Integrative Biology Commons^™

Science, But Not Fiction: Colby Researchers Consider How "Extreme-Ophiles" Survive And Thrive In The World's Toughest Places, Gerry Boyle

Colby Magazine

"We're exploring how the cell makes the decision to do this," said Assistant Professor of Biology Ron Peck.

A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico

2020 Symposium Posters

A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …

Tympanal Asymmetry In A Parasitoid Fly: Small Asymmetries Produce Big Gains, Max Mikel-Stites, Anne E. Staples

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Comparative Study Of Spectral Sensitivity, Irradiance Sensitivity, Spatial Resolution And Temporal Resolution In The Visual Systems Of Aratus Pisonii And Ocypode Quadrata, Ruchao Qian

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Autrum’s studies (1950, 1958) on terrestrial arthropods first revealed that the visual systems of arthropods reflected their lifestyles and habitats, demonstrating that rapidly moving predatory diurnal species tend to have better temporal resolution than slower moving nocturnal species. In order to test Autrum’s hypothesis that visual adaptions are driven by predator/prey interactions, the visual physiology of a nocturnal fast-moving predatory crab, the Atlantic ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata), and a diurnal herbivorous crab, the mangrove tree crab (Aratus pisonii), was examined and compared. Spectral sensitivity, irradiance sensitivity, and temporal resolution of the crabs were quantified using the …

Influences Of Anti-Bd Bacteria On Amphibians And Their Microbiomes, Emme L. Schmidt

Honors Thesis

The fungal pathogen Batrochochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been threatening amphibian populations across the globe. Recent work has discovered that bacteria isolated from certain populations of amphibians protect hosts from this pathogen. This project focuses on the anti-fungal mechanisms of Serratia marcescens, a species of bacteria isolated from a Costa Rican frog that dramatically inhibited Bd in culture. Wild-type and recombinant S. marcescens was introduced to the microbiomes of a live amphibian host, Acris blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket Frog) and then challenged with Bd to examine the protective effects of this bacteria. The experiment includes recombinant S. marcescens with …

Steady Heartbeat: Field And Laboratory Studies Indicate Unexpected Resilience To High Temperatures For The Ribbed Mussel Geukensia Demissa, Ashlyn N. Smith Ms.

Honors College Theses

Salt marshes are important ecosystems found along the coast of Georgia. Salt marshes are hosts to diverse organisms that interact with each other to promote many ecosystem services, such as storm buffering and flooding, and absorption of excess nutrients. Among these diverse organisms is the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa. Mussels are a foundation species in this intertidal landscape, and without them the whole salt marsh would be negatively affected. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the thermal stress response of G. demissa to rising temperatures. Mussels were collected from three locations that were landlocked, close to a …

Utilization Of The Cell Penetrating Peptide Tat-Cam In New Biological Systems: Fungal And Bacterial Cell Lines, Krista Barbour

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are biomolecular vehicles or systems that mediate the delivery of proteins into different cell lines. Since their discovery in the late 1980s, the CPP delivery system has primarily been explored in different types of mammalian cells. The technology has demonstrated promise in providing itself as an alternative delivery mechanism to transport biomolecules into different mammalian cell lines. CPPs have previously been shown to penetrate the cell membranes of fungi and bacteria, however, CPP mediated delivery of other proteins and biomolecules into these two microorganisms have yet to be explored. In this thesis project, this phenomenon is …

Regional Differences In Wild North American River Otter (Lontra Canadensis) Behavior And Communication, Sarah Walkley

Dissertations

This study focuses on the vocalization repertoires of wild North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) in New York and California. Although they are the same species, these two established populations of river otters are separated by a significant distance and are distinct from one another. River otters are semi-aquatic social predators that can be found throughout North America. This is the first study to examine the vocalizations of wild river otters, and results are compared across field sites in the different regions. River otter vocalizations and behaviors in New York were recorded using Bushnell Aggressor trail cameras that …

Differences In Learning And Gene Expression In Brains Of Male And Female Bicyclus Anynana, Gabrielle Agcaoili

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

One way to understand the variation in the behavior of animals is by looking at the genes involved. We were particularly interested in behavioral differences between the sexes. How might these differences be manifested in the brain? This study worked to answer this question by using male and female butterflies of the species Bicyclus anynana, examining what is going on in the brains of males and females as they learned from a social exposure. We focused in on how sex plays a role in behavior and learning; it has been seen that males and females respond to the same social …

The Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species In The Gut Immune Response Of Cat Fleas (Ctenocephalides Felis), Clark Hall

Honors College Theses

Fleas transmit numerous deadly and debilitating diseases, including the causative agents of murine typhus and plague. Because initial entry of these infectious agents occurs while blood feeding, the immune response in the flea gut is considered to be the first line of defense against invading microbes. However, relatively few studies have identified the flea immune molecules that effectively resist or limit infection in the gut. In other hematophagous insects, an immediate immune response to imbibed pathogens is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we utilized cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) to investigate whether natural infections …

A Basic Ddradseq Two‐Enzyme Protocol Performs Well With Herbarium And Silica‐Dried Tissues Across Four Genera, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden, James B. Beck, Catherine A. Rushworth, Michael D. Windham, Nicolas Diaz, Jason T. Cantley, Christopher T. Martine, Carl J. Rothfels

Faculty Journal Articles

Premise

The ability to sequence genome‐scale data from herbarium specimens would allow for the economical development of data sets with broad taxonomic and geographic sampling that would otherwise not be possible. Here, we evaluate the utility of a basic double‐digest restriction site–associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) protocol using DNAs from four genera extracted from both silica‐dried and herbarium tissue.

Methods

DNAs from Draba, Boechera, Solidago, and Ilex were processed with a ddRADseq protocol. The effects of DNA degradation, taxon, and specimen age were assessed.

Results

Although taxon, preservation method, and specimen age affected data recovery, large phylogenetically informative …

Analyzing The Flight Patterns And Behavior Of Dragonflies Engaged In Aerial Territory Battles, Brandon Hastings, Brandon Jackson

Virtual 2020 Spring Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

It has previously been determined that male dragonflies occupying the most suitable territory within a habitat have a higher flight-muscle ratio (FMR) than those occupying poor territories, but it is unknown how this increased FMR relates to their flight patterns. This study examined the flight patterns of dragonflies engaged in aerial territory battles to investigate differences in maneuverability between winners and losers. 3D video data of dragonflies interacting in a natural habitat was analyzed for territorial flights. Winners showed a lower maximum angular velocity compared to losers.

470— Quantifying The Shape Of A Plant (Brassica Rapa) During Growth Under Different Light Intensities Using Fractal Geometry, Matthew Cotroneo

GREAT Day Posters

Over time plants not only increase in size but also change their shape. Quantifying this change in shape, however, is challenging. Fractal dimension, a measure of how these plants fill space, can provide a wholistic understanding of plant shape and how that shape changes as the plants react to their environments. I used a high-resolution, three-dimensional scanner to estimate the shape of Brassica rapa plants during growth under three different light intensities: low (40 Einsteins), medium (75 Einsteins) and high (100 Einsteins). From these data, each plant's above-ground shape was quantified using fractal geometry. The fractal dimension (D) of plants …

Genome-Wide Changes In Genetic Diversity In A Population Of Myotis Lucifugus Affected By White-Nose Syndrome, Thomas M. Lilley, Ian W. Wilson, Kenneth A. Field, Deeann Reeder, Megan E. Vodzak, Gregory G. Turner, Allen Kurta, Anna S. Blomberg, Samantha Hoff, Carl J. Herzog, Brent J. Sewall, Steve Paterson

Faculty Journal Articles

Novel pathogens can cause massive declines in populations, and even extirpation of hosts. But disease can also act as a selective pressure on survivors, driving the evolution of resistance or tolerance. Bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) is a rapidly spreading wildlife disease in North America. The fungus causing the disease invades skin tissues of hibernating bats, resulting in disruption of hibernation behavior, premature energy depletion, and subsequent death. We used whole-genome sequencing to investigate changes in allele frequencies within a population of Myotis lucifugus in eastern North America to search for genetic resistance to WNS. Our results show low FST values …

Effects Of Alpha- And Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade Upon Inflammatory Responses To Acute And Chronic Sleep Fragmentation, Nicholas David Wheeler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Generally, sleep is viewed as a recuperative process and its dysregulation has

cognitive, metabolic, immunological, and inflammatory implications that are largely deleterious to human health. Epidemiological and empirical studies have suggested that sleep fragmentation (SF) as result of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep abnormalities leads to pronounced systemic inflammatory responses, which are influenced by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to SNS regulation of SF-induced inflammatory states are not fully understood. To assess the effects of the SNS system, C57BL/6j female mice were placed in automated SF chambers (12L:12D) and subjected to either …

The Relationship Between Woodland Caribou, Soil Carbon Cycling And Soil Fertility On The Slate Islands Archipelago In Ontario, Canada, Melinda Kantola

All NMU Master's Theses

I investigated biogeochemical connections between woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) herbivory, vegetation, soil fertility, and soil carbon cycling on the Slate Islands Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Woodland caribou are threatened in Ontario, and the caribou population on the Slate Islands has declined steeply since 2015. Northern Michigan University (NMU) and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) ecologists established caribou and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) exclosures on the islands in 2006, and have routinely monitored the vegetation to study the effects of limiting herbivory.

This study explores the implications of limiting herbivory on soil …

Up To Scratch: An Evidence-Based (And Fun!) Assessment Tool, Breanna Putman

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

This poster describes a project using Immediate Feedback Assessment. As part of the ISSUES-X Large Lecture Faculty Learning Community, I implemented a different assessment technique in my class. The technique is called Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique (IF-AT) and it basically consists of a scratch-off scantron form. Students scratch off the oval corresponding to their answer and if it is correct, a star will be revealed. They keep scratching until revealing the correct answer. This technique was beneficial because it corrects students’ misunderstandings by providing immediate feedback, it helps students utilize an “internal dialogue” of learning through evaluation of incorrect responses …

Strain Improvement Of Pleurotus Giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K. D. Hyde Via Conventional Mating Techniques, Kwan Yun Ha

Student Works (2020-2029)

Recently, a commercial strain of Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K.D. Hyde from China has been cultivated in Malaysia. Pleurotus giganteus was prone to insect infestation which led to heavy losses for farmers. The aim of this study was to generate new hybrids of P. giganteus that maybe resistant to pest and contamination. The commercial strain of P. giganteus from China (KLU-M 1227) and a wild strain from Malaysia (KLU-M 1391) were subjected to intraspecific breeding. Of the 56 combinations, 16 hybrids were obtained. All the 16 hybrids together with the parents were subjected to radial and linear growth study. …

A&P Workshop Summary—Uniting Anatomy And Physiology Through Case Studies, Angela Horner, Stuart Sumida, Tomasz Owercowicz

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

Introducing problem-solving based methods of pedagogy is one approach to engage students early in their careers with developing analytic and diagnostic skills. PBL approaches in anatomy and medical teaching are a logical extension of clinical case studies, wherein an example of a pathology or clinical procedure is provided, and students must ascertain the anatomical and/or physiological basis for it. Students report a deeper understanding of material presented in clinical case studies, as the ‘real world’ relevance and importance is immediately clear (Cliff and Wright, 1996).

Ticks On Lizards: Parasite-Host Interactions Of The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria Multicarinata) In Washington State, Emma Houghton

Undergraduate Honors Theses

I investigated interactions between ectoparasites (ticks) and their host, the southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata). Alligator lizards are capable of complement-mediated killing of the Lyme disease spirochete carried by ticks and may potentially reduce Lyme disease prevalence by cleansing pathogenic organisms from ticks. Despite this, little is known about host-parasite dynamics in alligator lizards. My goals were to 1) assess patterns of tick presence (i.e. parasite load) on alligator lizards and 2) investigate potential negative effects of ticks on alligator lizards. I sampled lizards during the summer of 2019 near Catherine Creek, along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington. …