Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Phylogenics And Patterns Of Molecular Evolution In Amoebozoa, Daniel J.G. Lahr

Open Access Dissertations

My dissertation explores several aspects of the relationship between morphological and molecular evolution in amoeboid lineages:

Chapter 1 - General Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the most pressing issues in Amoebozoa phylogeny that are dealt with in the remainder of the thesis

Chapter 2 - Reducing the impact of PCR-mediated recombination in molecular evolution and environmental studies using a new generation high fidelity DNA polymerase: This chapter addresses the methodological difficulty in the study of large gene families, the generation of artifactual sequences by recombination during PCR.

Chapter 3 - Evolution of the actin gene family in testate …

Movin' & Groovin' Salamanders: Conservation Implications Of Large Scales And Quirky Sex, Noah D. Charney

Open Access Dissertations

Mole salamanders (Ambystoma) and woodfrogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) are abundant in New England and depend on ephemeral wetlands for breeding. Their aquatic habitats have been well studied and are protected by several local and regional regulations. State endangered species laws also protect mabled salamanders (A. opacum), Jefferson salamanders (A. jeffersonianum), and blue-spotted salamanders (A. laterale). However, these amphbibians spend most of their adult lives in terrestrial habitats that remain poorly protected and elusive to researchers.

In chapter 1, I developed a novel technique using passive integrated transponders for tracking small animals. I used this technique to track marbled salamanders walking up …

New Genomic Approaches Reveal The Process Of Genome Reduction In Prochlorococcus, Zhiyi Sun

Open Access Dissertations

Small bacterial genomes are believed to be evolutionarily derived from larger genomes through massive loss of genes and are usually associated with symbiotic or pathogenic lifestyles. It is therefore intriguing that a similar phenomenon of genome reduction has been reported within a group of free-living phototrophic marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus. Here I have investigated the roles of natural selection and mutation rate in the process of Prochlorococcus genome size reduction. Using a data set of complete cyanobacterial genomes including 12 Prochlorococcus and a sister group of 5 marine Synechococcus, I first reconstructed the steps leading to Prochlorococcus genome reduction …

Diversity Of Eukaryotes And Their Genomes, Laura Ellen Wegener Parfrey

Open Access Dissertations

My dissertation addresses two aspects of eukaryotic evolution, 1) the organization of eukaryotic diversity and 2) genomic variation in Foraminifera. The bulk of eukaryotic diversity is microbial with plants and animals representing just two of the estimated 75 lineages of eukaryotes. Among these microbial lineages, there are many examples of dynamic genome processes. Elucidating the origin and evolution of genome features requires a robust phylogenetic framework for eukaryotes. Taxon-rich molecular analyses provide a mechanism to test hypothesized evolutionary relationships and enable placement of diverse taxa on the tree of life. These analyses result in a well-resolved eukaryotic tree of life. …