Exploring The Evolution Of Callose Synthase In Green Plants,
2024
Purdue University
Exploring The Evolution Of Callose Synthase In Green Plants, Giovanna Durante
The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research
No abstract provided.
Parental Environnement Influences Offspring Gene Expression In The Olympia Oyster, Ostrea Lurida.,
2024
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
Parental Environnement Influences Offspring Gene Expression In The Olympia Oyster, Ostrea Lurida., Mark S. Yeats
LSU Master's Theses
The Olympia Oyster is the only native oyster species on the Pacific coast of North America. Seasonality in water temperatures across this threatened species’ broad and fragmented range has been linked to its development, reproductive timing, reproductive activity, growth, and survival rates. Recent evidence suggests parental environments can have carry-over effects on larval growth and respiration rates in response to temperature. In this study, we utilized transcriptomic methods to identify the underlying mechanisms of this cross-generation plasticity. Sequence libraries of adult ctenidia tissue and pooled larval replicates were extracted and spawned from hatchery raised oysters of the same parentage immediately …
A Survey Of Proximal Sensilla Associated With Denticle Subrows On Scorpion Pedipalp Fingers (Arachnida: Scorpiones), With Observations On Scorpion Fluorescence,
2024
Marshall University
A Survey Of Proximal Sensilla Associated With Denticle Subrows On Scorpion Pedipalp Fingers (Arachnida: Scorpiones), With Observations On Scorpion Fluorescence, Graeme Lowe, Victor Fet
Euscorpius
Sensilla on the dentate margins of scorpion pedipalp fingers, associated with denticle subrows or terminal denticles, were surveyed by white light, UV fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. A total of 163 species belonging to 103 genera from 19 families were examined, representing all major phylogenetic lineages in the order. In the majority of species (141/152) with dentition organized into linear subrows of median denticles, a small socketed sensillum with a short shaft was observed at the proximal terminus of each subrow, termed a ‘subrow proximal sensilla’ (SPS). With few exceptions, SPS were non-fluorescent (‘Type N’) in buthids, and fluorescent (‘Type …
Factors That Influence Small Mammal Long Bone Morphology: An Analysis Of The Femora, Tibiae, And Humeri Of The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis),
2024
Marshall University
Factors That Influence Small Mammal Long Bone Morphology: An Analysis Of The Femora, Tibiae, And Humeri Of The Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus Carolinensis), Tyler Everette Blake
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The goal of this study is to examine the effect of urbanization and latitude on bone morphology, specifically limb length and bone density among gray squirrels endemic to the eastern United States. This study’s hypotheses are as follows: gray squirrels occupying lower latitudes will have larger body sizes and longer limbs relative to body size than those at higher latitudes following Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules. Further, squirrels in urban habitats will have greater bone density than those in rural habitats. Results show moderate correlation between body mass and respective proxies and latitude following Bergmann’s rule. Weak correlations were found between …
Individuality Matters But Its Cause Has Consequences,
2024
University of California Los Angeles
Individuality Matters But Its Cause Has Consequences, Daniel T. Blumstein
Animal Sentience
I discuss the relationship between individuality and heritability and note that the mechanism driving individual differences matters for conservation and management outcomes.
An Exploration Of Factors Influencing Emerging Adults’ Decision-Making Regarding Family Intentionality,
2024
Northern Illinois University
An Exploration Of Factors Influencing Emerging Adults’ Decision-Making Regarding Family Intentionality, Samantha Mckee
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to gain an understanding of factors that may influence emerging adults’ decision-making regarding family intentionality. Specifically, it aimed to answer two research questions: 1) What factors influence an emerging adults’ decision-making regarding family intentionality? 2) Is there a correlation between the number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) an individual has experienced and their desire to have children? This study also examined how ACEs are factored into the different systems of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and how they affect the child at each level. This study utilized a sequential quan-->QUAL design, combining …
Paralog Switching Facilitates Diadromy: Ontogenetic, Microevolutionary And Macroevolutionary Evidence,
2024
Fitchburg State University
Paralog Switching Facilitates Diadromy: Ontogenetic, Microevolutionary And Macroevolutionary Evidence, Rebecca S. Colby, Stephen D. Mccormick, Jonathan P. Velotta, Elizabeth Jockusch, Eric T. Schultz
EEB Articles
Euryhalinity is present in diverse aquatic taxa and requires flexible osmoregulation to field the challenges posed by differing salinities. Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) is a ubiquitous ion pump in the gills of fishes and, for some species, paralogs of the catalytic -subunit (NKA 1a and NKA 1b) exhibit reciprocal expression between fresh- and seawater, termed paralog-switching. We investigated the expression and evolution of NKA paralogs in Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), a euryhaline and migratory fish. Comparisons between landlocked and diadromous life history forms and migrant and pre-migrant ontogenetic stages were used to study shifts in NKA paralog expression related to freshwater or …
Understanding The Origin Of Parthenogenesis Via Crossing And Crispr Gene Editing In Daphnia Pulex,
2024
University of Texas at Arlington
Understanding The Origin Of Parthenogenesis Via Crossing And Crispr Gene Editing In Daphnia Pulex, Thinh Pham
Biology Dissertations - Archive
Daphnia has been used as a key model system for studying ecological changes, evolution, and genomics for the past few decades due to its rapid turnover time in reproduction. The organism possesses two fascinating modes of reproduction: obligate parthenogenesis and cyclical parthenogenesis. This dissertation delves into the intricate reproductive strategies of Daphnia pulex, focusing on hybrid F1s from different reproductive modes. The first aim is to investigate 31 hybrid F1s generated from obligate parthenogenesis (OP) and cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) parental lines. Transcriptomic analysis reveals misexpression patterns and regulatory divergences, highlighting meiosis-related genes like CDC6 as potential parthenogenesis regulators. The …
Exploring Ecological Drivers Of Evolution Of The Brain, Cognition, And Behavior,
2024
University of Texas at Arlington
Exploring Ecological Drivers Of Evolution Of The Brain, Cognition, And Behavior, Meghan Korte
Biology Dissertations - Archive
Evolutionary theory proposes that increases in brain size confer cognitive and behavioral benefits that offset the expensive investment in brain tissue. However, few studies have examined the relationship between brain size, cognition, and behavior within species. The majority of research has focused on cross-species comparisons, thus there is a need for empirical research within species examining how contrasting ecological pressures select for cognitive and behavioral benefits and how these may evolve in tandem with changes in brain size. My dissertation addresses this gap by examining: 1) Whether selection on brain size is linked to improvements in cognitive ability; 2) How …
The Morphological Evolution Of The Inner Ear In Lacertoidea (Squamata),
2024
University of Texas at Arlington
The Morphological Evolution Of The Inner Ear In Lacertoidea (Squamata), Cristian Hernandez
Biology Dissertations - Archive
The popularization of high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) has produced a revolution in the field of comparative anatomy. This technology allows us to reach a level of morphological detail in our observations that has never been possible previously. Now we can perform digital dissections isolating structures of interest such as individual bones, soft tissue organs, and even generate 3D models of body cavities (endocasts) such as the braincase and inner ear. Encompassed with the progress of the HRCT, 3D geometric morphometrics have emerged as a common tool to address morphological questions in a statistical context that outperforms the traditional 2D geometric morphometrics. …
Data From: Phylogenomic Species Delimitation Of Studfishes (Fundulidae: Fundulus): Evidence For Cryptic Species In Agreement With The Central Highlands Vicariance Hypothesis,
2024
Mississippi State University
Data From: Phylogenomic Species Delimitation Of Studfishes (Fundulidae: Fundulus): Evidence For Cryptic Species In Agreement With The Central Highlands Vicariance Hypothesis, Kayla M. Fast, Peter J. Hundt, Zachariah D. Alley, Michael W. Sandel
CFR Publications
The Central Highlands ecoregion of the eastern United States represents a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity, with replicated patterns of vicariant speciation east and west of the Mississippi River. Previous phylogeographic investigation of the studfishes (Fundulus subgenus Fundulus) revealed evidence for vicariant speciation in the Central Highlands, but data were limited to a small number of gene sequences generated with Sanger sequencing. We used double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) to improve resolution of phylogeographic patterns and better characterize population genetic variation. Our sample design included individuals from the Fundulus catenatus species group (F. catenatus, F. bifax, …
A Multimolecular Perspective On The Success Of Wolf Recovery And Relocation,
2024
Michigan Technological University
A Multimolecular Perspective On The Success Of Wolf Recovery And Relocation, Samuel D. Hervey
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
With global biodiversity in decline and many species isolated in fragmented habitats, conservation efforts increasingly rely on natural recolonization and translocation to restore ecosystems. These strategies face challenges such as genetic erosion and habitat limitations, highlighting the need for effective monitoring practices. This research assesses the success of wolf recovery initiatives by examining long-term genetic and genomic health using both traditional and advanced molecular methods. First, we investigated the genetic health of 19 gray wolves (Canis lupus) relocated to Isle Royale National Park to restore ecosystem balance. Initial genetic assessments with microsatellites found that these wolves had genetic diversity metrics …
Bibliography,
2024
Western Kentucky University
Bibliography, Charles H. Smith
Faculty/Staff Personal Papers
Bibliography of publications by Charles H. Smith.
Robust Phylogenetic Regression,
2024
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Robust Phylogenetic Regression, Richard Adams, Zoe Cain, Raquel Assis, Michael Degiorgio
Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Modern comparative biology owes much to phylogenetic regression. At its conception, this technique sparked a revolution that armed biologists with phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) for disentangling evolutionary correlations from those arising from hierarchical phylogenetic relationships. Over the past few decades, the phylogenetic regression framework has become a paradigm of modern comparative biology that has been widely embraced as a remedy for shared ancestry. However, recent evidence has shown doubt over the efficacy of phylogenetic regression, and PCMs more generally, with the suggestion that many of these methods fail to provide an adequate defense against unreplicated evolution—the primary justification for using …
Donald Griffin: A Visionary In Science And Consciousness,
2024
University of Oxford
Donald Griffin: A Visionary In Science And Consciousness, Charles Foster
Animal Sentience
Carolyn Ristau’s (2024) timely biography reviews Donald Griffin’s pioneering ideas with depth and historical perspective, describing Griffin’s approach to science, his openness to interdisciplinary insights, and his bold stance on consciousness. Ristau’s work highlights Griffin’s relevance to contemporary debates on consciousness and natural selection.
Functional Investigation Of Shaggy, An Inhibitor Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, In The Tardigrade Hypsibius Exemplaris,
2024
University of North Florida
Functional Investigation Of Shaggy, An Inhibitor Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, In The Tardigrade Hypsibius Exemplaris, Raul A. Chavarria
UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Tardigrades have a highly simplified anteroposterior (AP) axis. The mechanisms that regulate the development of this secondarily simplified AP axis are not known. In many animals, the canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling pathway regulates primary axis establishment through antagonistic interactions with inhibitors of cWnt signaling. This study investigated the roles of shaggy, an inhibitor of cWnt signaling, in regulating development in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Gene expression patterns of shaggy and other components of the cWnt signaling pathway were analyzed alongside markers of anterior and posterior identity using Hybridization Chain Reaction in situ in H. exemplaris. RNA interference …
Characterizing New Plant Fossils With Woody Growth From The Battery Point Formation Of Quebec (Canada),
2024
Cal Poly Humboldt
Characterizing New Plant Fossils With Woody Growth From The Battery Point Formation Of Quebec (Canada), Emma T. Casselman
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
The oldest woody growth has been recognized in several Early Devonian (ca. 410-395 Ma) euphyllophytes. Their taxonomic diversity is difficult to evaluate due to a lack of quantitative methods for comparing plants based on secondary xylem anatomy. In turn, this hinders understanding of their implications for the evolution of plant development. To develop metrics that quantify secondary xylem anatomy and allow for conclusive comparisons, I investigated extant taxa and Early Devonian fossil woody taxa. I developed multiple metrics for quantifying tracheid size as a function of position in the secondary xylem and tested them on a dataset of extant gymnosperms. …
A Case Of Incipient Budding Speciation In The California Floristic Province, Infraspecific Divergence In Abronia Villosa,
2024
Cal Poly Humboldt
A Case Of Incipient Budding Speciation In The California Floristic Province, Infraspecific Divergence In Abronia Villosa, Eli J. Allen
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Physical barriers to gene flow are the traditional evidence for species divergence. Conversely, there has been increasing acknowledgment of speciation in the face of gene flow as an evolutionary process. Budding speciation involves peripheral populations adapting to local ecological conditions, thereby budding off from a widespread progenitor species. Budding speciation is distinguished by ecological divergence and is generally evidenced by asymmetrical range size and nested phylogenetic relationships of sister species. The narrow endemic Abronia villosa var. aurita is adapted to montane sandy washes adjacent to its widespread sister variety, the desert dwelling var. villosa. Here, I tested the hypothesis …
A Balancing Act: Microrna Mediated Insect-Bacterial Homeostasis And The Tsetse Fly,
2024
West Virginia University
A Balancing Act: Microrna Mediated Insect-Bacterial Homeostasis And The Tsetse Fly, Mason Hubbard Lee
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Microbial symbioses are ubiquitous across all kingdoms of life with broad and diverse impacts on the evolution of species. The sum of all microbes living in, on, or otherwise in close association with a host form the microbiota. In some cases, the development of a stable microbial association seems to have been necessary for the specialization of diet, as can be observed in numerous insect species, especially wood-eating, sap-feeding, and blood-feeding organisms. For the medically and economically tsetse fly (family Glossinidae), the mutualistic bacteria Wigglesworthia glossinidia is required for proper reproduction and supplementation of nutrients that the fly does not …
Investigation Of L-Serine Synthesis And Transport As Stabilizing Feedback Mechanisms Within The Tsetse-Wigglesworthia Symbiosis,
2024
West Virginia University
Investigation Of L-Serine Synthesis And Transport As Stabilizing Feedback Mechanisms Within The Tsetse-Wigglesworthia Symbiosis, Ryan Phillips
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans), which are the obligate vectors of Old-World trypanosomes (Trypanosoma spp.) that cause African trypanosomiasis, have a bacteriome that houses the intracellular endosymbiont Wigglesworthia glossinidia. The ancient coevolution of these species has led to the integration of Wigglesworthia metabolism into tsetse physiology and a subsequent reliance on nutrient exchange for maintaining the fitness of both partners. The establishment of this obligate mutualism has facilitated the emergence of feedback mechanisms that stabilize the symbiosis, such as that which involves the exchange of L-serine and B vitamins. The Gammaproteobacteria Wigglesworthia supplement B vitamins lacking …
