Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Interactions Between Phytoplankton And Bacteria In The Uptake Of Organic Compounds, Andrea Michel Rocha

OES Theses and Dissertations

The most common methods for estimating bacterial productivity are [³H]-leucine and [³H]-thymidine incorporation. Uptake of these compounds has been attributed primarily to bacteria; however, because dissolved organic nitrogen may be an important N source for some phytoplankton, the use of these compounds to estimate bacterial productivity needs to be reexamined. In order to ascertain whether phytoplankton could compete with bacteria on relevant timescales and thereby bias bacterial productivity estimates in estuaries, I examined the ability of cultured phytoplankton and size-fractionated natural populations to take up leucine and thymidine in systems seasonally dominated by phytoplankton mixotrophs. In …

The Role Of Phosducin-Like Protein As A Co-Chaperone With The Cytosolic Chaperonin Complex In Assembly Of The G Protein Βγ Subunit Dimer, Paul Jayson Ludtke

Theses and Dissertations

Phosducin-like protein (PhLP) has been shown to interact with the cytosolic chaperonin containing TCP-1 (CCT), and the βγ subunit dimer of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gβγ). Here we provide details obtained from cryo-electron microscopic and biochemical studies on the structure of the complex between the cytosolic chaperonin CCT and PhLP. Binding of PhLP to CCT occurs through only one of the two chaperonin rings, making multiple contacts with CCT through both its N- and C-terminal domains. In addition, we show that PhLP acts as a co-chaperonin along with CCT in mediating the assembly of the G protein βγ subunit and that …

Acquiring Three-Dimensional Data From Small Mammalian Teeth : Laser Scanning Eocene Marsupials, Nicholas E. Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Three-dimensional laser scanning is an effective method of digitization in paleontology, but has traditionally been restricted to larger specimens. The goal of this study was to develop a laser scanning technique applicable to small mammalian (< 5 mm) dentition. Modeling protocols were developed, and a morphometric error study showed the system highly accurate (percent error = 1D- 0.4%, 2D- 0.05%, 3D- 1.74%). Automation and standardization were accomplished by implementation of a multiscan platform and autosurfacing macro reducing modeling time by 60%. To highlight one morphometric application, 3D models (n=61) of three sympatric Eocene marsupials were digitized, and traditionally qualitative diagnostic characters were quantified and assessed. All but two of the 19 characters examined proved diagnostic (p < 0.05), and exploratory canonical discriminant analysis confirmed three distinct species. Incorporating type specimens revealed a familial overlap, therefore, this novel modeling technique can be employed in a full revision of early Eocene marsupials.

Satellite Image Processing For Biodiversity Conservation And Environmental Modeling In Kyrgyz Republic National Park, Galina N. Fet

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There is a need for extensive surveys of living organisms at a global scale; digital data exchange and storage is an essential part of such studies. Biodiversity inventory of fungi, which play an essential role in the health of the mountainous conifer forests of a developing country – Kyrgyz Republic, was linked to the vegetation classification produced from the high-resolution satellite imagery. Terra ASTER and SRTM90 imagery was used as a base map for the ecosystem modeling of the species and habitat distribution and for the three-dimensional representation, especially valuable for the mountainous landscapes of the Ala Archa National Park. …

Arsenic Toxicity In Plhc-1 Cell Line And The Distribution Of Arsenic In Central Appalachia, Yeong Nam Jeong

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Our ecosystem has geobiophysical relationships. Environmental pollution can lead to immediate consequences like organism death or lack of reproduction. It can also lead to long-range consequences through mutations and DNA damage. Fish can be affected very directly by environmental contamination in water but the study of fish is not performed well. We are developing a quantitative assay to assess DNA damage in vitro due to heavy metal contamination using a tissue culture line of Poeciliopsis lucida, the desert pupfish, which is used for other toxicology assays. To detect DNA damage, Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet Assay) is very useful. …

Comparison Of Fish Assemblages Between Mitigation Boulder Reef And Neighboring Natural Hardbottom In Broward County, Florida, Usa, Jessica A. Freeman

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

A beach renourishment project was initiated in May 2005 and completed in February 2006 to restore 11.1 km of shoreline in Broward County, Florida, USA. For mitigation of predicted nearshore hardbottom burial, a boulder reef totaling 3.6 ha was deployed in 2003. To examine the replacement value of the mitigation relative to fishes, this study compared fish assemblages on boulder reef to those on adjacent natural hardbottom. Twenty-five natural hardbottom sites and twenty-five boulder reef sites were surveyed six times between March 2005 and August 2007. Two non-destructive visual census methods, a transect count (30 m long x 2 m …

Surface Associated Amoebae On The Ctenophore, Mnemiopsis Sp., Connie S. Versteeg

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Previous work by Moss et al. (2001) reported surface associated protists on the ctenophore Mnemiopsis sp. They frequently observed the ciliate Trichodina ctenophorii and a Flabellula-like amoeba attached to the comb plate surface. They noted that the ciliate and the amoeba were found on the subsagittal, subtentacular, and the auricular comb plates. The amoeba had a maximum width of about 15 μm and cells were crescent shaped. Ultrastructural evidence suggested that these protists were parasites although the exact nature of the association remained to be determined. This was the background for the present study.

The present investigation documented the …

Effects Of Molecular Motion On Deuteron Magic Angle Spinning Nmr Spectra, Yuanyuan Huang

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Solid state deuteron NMR experiments, especially magic angle spinning (MAS) and off-magic angle spinning (OMAS), are developed to explore dynamical systems. A theoretical discussion of interactions relevant for spin-1 nuclei is presented. Practical aspects of MAS/OMAS experiments are described an detail. The dominant quadrupolar coupling interaction in deuteron NMR has been simulated and the effects of multiple-frame molecular motions on MAS/OMAS spectra are taken into account in this calculation. Effects of chemical shift anisotropy are also simulated, and shown to be small under conditions of rapid sample spinning.;Two numerical methods, direct integration and an efficient simulation routine based on Floquet …

Trophic Ecology And Growth Dynamics Of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) In Chesapeake Bay, With Reference To Mycobacteriosis, Kathleen Anne Mcnamee

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Hypoxia And Macoma Balthica: Ecological Effects On A Key Infaunal Benthic Species, William Christopher Long

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Hypoxia, low dissolved oxygen, is an important environmental stressor in estuarine systems. In this dissertation, I examine the effects of hypoxia on the macrobenthic communities of the York and Rappahannock Rivers, Chesapeake Bay, USA, and in particular its effects on the infaunal clam Macoma balthica. A survey of the macrobenthic community was performed using box-coring before and after hypoxia in 2003 and 2004 in both rivers. Hypoxia was associated with a change in the macrobenthic community towards smaller, shorter-lived, opportunistic species; and a substantial decrease in biomass. M. balthica recruited into all areas of the river but suffered local extinction …

World Bank -Cpa Conflict: The Struggle To Define Human Rights And Development In The Philippines, Adam B. Robbins

Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the interactions between the World Bank (hereafter, the Bank) and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), an indigenous and environmental advocacy group based in the Cordillera region of Luzon, in the Philippines. Using data gathered through both text-based and participatory research methods, I analyze the discursive relationship and violent confrontations between the two organizations. Conflicting development and human rights values cause the majority of these conflicts. I focus on how each organization enacts development and human rights, and how this leads to conflict. Ultimately, I intend for this thesis to offer practical guidance for the reader involved in …

The Extent Of Interaction Between The Scallop And Prawn Fleets In The Shark Bay Scallop Managed Fishery, John Dickson

Theses : Honours

The Shark Bay Managed Scallop Fishery is Western Australia's most important scallop fishery with an annual value of between $2 and $58 million. In addition to this the fishery is an important source of regional employment with approximately 160 skippers and crew employed during the 2005 season. Two separate fleets are permitted to fish for scallops in this fishery, the first consisting of dedicated scallop fishing vessels (Class A licences) and the second of prawn fishing vessels (Class B licences) that are allowed to take scallops under a catch sharing arrangement. Concerns exist over the interactions between these two fleets …

Antimicrobial Activities Of Aldehydes And Ketones Produced During Rapid Volatilization Of Biogenic Oils, Aruna Lamba

Masters Theses

"The overall objective of the research presented in this thesis was to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of commercially available neat compounds in order to validate the analytes which were found in the smoke generated during rapid volatilization of biogenic oil esters and mineral oils. To attain this objective various analytes were selected from the analytical data provided for the smoke, and neat compounds were purchased. A special desiccator was designed to conduct experiments. Simultaneously vapor phase concentration of the neat compounds was determined to establish relation between neat compounds and the analytes found in smoke. Other part of the thesis …

The Biophysical Analysis Of The Human Telomeric Repeat (Ttaggg)4 And Characterization Of Porphyrin Binding In Potassium Solutions, Cosimo Antonacci

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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The Role Of Bacteria-Particle Interactions In Marine Snow Dynamics, Emily M. Yam

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Marine snow aggregates are one of the primary vehicles for deep-sea carbon sequestration. Bacterial activity on marine snow affects both degradation and aggregation processes that determine the flux of carbon to depth, biogeochemical cycling, and microbial food webs. The microscale processes occurring on aggregates depend on specific interactions between bacteria and particles. In this thesis, I describe two such interactions which have larger scale implications on marine snow dynamics: (1) the effects of starvation on bacterial motility and colonization behaviors on marine aggregates and (2) interactions between bacteria and phytoplankton which could contribute to the production of TEP.

Current models …

Biomarker Responses In Fathead Minnows (Pimephales Promelas) During Exposure To Exceptional Quality Biosolids, Constance A. Sullivan

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Early Life Stage Characteristics Of Six Acadian Conifer Species: Germination And Seedling Development In A Changing Climate, Jason D. Schatz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global climate change will drastically alter regional climates. The influence of these changes on the distribution and relative abundance of forest trees is both critically important and subject to substantial uncertainty. It will be particularly important to understand the effects of different climate scenarios on the early life stages of major tree species, because: 1) Early life stage performance and survival strongly influence the abundance of mature trees of a given species, 2) Trees are most sensitive to environmental variation during their early life stages, and 3) Our knowledge of the response of Acadian Forest tree species to environmental variation …

Inactive Sulfide Mounds Of The Manus Basin: Invertebrate Composition And Potential For A Chemoautotrophic Food Web, Kristin Lynn Erickson

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Screening New Cytokinesis Genes And Investigation Of Regulation Of Hof1 In Cytokinesis, Jung Eun Park

Masters Theses

"In 1996, a complete sequence of the budding yeast genome was completed and numerous studies begun to discover the function of genes. A primary concern of this study was to identify genes that may function in cytokinesis. Seven candidate genes were chosen, which were previously shown to localize to the bud neck, the site of cytokinesis, or interact with a protein that is involved in cytokinesis. Six of those uncharacterized genes, YHR149C, YLR187W, YOL070C, YMR124W, YPL158C, and YOR304C-A, were identified by data generated by GFP tagging of the yeast proteome. Data from a large-scale two-hybrid screen was used to identify …

Effects Of Mercury On Condition And Coloration Of Belted Kingfishers, Ariel Elizabeth White

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Plant Assemblage Structure On Barrier Island ‘Pimple’ Dunes At The Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Site, Brett A. Mcmillan

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The habitats at the VCR LTER that were the focus of the current study are the Hog Island and Parramore Island 'pimples', small, rounded dunes forming along main dune ridges of the barrier islands. There are distinct plant assemblage zones found on pimples, although most of these dunes are 10–20 m in diameter. Hypotheses of the study were that fresh water availability was a main determinant of differences between assemblages and that pimple size and location would influence diversity and assemblage structure. Research goals were (1) to describe the plant assemblages on pimples, (2) to relate edaphic and geomorphological factors …

Characterization Of Exotic Pathogens Associated With The Suminoe Oyster, Crassostrea Ariakensis, Jessica A. Moss

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, once an integral part of the ecology and economy of Chesapeake Bay, has been severely depleted. Factors leading to the decline of the eastern oyster include over-harvesting, environmental degradation and disease pressure caused by the protozoans Haplosporidium nelsoni and Perkinsus marinus, known commonly as MSX and Dermo, respectively. Studies regarding the feasibility of introducing a nonnative oyster to the Bay were initiated, and field-based research on an Asian oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, suggested that it might be a viable species for introduction. Research surrounding the proposed introduction has focused on recommendations such as those from the …

Feeding Ecology Of Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia Tyrannus) In Chesapeake Bay, Patrick D. Lynch

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Infection Dynamics Of Pav1 In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, Caiwen Li

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) is an emerging disease in Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus. It is considered a threat to the lobster industry in the Florida Keys. In order to understand the infection dynamics of the PaV1 virus in the lobster host, a sensitive and specific fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was developed for diagnosis of PaV1 in lobsters. The lower limit of detection using the 110-bp DNA probe in a dot-blot hybridization for PaV1 was 10 pg of cloned DNA template and 10 ng of genomic DNA extracted from hemolymph of diseased spiny lobster. The probe specifically …

Biogeochemistry And Phytoplankton Dynamics In The Ross Sea, Antarctica, Amy Rebecca Shields

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The Ross Sea, Antarctica seasonal phytoplankton bloom is one of the largest in the Southern Ocean. This project focuses on the biological pump, which removes carbon from the surface ocean to the deep ocean through the settling of particulate organic matter, the advection of dissolved organic carbon, and active flux due to vertical migration of zooplankton. The objective of this study was to focus on three interrelated components of the biological pump including sedimentation, photosynthetic rates and grazing. The study was conducted in coordination with the Interannual Variability in the Antarctic-Ross Sea program, which covered the time period between 2001--2005. …

Mercury Exposure In Terrestrial Insectivorous Birds, Scott Lawrence Friedman

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Mercury On The Nesting Success And Return Rate Of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta Bicolor), Rebecka L. Brasso

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.