Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Analysis Of Mitochondrial Dna Haplotype Groups For South Texas Canids, Canis Rufus, After Past Hybridization Events, Isabella Lopez

Presentations - 2026

mtDNA: mitochondrial DNA; passed from maternal parent to offspring (Haplotype)

Haplotype:  a group of genes or genetic markers inherited together from a single parent (Haplotype)

Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes specific sequences of mtDNA that is passed exclusively from maternal parent to offspring (Giles et al. 1980)

Pro's:

It is passed unchanged from mother to offspring, meaning it is fairly stable (Giles et al. 1980)

Each cell has multiple mitochondria vs one nucleus , which means mtDNA it is more likely to be recoverable from degraded samples like scat (Templeton et al. 2013)

Microplastic-Mediated Delivery Of Di-Butyl Phthalate Alters C. Elegans Lifespan And Reproductive Fidelity, Chiara Angelyn Maldonado

Presentations - 2026

•The challenge: microplastic contamination •The question: How do microplastics and chemical contaminants affect living organisms? •The follow-up: What’s next!

Raptor Abundance And Occupancy In Urban Parks Within Metropolitan Landscapes, Mary- Esther Leblanc

Posters - 2026

Rapid urbanization is one of the most significant and accelerating drivers of global biodiversity change, reshaping wildlife communities by fragmenting habitat, altering prey availability, and introducing human disturbances. Despite these pressures, some wildlife species are attracted to and may even flourish in urban settings, primarily because urbanization creates an altered landscape that often unintentionally provides resources functioning as components of habitat. (Chiron et al., 2024) Raptors, as apex predators within avian food webs, offer a valuable lens through which to examine these dynamics. While raptor communities are broadly negatively impacted by urbanization, some species can thrive in urban areas. (Leveau …

Mapping Sensory Landscapes: Distribution And Arrangement Of The Anterior Lateral Line System In Texas Catfish, Tatiana K. Flores, Ruben Tovar

Posters - 2026

Fish have a system of sensory organs known as the lateral line system. This system contains numerous mechanoreceptive neuromasts and electroreceptive ampullary organs (Northcutt et al, 2000). Neuromasts are small, hair-like structures located within canals in the lateral line system just under the fish’s skin and are open to the environment through small pores visible on its skin (Parker, 2025). Water flows into these canals through the pores which stimulates the sensitive hair cells, resulting in electrical signals sent to the fish’s brain. The brain interprets these signals and creates “images” of the fish’s surroundings, helping it to see even …

Does Habitat Predict Head Shape? A Comparative Geometric Morphometric Analysis Of Eurycea Spp., Sarah Flores-Garza, Alexa Miner, Gianna Montelongo

Posters - 2026

Subterranean environments impose strong selective pressures, including complete darkness and reliance on non-visual sensory systems. In Eurycea salamanders, these conditions are associated with traits such as reduced eyes and expanded head regions that improve sensory detection (Tovar et al., 2025). Subterranean species are often expected to share similar head shapes due to convergent evolution. However, not all species experience these pressures equally. Eurycea latitans is a polymorphic species that inhabits both surface and cave environments. Eurycea sp._NB is an obligate subterranean species, while Eurcyea sosorum is a surface species. This study tests whether habitat predicts head shape in Eurycea, or …

Bird Population Response To Abiotic And Biotic Stresses In Urban & Restored Oak Savannah Habitat, Annabelle Ball

Posters - 2026

Birds are heavily impacted by urban development. Many experience habitat fragmentation and removal of food sources. However, other species can adapt to and even thrive in urban environments, thanks to certain tree species, bird feeders, and buildings. In North America, the house sparrow and the European starling are invasive species that benefit from urban environments (Bartelt, 2011; Fitzwater, 2014). Meanwhile, many habitats across the continent are experiencing restoration/rewilding efforts for the benefit of birds. One such habitat is the oak-savannah, which is characterized by 10-30% canopy cover and a mixture of prairie & woodland vegetation, supporting a high diversity of …

Saved From The Brink Of Collapse: Evaluating The Success Of The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, Keagan Farrell, Kelly Swyers, Adan Vasquez

Posters - 2026

Kelp forests are vital to ocean health, they provide habitat, food, and nursery grounds for a variety of marine species. These forests support fisheries, improve water quality, and help to protect coastlines (Eger et al. 2024). The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project is a marine conservation effort aimed at restoring their kelp forests along the Sussex coastline in southern England. This area lost up to 96% of its forests mainly due to the fishing practice trawling. Trawling is used to gather large amounts of fish, while dragging a net at the seafloor (Our history 2026). The main goal of the Sussex …

The Effects Human Presence Has On Dolphins Within A Natural Lagoon Enclosure In Managed Care, Mario Martinez, Winter Saldaña

Posters - 2026

● Previous research looked into the overall behavior of dolphins in managed care using observations of location (Dudzinski & Hill, 2025).

● This study provides opportunities to investigate the effects of human presence on dolphin activity and space use (Lauderdale et al., 2022; Trone et al., 2005).

● Purpose - To determine if human presence affects dolphin behavior / spatial use of natural lagoon.

● H1: Dolphin clustering will be seen in the most Northern part of the lagoon and area associated with humans consistently (Melillo et al., 2009).

● H2: Higher activity levels will be observed during the “during” …

Factors Influencing Sex-Based Movement Patterns In The Banded Garden Spider, Argiope Trifasciata (Forskal, 1776), Brandon R. Marrone

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Movement is a fundamental ecological process shaping how individuals acquire mates, secure resources, and navigate heterogeneous landscapes. In species with extreme sexual size dimorphism (eSSD), such as the orb‑weaving spider Argiope trifasciata, males and females are predicted to experience different movement pressures driven by their reproductive roles. This thesis examines how individual traits and environmental conditions jointly influence movement across both sexes. Across two field seasons, we used intensive mark–recapture methods to quantify natural movement patterns of males and females within mapped prairie plots. The first chapter tested long‑standing predictions gravity hypothesis, which posits that smaller males benefit from …

Developing A Range Prediction For The Imperiled Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Badius) Using Species Distribution Modeling, Noah Williamson

Honors Theses

The Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius) was once widespread and commonplace throughout the sandhills of the Southeastern United States, providing key ecosystem services, such as seed dispersal and soil aeration. Over recent decades, however, Florida Harvester Ant populations have declined in some areas. Current literature postulates that Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), and the insecticides used to manage them, as well as further human encroachment onto their habitat, all likely contributed to Florida Harvester Ant population declines. Thus, to better protect these organisms, pursue data-driven conservation efforts, and guide management practices, more information about their nest site selection, as well …

Ecological Studies Of Wolves On Isle Royale, Sarah R. Hoy, Rolf O. Peterson, John A. Vucetich

Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale

Annual Report 2025-2026

Emerald Bowfin Amia Ocellicauda Ecology In Three Minnesota Lakes: Abundance, Age Analysis, Diet Composition, And Stable Isotope Food Web, Griffin Blegen

Biology Graduate Theses

The Emerald Bowfin Amia ocellicauda is a predatory fish species native to Minnesota that has often been discriminated against. This research expands ecological knowledge of Bowfin in Minnesota and provides population data to guide future management. Bowfin were sampled in the spring of 2024 and 2025 and a multi-census mark–recapture model was used to estimate abundance in three lakes. Estimated populations were 196 individuals in Little Toad Lake (95% CI: 116, 242) or 4.4 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 2.7,5.7), 657 in Lake Sarah (95% CI: 436, 1014) or 4.2 fish/littoral ha (95% CI: 3.0, 6.7), and 612 in Gun Lake …

Evolution Of Antibiotic Responses During Chronic P. Aeruginosa Infections In The Human Lung, David Frank Ritz

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Typical antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of microbial samples is performed in homogeneous cultures in batch environments, which does not account for the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of antibiotic responses. The most common mutation found in P. aeruginosa lineages evolved during chronic cystic fibrosis infections in the human lung, a loss of function of repressor MexZ, increases basal levels of multidrug efflux MexXY, but does not increase resistance by traditional minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Here, we use single cell microfluidics to show that P. aeruginosa’s response to aminoglycosides is highly heterogeneous, with only a subpopulation of cells surviving exposure. …

Variable Hybridization Rates Between F2 Fundulus Notatus Females, Jordan Tanaka

Honors Theses

Hybridization between two related species has been widely observed and offers a lens into complex evolutionary processes. Endogenous and exogenous factors affect hybrid fitness and diversification, and pre-zygotic and post-zygotic barriers affect species’ ability to hybridize. Female mate choice is a pre-zygotic isolation mechanism which is known to be more significant than male mate choice in many species, a trend which is linked to females often investing more energy into offspring. Detailing the ways in which these mechanisms operate is integral to understanding hybridization on a larger scale. The species examined here, Fundulus notatus and Fundulus olivaceous, are closely …

Evaluating The Environmental Parameters Impacting Spawning Movement Of Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser Desotoi) In The Bouie River System., Olivia St. Germain

Honors Theses

The anadromous Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser desotoi) is federally listed as “threatened” and is natal to seven rivers from Louisiana to Florida. Only one spawning reach for Gulf Sturgeon natal to the Pascagoula River has been verified via the collection of eggs and larvae; a reach of the lower Bouie River. This reach is anthropogenically modified by four gravel mining formations, hereafter referred to as pits. The greater depths associated with this area have prompted previous researchers to suggest that Gulf Sturgeon may over-summer in pit formations instead of migrating to downstream holding areas in the Pascagoula River after spawning. The …

Optimal Control Strategies For Infectious Diseases: A Numerical Simulation Approach, M. Abu Salek, Jannatun Nayeem, Romana Yesmin, M. Haider Ali Biswas, M. Humayun Kabir

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

Various infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B virus (HBV), caused by Mycobacterium bacteria and hepatitis B virus, respectively, pose serious threats worldwide. This paper examines the spread of these diseases using a mathematical model that incorporates control measures, including vaccination and awareness programs. We use a system of differential equations with control variables and apply Pontryagin's principle to determine optimal control strategies. The stability of the Disease Free Equilibrium (DFE) has been analysed and demonstrated to be both locally and globally asymptotically stable when the basic reproduction number remains below unity, thereby ensuring disease elimination. Furthermore, the Endemic …

Dynamical Analysis And Optimal Control Of The Mpox Transmission Model With Stratified Susceptibility, Tuhfatul Janan, Fatmawati Fatmawati, Cicik Alfiniyah, Santi Martini, Dipo Aldila, Agus Hasan

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This study develops a mathematical model of Mpox transmission that combines stratified susceptibility (low-risk and high-risk groups) with vaccinated and asymptomatically infected compartments. The analysis of the model begins with examining the well-posedness, boundedness, and nonnegativity conditions for the solutions. The local stabilities of the equilibria are examined through the Jacobian matrix and phase plane analysis, while the global stabilities are provided through Lyapunov functions. The estimated parameters are verified using epidemiological data on Mpox cases in the United States, with an MAPE of 2.20% and R_0 > 1, indicating that Mpox remains endemic. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the contact rate …

Optimal Control And Bifurcation Analysis Of A Predator–Prey Model With Self-Limiting Growth And Predator Disease, Dipo Aldila, Muhammad Akmal Fasya, Bevina D. Handari, Chidozie Williams Chukwu, Olumuyiwa James Peter

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

We propose and analyze an eco-epidemiological predator–prey model that incorporates self-limitation and disease transmission within the predator population. The model is formulated as a system of ordinary differential equations describing logistic prey growth under the interspecific interaction with the predator. On the other hand, the predator population is divided into susceptible and infected classes, whose growth is constrained by prey availability. Three biologically relevant equilibria are identified: predator extinction, disease-free coexistence, and coexistence with endemic disease. The existence and stability of these equilibria are determined by key ecological and epidemiological thresholds, including the basic reproduction number. Using numerical continuation methods, …

Assessing The Impact Of Lampenflora Growth On Invertebrate Distribution And Food Resource Use In Ryusen-Do Cave, Japan, Kazuhide Nakajima, Kanato Ando, Shuji Watanabe, Masuo Komukai

International Journal of Speleology

Subterranean spaces, such as caves with openings to the surface, represent unique environments characterized by limited resources derived from photosynthetic primary production. Consequently, organic inputs from organisms inhabiting above- and belowground habitats, such as bats, play a crucial role in maintaining cave ecosystems. However, in show caves converted into tourist attractions, environmental changes have progressed without sufficient ecological assessment. One important factor is the impact of photosynthetic organisms colonizing around artificial lights, known as lampenflora, on cave ecosystems. Lampenflora growth may influence invertebrate distribution and resource use; however, its impact on both aspects has been poorly evaluated. In this study, …

Comparative Effect Of Mineral, Organic, And Mixed Sunscreens Formulations On The Life History Of A Benthic Marine Invertebrate, Jacob Anthony Fox, Courtney Lott, Araceli Rodriguez-Romero, Gloria Massamba N'Siala

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Mineral and organic sunscreens are emerging anthropogenic pollutants in coastal marine waters and have been shown to affect marine invertebrates via genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and impacts on life-history traits, such as reduced survival, growth, and fecundity. Most experiments expose marine organisms to isolated UV filters, with fewer studies testing complete formulations, co-occurring exposure to organic and mineral sunscreens, or the modulating influence of format type on toxicity. In this experiment, we tested the impact of organic sunscreens (3% Avobenzone, 15% Homosalate, 5% Octinoxate, and 10% Octocylene) and 24% zinc oxide mineral sunscreens on the survival and fecundity of …