berlandi, Chris Ellis, Tianyi Wu, Astrid Jeibmann, Fang-Ju Lin

Biology

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent and lethal neurodegenerative disease. Memory loss and motor dysfunction are accompanied by pathological hallmarks like neurofibrillary tangles or amyloid plaques. In this study, courtship suppression assay was used to assess learning and memory of a transgenic Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) line expressing human Amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42). At young age (4–6 days old), both parental control and AD flies displayed lower courtship indices during training after being rejected by previously mated females. However, in the subsequent testing phase, young AD flies showed compromised recall memory, unlike that of parental controls. Neither control …

A Tale Of Two Turtles: Sympatry Of Two Lotic Musk Turtle Species In The Pascagoula River Drainage, Grover J. Brown, Brian R. Kreiser

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Competition and hybridization between closely related species have remained topics of interest for decades. The ranges of the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) and Stripe-necked Musk Turtle (Sternotherus peltifer) are mostly non-overlapping, but they are sympatric in south and central Mississippi, USA. In allopatry, each species fills the niche of a lotic, bottom-walking musk turtle and each can range in habitat from small, montane headwater streams to large, muddy bayous in the coastal plain. Using environmental, morphological, and genetic data, we assessed whether the two species exhibit different habitat associations, differ in morphology, and maintain reproductive isolation in sympatry. The …

Combination Of Hdac And Fyn Inhibitors In Synovial Sarcoma Treatment, Kyra Parker, Yanfeng Zhang, Gavin Anchondo, Ashlyn Smith, Sergio Guerrero Pacheco, Tadashi Kondo, Le Su

Research, Publications & Creative Work

The SS18-SSX fusion protein is an oncogenic driver in synovial sarcoma. At the molecular level, SS18-SSX functions as both an activator and a repressor to coordinate transcription of different genes responsible for tumorigenesis. Here, we identify the proto-oncogene FYN as a new SS18-SSX target gene and examine its relation to synovial sarcoma therapy. FYN is a tyrosine kinase that promotes cancer growth, metastasis and therapeutic resistance, but SS18-SSX appears to negatively regulate FYN expression in synovial sarcoma cells. Using both genetic and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi)-based pharmacologic approaches, we show that suppression of SS18-SSX leads to FYN reactivation. In support …