Pelvic Sucker Form And Function In Waterfall Climbing Gobies: Variation In Morphology And Adhesive Performance Can Inspire Biomimetic Innovation,
2024
Clemson University
Pelvic Sucker Form And Function In Waterfall Climbing Gobies: Variation In Morphology And Adhesive Performance Can Inspire Biomimetic Innovation, Amanda Palecek Mcclung
All Dissertations
Adhesive systems have evolved in many animal lineages and have appeared multiple times among the fishes. Bioadhesion in the gobies, a group found around the world, plays a role in both station-holding and even climbing. Among the Hawaiian streams, we find four species of amphidromous gobies which must face predators as juveniles and climb streams up to hundreds of feet tall to reach adult habitats. These gobies exhibit a range of climbing and adhesive abilities that result in an elevation-dependent species stratification, in which increasingly proficient climbing species are found in streams at increasingly higher elevations. This group is therefore …
Seed Dispersal By Martu Peoples Promotes The Distribution Of Native Plants In Arid Australia,
2024
The Pennsylvania State University
Seed Dispersal By Martu Peoples Promotes The Distribution Of Native Plants In Arid Australia, Rebecca Bliege Bird, Douglas Bird, Christopher T. Martine, Chloe Mcguire, Leanne Greenwood, Desmond Taylor, Tanisha M. Williams, Peter M. Veth
Faculty Journal Articles
Commensal relationships between wild plants and their dispersers play a key ecological and evolutionary role in community structure and function. While non-human dispersers are often considered critical to plant recruitment, human dispersers have received much less attention, especially when it comes to non-domesticated plants. Australia, as a continent historically characterized by economies reliant on non-domesticated plants, is thus a key system for exploring the ecological role of people as seed dispersers in the absence of agriculture. Here, we utilize a controlled observation research design, employing ecological surveys and ethnographic observations to examine how seed dispersal and landscape burning by Martu …
Scientific Note: An Incursion Of The Widely-Cultivated Katsura (Cercidiphyllum Japonicum, Cercidiphyllaceae) In Pennsylvania,
2024
Bucknell University
Scientific Note: An Incursion Of The Widely-Cultivated Katsura (Cercidiphyllum Japonicum, Cercidiphyllaceae) In Pennsylvania, Kayleigh R. Long, Melody P. Sain, Elizabeth H. Williams, Christopher T. Martine
Faculty Journal Articles
Cercidiphyllum japonicum (katsura) is a dioecious tree native to China and Japan. Although imperiled in parts of its natural distribution, the species has become quite common as a cultivated tree in temperate North America. The species is noted as occasionally escaping cultivation in the eastern United States, but few records of established incursions (and the conditions under which they might recruit) exist in the literature. We here report an incursion of C. japonicum in central Pennsylvania, along with notes on seedling recruitment on the Bucknell University campus.
Prochlorococcus Death By A Ubiquitous Zooplankton Filter Feeder,
2024
Portland State University
Prochlorococcus Death By A Ubiquitous Zooplankton Filter Feeder, Avery Harman
University Honors Theses
Prochlorococcus is a globally abundant cyanobacterium that can help reveal the ecology of microorganisms in the ocean. Specifically, mortality by zooplankton such as appendicularians is globally important and Prochlorococcus can help reveal some of the choices made around feeding for this ubiquitous filter feeder. Two ecotypes of Prochlorococcus were introduced to appendicularians to determine if appendicularian feed selectively between these ecotypes. Further, a single ecotype of Prochlorococcus was fed to appendicularians over a variety of life stages to determine if retention rate changed with appendicularian life stage. My results reveal that there is no significant selection between the two Prochlorococcus …
Removal As A Control Method For Trachemys Scripta Elegans And The Response Of Chrysemys Picta Bellii,
2024
Portland State University
Removal As A Control Method For Trachemys Scripta Elegans And The Response Of Chrysemys Picta Bellii, Jacob Swanson
University Honors Theses
The red-eared slider is considered one of the most ubiquitous freshwater turtles globally. Several key ecological advantages and life history traits of this species jointly impact growth rates and survivorship of native freshwater turtles where sympatry occurs. Evaluation of current management actions for red-eared slider turtles is limited, resulting in a paucity of information to guide management for the species and conservation of declining native freshwater turtles. We used previously collected mark-recapture and removal sampling data from sites with sympatric populations of red-eared slider and western painted turtles. We examined the effects of control (trapping and removal) of red-eared sliders …
Assessment Of Georgia’S Royal Catchfly (Silene Regia) Along A Forest-Edge Gradient In A Remnant Prairie Community,
2024
Kennesaw State University
Assessment Of Georgia’S Royal Catchfly (Silene Regia) Along A Forest-Edge Gradient In A Remnant Prairie Community, Megan Brooks
Master's Theses
Royal catchfly (Silene regia) is a perennial prairie forb known to grow in rocky, alkaline soils within tallgrass prairies of the eastern United States. S. regia is recorded from twelve states, including Georgia, and is now confined to fragmented habitats due to the loss of 95% of its natural environment. The species is now listed as critically imperiled in the state of Georgia. Attempts at reintroduction via outplanting have only shown limited success, necessitating more research on the environmental conditions in which this plant survives in its southern-most distribution. This study investigated the local ecological factors influencing the …
Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study,
2024
Virginia Commonwealth University
Astrocyte Spatial Distribution Affects Growth Dynamics Of Breast Cancer Brain Metastases: An Agent-Based Modeling Study, Rupleen Kaur
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Maturation Of An Off-Channel Habitat Concept To Conserve Native Fishes In The Lower Colorado River,
2024
Native Fish Lab at Marsh & Associates, LLC, Tempe, AZ 85282
Maturation Of An Off-Channel Habitat Concept To Conserve Native Fishes In The Lower Colorado River, Paul C. Marsh, Thomas E. Dowling, Thomas F. Turner, Megan J. Osborne, Brian R. Kesner
Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist
Two endemic, “large river” fishes of the Colorado River basin of western North America, bonytail Gila elegans and razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus, are among several critically endangered species in the system. Wild populations of bonytail are gone, and there are no self-sustaining populations of razorback sucker anywhere; reproduction occurs but recruitment does not. Both species have been under intensive management in the Lower Colorado River since the 1980s. Today, with the single exception of Lake Mead, remaining populations are composed entirely of repatriated individuals that depend on stocking for their continued existence. In 2003, a conceptual off-channel habitat (OCH) …
Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective,
2024
Duquesne University
Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …
Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals,
2024
Kennesaw State University
Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez
Master's Theses
Urbanization is an example of human induced rapid environmental change that can have wide-reaching ecological effects, including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration of local climates. Effects of urbanization have been shown to impact wildlife, as disturbances resulting from urbanization can create novel environments and selective pressures that could lead to changes in morphology, physiology, or both. Small mammals such as rodents are an ecologically important set of wildlife species because they are a key prey item for several predators, hold strong influence over plants as a primary consumer, and some species carry and transmit major human and animal diseases. Previous …
Regulation Of Intracellular Sorting Of The Bruno Protein In Drosophila Flight Muscles,
2024
Kennesaw State University
Regulation Of Intracellular Sorting Of The Bruno Protein In Drosophila Flight Muscles, Travis Main
Master's Theses
Understanding mechanisms of intracellular sorting is a fundamental inquiry of cell biology. We used the B-body and protein Bruno (Bru) as a model to study the formation of nuclear domains that are membraneless organelles inside the cell nucleus. Specifically, we sought to identify protein sequences that regulate Bru's affinity to B-bodies and protein aggregation. We generated various Bru mutants and subsequently tested them in vivo using fluorescence microscopy. We found that the protein solubility of Bru is determined through an interplay of RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Using truncation analysis, we identified a 31-amino acid region …
Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation,
2024
University of Texas at Arlington
Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur
2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive
In this study, we investigated the color-changing capabilities of Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, through exposure to varied color conditions over defined periods of time. Our experiment aims to understand adaptive responses when killifish are subjected to different color backgrounds, exploring their mechanisms to change color. By subjecting the species to different environmental color variations, we sought to discern color change patterns, which could indicate adaptive responses related to camouflage, stress, behavior clues, and physiological adjustments. Carefully controlling environmental factors, we monitored and documented the fishes’ color changes, aiming to provide insights into the interplay between fish’s developmental plasticity and its …
Mate Guarding Against Strong Men Displaying Affiliative And Aggressive Humor,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Mate Guarding Against Strong Men Displaying Affiliative And Aggressive Humor, Jacob Pauley
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses
Mate retention behaviors serve to discourage partner defection from a current pairbond. Such behaviors are oftentimes more prevalent toward intrasexual rivals exhibiting physical and behavioral cues implicating that rival as an optimal mate. Among these features in men are their upper body strength, a feature diagnostic of heritable fitness, and men's ability to produce humor, a cue to their social competence. This study considered the intersection of these desirable features in shaping men's mate retention behavior toward an intrasexual rival. After learning of a hypothetical interloper exhibiting high or low upper body strength while similarly using humor in an affiliative …
Cross-Pollination: Building A Co-Taught Course To Examine Art And Sex Through The Lens Of Botany,
2024
Bucknell University
Cross-Pollination: Building A Co-Taught Course To Examine Art And Sex Through The Lens Of Botany, Christopher T. Martine, Diamanda A. Zizis, Anna K. Kell
Faculty Journal Articles
Driven by overlapping interests in plants, art, and diversity in sex expression, Anna Kell (Department of Art and Art History) and Chris Martine (Department of Biology) developed a course that integrates the perspectives of a visual artist and a botanist. Art & Sex Through the Lens of Botany seeks to impart the importance of making connections across disciplines and the value of visual literacy across academic lines. The course introduces foundational concepts in each field and encourages students to integrate and explore these different systems of knowledge and their intersections. In addition to developing fluencies related to both general botany …
Biophysical Model Of Retraction Motor Neurons And Their Modification By Operant Conditioning,
2024
The Texas Medical Center Library
Biophysical Model Of Retraction Motor Neurons And Their Modification By Operant Conditioning, Maria Rasheed
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Operant conditioning (OC) is a form of associative learning in which an animal modifies its behavior based on the consequences that follow that behavior. Despite its ubiquity, the underlying mechanisms of OC are poorly understood. Insights into the mechanisms of OC can be obtained by studying Aplysia feeding behavior as it can be modified by OC. This behavior is mediated by a central pattern generator (CPG) network in the buccal ganglia that contains a relatively small number of neurons. This CPG generates rhythmic motor patterns (BMPs) that move food into the gut by closing a tongue-like structure (i.e., radula) during …
Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students,
2024
University of Louisville
Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier
Undergraduate Research Events
Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. We designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive biology informed by the most current and accurate research and compared it to a traditionally taught biology lecture for first year majors. Students who received the experimental …
Targeting Cholinergic Signaling In Glioblastoma,
2024
Dartmouth College
Targeting Cholinergic Signaling In Glioblastoma, Sumyuktha Vijay Anand
Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations
Primitive stem cell-like populations that are prone to malignant transformation reside in the brain throughout adulthood. My lab’s reports and many others have characterized subsets of glioma cells reminiscent of adult stem-like cells implicating them rational candidates for cell-targeted therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that the neurotransmitter microenvironment influences these stem-like cells during glioma progression providing an inroad to study neuromodulators in glioma. Some glioma stemlike cells share characteristics with adult tissue oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Primitive cells of the oligodendroglial lineage express muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), and their “stemness” is maintained by the acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter. Here, I conduct transcriptomic, electrophysiological, …
Trip13’S Crucial Role In Pancreatic Cancer Progression,
2024
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Trip13’S Crucial Role In Pancreatic Cancer Progression, Swati Dhasmana, Anupam Dhasmana, Stella Rios, Iris A. Enriquez-Perez, Sheema Khan, Farrukh Afaq, Upender Manne, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan
Research Symposium
Background: Pancreatic cancer, characterized by its high mortality rate, stands as one of the most aggressive cancer forms. The projected surge in pancreatic cancer-related deaths, making it the second leading cause in the United States by 2030, underscores the urgency for effective early screening tools. This study employs data mining methods to scrutinize bioinformatic data surrounding TRIP13. Examining differential expression across various cancers, correlating TRIP13 expression with pancreatic cancer stages, exploring associations with common cancer genes, and analyzing overall survival rates constitute the core investigations. Integrated with molecular biology techniques, the study further quantifies TRIP13 expression in progressive pancreatic cancer …
Novel Microbiological Medium Developed For The Isolation Of Bacteria Associated With Estuarine Anemones,
2024
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Novel Microbiological Medium Developed For The Isolation Of Bacteria Associated With Estuarine Anemones, Parker K. Lund, Catalina Cuellar-Gempeler
IdeaFest: Interdisciplinary Journal of Creative Works and Research from Cal Poly Humboldt
Out of the nearly one trillion species of microbiota estimated to inhabit Earth only ten thousand have been cultured in the laboratory. Culturing continues to play a vital role in determining the physiology and ecologic function of individual bacteria in microbial communities and for microbes associated with host organisms one of the major challenges is developing microbiological media that mimics the bacteria’s natural environment enough to promote growth. Here, we target bacteria associated with the estuary anemones Diadumene lineata and Metridium senile by developing a novel medium that uses anemone tissue as the sole source of nutrients. We further measured …
Coralai: Emergent Ecosystems Of Neural Cellular Automata,
2024
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Coralai: Emergent Ecosystems Of Neural Cellular Automata, Aidan A. Barbieux, Aidan A. Barbieux
Master's Theses
Artificial intelligence has traditionally been approached through centralized architectures and optimization of specific metrics on large datasets. However, the frontiers of fields spanning cognitive science, biology, physics, and computer science suggest that intelligence is better understood as a multi-scale, decentralized, emergent phenomenon. As such, scaling up approaches that mirror the natural world may be one of the next big advances in AI. This thesis presents Coralai, a framework for efficiently simulating the emergence of diverse artificial life ecosystems integrated with modular physics. The key innovations of Coralai include: 1) Hosting diverse Neural Cellular Automata organisms in the same simulation that …
