Biology Commons^™

Where Mussels Hang Out: A Multiscale Analysis Of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena Polymorpha) Spread In South Dakota, Justin Verner Sorensen

Dissertations and Theses

The spread of the invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymrpha) poses significant ecological and economic threats to freshwater systems across North America. Understanding population dynamics and how this aquatic invasive species spreads is essential for making natural resource management decisions. South Dakota represents an active frontline of the zebra mussel invasion, highlighting the importance of understanding the spread in this region. Statewide habitat suitability modeling of available aquatic habitat was performed using MaxEnt, a robust machine learning algorithm. Individual waterbody suitability means were also extracted to rank waterbodies within highly suitable regions. This work revealed that South Dakota possesses widespread suitable …

Utilizing A Genetically Diverse Species To Investigate Gene-Drug Interactions And Drug Efficacy, Jerry Nawongbay Gbarlea

Theses and Dissertations

Gene-drug interactions are fundamental to understanding variability in drug response and therapeutic efficacy. In this project, we leverage the natural genetic divergence between ecotype morphs of the blind Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) to investigate differential responses to neuroactive compounds—specifically, the convulsant pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and the anxiolytic Buspirone Hydrochloride. Astyanax Mexicanus is a tetra species consisting of both surface-dwelling (ancestral) and cave-dwelling (mutant) populations that have highly variable genetic backgrounds. Independently evolved populations of cavefish exhibit a suite of convergent traits that can be functionally interrogated to discover new genetic functions and interactions. These attributes make A. mexicanus an ideal model …

The Yeast Checkpoint Kinase Mec1p Functions In Transcription Termination By Facilitating Recruitment Of Pcf11p And Regulating The Torpedo Exonuclease Rat1p, Riddhi Patel

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation includes two projects, centered on transcription regulation by checkpoint kinases of the DNA damage response (DDR). The first project focused on the role of checkpoint kinase Mec1p in transcription termination and regulation of the torpedo exonuclease Rat1p. Termination, closely linked with pre-mRNA 3’ processing, dissociates RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from DNA and releases the nascent RNA transcript. Efficient termination is required for maintaining a pool of RNAPII that is available for re-entry into new transcription cycle. Previous results showed that inactivation of Mec1p in the absence of exogenous genotoxic stress downregulates the efficiency of transcription termination. This study …

Largemouth Bass Diet Changes Through The Summer In Central Minnesota, Ethan Kunz

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Largemouth Bass Micropterus nigricans is one of the most widespread fish species in the world, due in part to human introduction for angling. Largemouth Bass are opportunistic predators that will consume the largest prey they can often find; however, it has been shown that their diet mainly consists of invertebrates such as crayfish, with less focus on other fish species. This research aimed to determine what the Largemouth Bass diets in Central Minnesota consist of, and how they may change from the beginning of summer through the beginning of fall. A total of 174 Largemouth Bass were sampled from late …

Relationship Between Ratio Of Hybrid Sunfish To Their Parent Species And Latitude, Maxwell Kattner

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Hybrid sunfish of the Lepomis genus make up a generally small but notable portion of the population of sunfish in Minnesota lakes. Hybrid sunfish play a significant role in freshwater ecosystems across the United States. They are both morphologically and behaviorally distinct in some ways and similar in other ways to their parent species, causing them to both fill and compete with their parent species for niches occupied by multiple Lepomis species. Despite this, the ratio of hybrid sunfish to their parent species has never been properly explored. This study observed if the ratio of hybrid sunfish to their parent …

The Ecological Consequences Of Horizontal Transmission Of Symbionts, Bibek Singh Parajuli

Biology Dissertations

Most multicellular organisms depend on their microbial symbionts for various functions, such as digestion, nutrient supplementation, pesticide degradation, and defense. While many insects acquire their symbionts vertically from their parents, thousands of species of true bugs (Hemiptera) across different families acquire their microbial symbiont, Caballeronia, from the environment each generation. Acquiring symbionts from the environment (horizontal transmission) has various ecological consequences for the host. In this study, I used the bug-Caballeronia model 1) to understand whether the free-living symbionts benefit from association with multicellular hosts, 2) to evaluate whether host specialization on symbiont strains varies across taxonomic levels, …

Uncovering The Mechanism Of Reep2-Mediated Emt-Driven Membrane Trafficking In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Kevin Fulp

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking is frequently disrupted during cancer progression, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Currently, no effective drugs target dysregulated membrane trafficking for cancer treatment. Recent evidence has demonstrated that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) employs a membrane trafficking program to coordinate cancer cell invasion and immunosuppression. To further dissect the pro-tumorigenic membrane trafficking program, we initiated an in vivo CRISPRi screen to assess more than 2,000 membrane trafficking-related genes in a syngeneic mouse LUAD model. We identified REEP2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein, as a novel regulator of EMT-driven membrane trafficking. High REEP2 expression is …

Reep2-Driven Pro-Metastatic Secretion Promotes Lung Cancer Progression, Oluwafunminiyi E. Obaleye

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking plays a critical role in cellular function and is frequently dysregulated in cancer to promote metastasis. In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activating transcription factor, ZEB1, drives a pro-metastatic membrane trafficking program; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in vivo screen of 2,099 membrane trafficking regulators in a syngeneic mouse model of EMT-driven LUAD, we identified REEP2 — an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein — as a critical regulator of tumor progression. REEP2 mRNA expression correlates with poor prognosis, EMT signatures, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in LUAD patients. …

Remediation Impacts Metal Concentrations And Metal Tolerant Bacteria In Soils Of The Missouri Tri-State Mining District, Ophelia R. Pettington

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

After over 100 years of Zn and Pb mining in the Tri-State mining district (TSMD), former mines continue to be sources of metals. Metal contaminated soils can be remediated using plant-microbe interactions. Plants manipulate their microbiome and recruit microbes to increase metal tolerance. Remediating bacteria are site-specific and identifying native microbes can accelerate remediation efforts. Studies relating microbes and metal concentrations in remediated areas in the TSMD are scarce. I collected root and bulk zone soils associated with Andropogon virginicus from remediated and non-remediated sites in Webb City, MO. I used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the bacterial …

The Neuroprotective And Synergistic Effects Of Carbamoylated Erythropoietin And Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 In Alzheimer's Disease, Morgan Jean Rothschadl

Dissertations and Theses

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prominent neurodegenerative disease characterized by a decline in cognitive functioning. While current FDA-approved therapeutics exist, they fall short in creating significant and long-lasting improvements to cognition. A newer approach using neurotrophic factors has shown promising effects on improving cognition in clinical trials. Neurotrophic factors are secreted proteins that have multimodal effects in the brain, including supporting cell survival and functioning. Two neurotrophic factors of interest are carbamoylated erythropoietin (CEPO) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and the goal of this study was to understand the synergistic and neuroprotective effects of CEPO and IGF-1 in AD. We …

Avian Use Of Early Successional Riparian Forest Along The Missouri River: What Do We Lose By Managing For Plovers And Terns?, Stephanie Nefas

Dissertations and Theses

Riparian ecosystems provide habitat for birds throughout their annual cycle, yet flow regulation along major rivers like the Missouri River has reduced early successional riparian forests. Following historic flooding in 2011, set-aside areas within the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR) were established to allow natural riparian vegetation succession on newly created sandbars. I evaluated the value of these early successional forests for birds over three breeding seasons (2018–2020) and four migration periods (2020–2021). During migration, standardized point counts documented 7,462 individual birds representing 114 species across 828 surveys. Avian diversity was positively correlated with vertical habitat complexity, with the canopy …

Further Investigation Of The Effect Of Estrogen On Candida Albicans Filament Growth On Different Liquid Media, Authors

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Heavy Resistance Training On Type Ii Muscle Fibers Throughout Female Reproductive Stages, Lily G. Colberg

Scripps Senior Theses

Type II muscle fibers, also known as fast-twitch muscle fibers, are reliant on aerobic glycolysis and are crucial for high-force contractions, mobility, and rapid movements, such as fast reflexes. Heavy resistance training has been found to increase type II muscle fiber concentration in young, middle-aged, and elderly individuals. However, there have been few studies conducted on female-only sample populations. In women, the impact of heavy resistance training on type II muscle fibers is affected by the progressive decline of estrogen that defines the transition throughout the four female reproductive stages: premenopause, perimenopause, late-transition menopause, and postmenopause. Menopausal estrogen depletion causes …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Violacein Extracted ​ From Janthinobacterium Lividum​, Catherine M. Brownhill-Slatore

Scripps Senior Theses

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been a threat since the discovery of antibiotics. The increased rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has created an immediate need for new antibiotics. Violacein, a purple bisindole pigment produced by Janthinobacterium lividum, has been shown to be a promising new antibiotic. Its efficacy has not been completely demonstrated, and this project aims to further investigate the effectiveness of violacein as an antibiotic. To do this, a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test was conducted. Violacein was grown, extracted, purified, and tested across concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 500.00 µg/mL to cover values well above and below previously cited …

The Effects Of A Thiamine Treatment On The Growth, Survival, And Foraging Behavior Of Thiamine-Deficient Michigan Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush), Allie J. Muschong

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The Great Lakes top predator Salvelinus namaycush (lake trout) suffers from Thiamine Deficiency Complex (TDC), which causes neurological problems and inhibits survival in young lake trout. The lake trout population in northern Lake Michigan experiences insufficient natural recruitment, necessitating yearly stocking. Few treatments have been explored, but preliminary studies in a hatchery setting suggest that increasing tissue thiamine promotes survival; thus, we expected a novel thiamine treatment to boost the foraging rate and weight of lake trout fry. We raised the eggs of six wild lake trout pairs, and applied treatments at both the egg stage and the hatch stage. …

A Phosphorylation Study Of Serine-8 And 26 In Two Fragments Of Amyloid Beta, A Peptide Involved In Alzheimer's Disease And Cancer, Colby J. Merrill

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Both cancer and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affect many people in the United States and impact the families of patients suffering from these challenging illnesses. Recently, it has been reported that these two diseases share several key pathophysiological features, and an inverse relationship exists between them. These diseases share several biochemical modulators, most notably the amyloid-beta protein, which affects tissues in both AD and cancer by misfolding and aggregating. Phosphorylation is believed to regulate the aggregation and toxicity of amyloid-beta by altering the protein's shape and charge, thereby changing its interactions with cells. Phosphorylation can also toggle some proteins on and …

Invasion Dynamics, Environmental Conditions, And Community Impacts Of Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus Officinalis) Across The Northern Great Plains, Sakshi Saraf

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding how environmental conditions and invasion dynamics shape native plant Communities is critical for conserving and managing the semi-arid grasslands of the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Invasive plant species are increasingly altering ecosystem structure and function across this region, yet knowledge gaps remain regarding the drivers of invasion, their spatiotemporal dynamics, and their associations with native plant communities. This dissertation investigates three questions: (1) what environmental conditions are associated with the distribution and abundance of the invasive legume Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweetclover; MEOF), (2) how does MEOF vary across space and time under climatic conditions, and (3) how are environmental …

Downstream Persistence Of Cyanobacteria In New Jersey's Raritan River Basin, Kyle R. Clonan, Meiyin Wu, Heather Heckathorn, Heather A. Desko, Eric Ernst, Pam Reilly, Bob Schuster, Robert Newby, Annie C. Hurley, Alessandra Rossi

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Few studies have examined cyanobacteria persistence starting from lacustrine cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (HABs) downstream. Multiple lakes and reservoirs within New Jersey's Raritan Basin Water Supply Complex (RBWSC) feature recurrent HABs and discharge water into the Raritan River. As the RBWSC provides drinking water to 1.5 million people, these HABs create drinking water treatment and human health concerns. This study quantitatively reviews the persistence of cyanobacteria communities across the RBWSC from cyanobacteria-dominated lacustrine sources to downstream drinking water and qualitatively assess what, if any, water chemistry parameters influenced the persistence, growth, or decline of cyanobacteria during downstream transport. Statistical tests …

A Polyphasic Investigation Of Terrestrial Green Algal Diversity Of Biological Soil Crusts From The California Channel Islands, Emily Masluk

Masters Theses

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) in arid and semiarid environments support diverse microbial communities that contribute to soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience. Among these organisms, terrestrial green algae are taxonomically challenging due to their simple morphology, phenotypic plasticity, and lack of diagnostic life history traits. This study investigated the diversity and taxonomy of green algae from BSCs collected on San Nicolas Island, San Clemente Island, and Santa Barbara Island using the polyphasic approach integrating morphology, phylogenetic analyses, molecular analyses, and ecological data. A total of 198 strains were isolated, of which 79 green algal strains underwent molecular analysis using …

Complex Cyanobacteria Biopriming Effects On The Growth Of Mojave Desert Restoration Plant Species At Differing Life Stages, Ashley R. Brumit

Masters Theses

Seeding practices are an important tool for land managers to restore habitats following disturbances, but large-scale seeding efforts often fail. One option is to bioprime seeds with native microorganisms such as cyanobacteria. However, biopriming studies have yet to be conducted in American deserts, and only one previous study compared the effects of heterocystous and non-heterocystous cyanobacteria biopriming. The objective of my work was to evaluate the effects of seed biopriming on plant growth of Mojave Desert plant species and comparing the effect ofN-fixing and non N-fixing cyanobacteria. One heterocystous taxon (Kalymmatonema desertorum) and one non-heterocystous taxon (Microcoleus sp.) isolated from …

Crispr Transgenic Clytia Hemisphaerica As A Vector For Toxin Delivery In A Zebrafish Melanoma Model, Theodore G. Paz

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The jellyfish Clytia hemisphaerica has the potential to be used in cancer therapies with the discovery of potential active toxin target regions to be modified for use. The program Venomix is a Uniprot-based database that was utilized in this experiment to generate likely flagged hit regions using Clytia hemisphaerica CDS files run against its database of terrestrial toxins (Furuno et al., 2003; Macrander et al., 2018). By themselves they are indeterminate as to whether they are active toxin region hits (Macrander et al., 2018). With further analysis such as toxin homology in closely related, annotated marine taxa and accounting for …

Soil Respiration Drivers And Challenges In A Changing Environment, Olivia Rae Haas

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This study aims to understand post agricultural forested soils (sandy loam, silt loam, and loam) and the influences that drive carbon sequestration and soil respiration flux. Duke Farms in Hillsborough NJ, has historically been utilized as an agricultural zone for farming a variety of crops. Currently the area is protected with a focus on environmental conservation and restoration of the land. This includes getting a better understanding of the forested portions of the property. Understanding the quality of forested areas is vital as they have the potential to act as a carbon sink which can mitigate the effects of climate …

Mapping Coastal Vegetation To Evaluate Salt Marsh Decline From 2016 To 2025 In South Carolina, Usa, Zak Henry Bartholomew

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Accelerating sea-level rise and storm surge events pose a substantial threat to salt marsh ecosystems, which provide critical ecosystem services. Classification and mapping of coastal vegetation through remote sensing can identify marsh dieback events and provide spatial context for patterns of marsh vulnerability. We used a multi-sensor approach that incorporated LiDAR data, multispectral imagery, and field-derived cover estimates to classify Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) dominated marsh types on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI), a sea island in South Carolina, USA. In summer 2025, surveys were conducted within marsh classes to collect training and validation data. We used random …

Do Magnesium Ions Have Similar Effects As Calcium Ions On Resting Membrane Potential?, Anthony Hana, Youngwoo Kim, Joy Bidros, Katie Neglia, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

Maintaining a membrane electrical potential of biological cells is a dynamic process, as some cells have a continually changing potential, like pacemaker cells, while other cells may function with large or small changes in the membrane potential. Additionally, some cells may change their electrical potential when stimulated or inhibited by electrical signals, chemical compounds, or both—either simultaneously or episodically. The persistent leak of K⁺ through two-pore-domain potassium channels (K2P) and of Na⁺ through Na⁺ leak channels (NALCNs) and the action of pumps and exchangers are primarily responsible for maintaining a resting potential. Ca²⁺ ions are known …

An Evolving View Of Lineage Diversification, Pascal O. Title, L. Francisco Henao-Díaz, Rosana Zenil-Ferguson, Thais Vasconcelos

Biology Faculty Publications

Systematists have long been fascinated by the astounding variation in species diversity across the various branches of the tree of life, a net result of the uneven rates at which lineages undergo speciation and extinction over time. The past 30 years have seen the development and widespread application of tools that allow diversification to be quantified and characterized in empirical data sets. These advances have, in turn, enabled the statistical evaluation of hypotheses about the causes behind the uneven distribution of species richness among lineages, leading to a more nuanced understanding of diversification rate variation, as reflected in an ever-expanding …

Exogenous Estradiol Does Not Regulate Daily Metabolic Rhythms Underlying Diet-Induced Obesity In Male Mice, W. Brad Osborne, Oliver Vöcking, Victoria Alvord, Oluwabukola Omotola, Yuriko Katsumata, Julie S. Pendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Male mice fed high-fat diet become obese, but female mice are resistant to diet-induced weight gain. We previously found that circulating estradiol in females protects their daily rhythms from disruption by high-fat feeding to prevent diet-induced obesity. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of estradiol on daily metabolic rhythms in male mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated with estradiol and fed high-fat diet for 2 weeks. We measured the effects of high-fat diet feeding on daily rhythms of eating behavior and locomotor activity, and on the phases, or timing, of circadian rhythms in central and peripheral …

Drinking Microstructure Analysis Of Direct Controls Of Water Intake In Male And Female Rats, Bo W. Sortman, Emalie L. Mullane, Kennedy L. Lamb, Andrea A. Edwards, Ann-Marie Torregrossa, Derek Daniels, Jessica Santollo

Biology Faculty Publications

Measures of rodent drinking (lick) patterns are used to test how various manipulations affect fluid intake. Decades of research indicate that manipulating the satiating potency of a stimulus affects the number of licking bursts whereas manipulating the hedonic value of the solution affects the size of the licking bursts or rate of licking. This type of analysis has been largely applied to manipulations that modulate drinking that is already occurring (i.e., indirect controls or modulators of intake), but there is a dearth of studies with detailed measures of licking due to stimuli that are primary drivers of intake which happen …

Effects Of Desiccation On Invasive Faucet Snail (Bithynia Tentaculata) And Trematode Survival, Elise Marie Jordahl

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Parasitism is one of the most common and diverse life history strategies, yet relatively little is known about the role of parasites as invasive species. Invasive species, which present one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, often need to overcome adverse environmental conditions as they establish and spread in new habitats. Invasive parasites are subject to these same conditions, though the effects may be mediated through their hosts. Here, I use an invasive snail and its trematode parasites to quantify the effects of desiccation on survival to better understand how processes of invasion play out in host-parasite systems. The faucet …

A Review Of Mockingbird Song, Jacqueline Milander

Student Theses

The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is known for its large repertoire and highly versatile song patterns.  It is a frequent mimic that is thought to continue learning sounds from its environment for the duration of its life.  Utilizing available song studies, this is a comprehensive review of northern mockingbird song, including learning, mimicry, repertoires, song dependence on seasonal cyclicity, and song function, particularly interspecific territoriality. While much discussion has surrounded the idea that northern mockingbirds engage in interspecific territoriality and that vocal mimicry functions in intersexual selection, this review provides new insight into the possibility that latitudinal differences among populations …

The Effect Of Sex On A-To-I Editing In Skeletal Muscle During Inflammation, Skyler Lee

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism mediated by ADAR enzymes that can alter RNA sequence, protein function, and gene regulation. Because ADAR1 is upregulated during inflammation and plays a critical role in innate immunity, previous studies investigated the effects of acute inflammation on RNA editing in male and female mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation, and RNA editing levels were examined in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. While editing levels in the heart and brain remained unchanged, skeletal muscle exhibited tissue- and sex-specific differences in editing. In this thesis, LPS treatment affected selective editing, increasing …