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. …

Holyoke Dam, Connecticut River, 2011, Brett Towler

Fish Passage Data Archive

Holyoke Dam

Connecticut River

Massachusetts

Year data collected: 2011

Factors Affecting Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of Saiga Calves (Saiga Tatarica Mongolica) In Mongolia, Buuveibaatar Bayarbaatar

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Factors affecting juvenile survival are poorly known in the world’s most northern antelope, the endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica), yet they are fundamental for understanding what drives population change. For saiga neonates monitored in Sharga Nature Reserve, western Mongolia, during 2008–2010, male and single calves were heavier than those of female and twins, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in seasonal and annual survival rate between male and female or singletons and twins. Litter size and birth mass varied among years, and there was a negative relationship between these variables. Multiple regression models suggest that summer precipitation in …

Developing Standardized Metrics To Quantify The Temporal Distribution Of Migrating Anadromous Herring: Comparing Adult Returns Across Coastal Rivers, Matthew K. Burak

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Understanding, quantifying, and comparing the temporal distribution of anadromous fish spawning migrations is an important yet vexing problem for fisheries research, management, and conservation. Central to this problem is the lack of a representative and comprehensive standardized suite of quantitative metrics to characterize the complex, multidimensional temporal distribution of migrating anadromous fish. Without this, it is not possible to develop effective sampling regimes, extrapolate counts to accurate population estimates, understand the basic ecology and behavior of anadromous fish, or make the comparisons through time and across river systems that are fundamental to sustainable conservation. In this thesis, I define, calculate, …

Status, Movements, And Habitat Use Of Moose In Massachusetts, David W. Wattles

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Moose (Alces alces) have been re-established in much of the historic range in the northeastern United States. Recently the southern edge of the species ranges has been extended southward into southern New England and northern New York from established populations in northern New England. The southern expansion raised questions as to the ability of this northern species to cope with higher temperatures, areas densely populated by humans, and different forest types further south. In light of these recent developments, we conducted a literature search on moose in the northeastern United States and distributed a questionnaire and conducted phone …

Evaluating The Influence Of Disturbance And Climate On Red Spruce (Picea Rubens Sarg.) Community Dynamics At Its Southern Range Margin, Relena R. Ribbons

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Picea rubens(red spruce) populations experienced a synchronous rangewide decline in growth and vigor starting in the 1960’s, which was likely caused by climate change or environmental disturbances (e.g., acid deposition); However, it is yet unknown if populations continue to decline or have recovered. In the context of global warming, red spruce is a species of concern because it is at its southern continuous range margin in Massachusetts. This study uses tree-ring data coupled with population data from permanent plots to quantify the status of red spruce in Massachusetts. Tree cores were extracted from red spruce and used to examine …

Habitat Use, Productivity, And Fruit Selection Of Birds In Early-Successional Habitats In Western Massachusetts, Michelle A. Labbe

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Early-successional habitats have become rare in much of the eastern United States, largely due to landuse change, forest maturation and the disruption of natural disturbance regimes. In addition to providing nesting habitat for shrubland species of high conservation concern, wildlife openings may be an important habitat for mature-forest birds during the postfledging period – a critical phase in the avian lifecycle with the potential for high mortality. The habitat requirements of birds during this time period are poorly understood. In this study I examined the relationship between habitat and landscape characteristics on; 1) the abundance of forest nesting birds in …

A New Species Of Moropus (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Chalicotheriodea) In The Batesland Formation, Great Plains Area Of North America, Carolyn Rounds

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The chalicothere Moropus was a rare perissodactyl present in the Great Plains region of North America through much of the Miocene. A temporal gap in named species of Moropus is present in the early Hemingfordian North American Land Mammal Age. This gap is filled by specimens currently referred to as Moropus sp. from the Batesland Formation in southwest South Dakota, and unnamed specimens of Moropus in the Runningwater Formation in northwestern Nebraska. A comparison of the fossils of Moropus nsp. from the Batesland Formation with those of previously described chalicothere species from the Greats Plains region, such as Moropus elatus, …