Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change,
2023
Murray State University
Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change, Karissa Coffield
Scholars Week
When rapid environmental changes occur, different selective forces can create phenotypic trade-offs in which a trait can provide fitness benefits or costs under different environmental conditions. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, and previous research has revealed that some species will plastically respond to variation in temperature and ultra-violet radiation (UVR) by altering their coloration. Divergent selection on coloration may change with elevation and climate induced shifts in temperature because high temperatures are likely to result in lighter color morphs but as elevation increases, UVR exposure increases leading to the prediction that darker color morphs will be more common. …
Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change,
2023
Murray State University
Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change, Karissa Coffield
Scholars Week
When rapid environmental changes occur, different selective forces can create phenotypic trade-offs in which a trait can provide fitness benefits or costs under different environmental conditions. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, and previous research has revealed that some species will plastically respond to variation in temperature and ultra-violet radiation (UVR) by altering their coloration. Divergent selection on coloration may change with elevation and climate induced shifts in temperature because high temperatures are likely to result in lighter color morphs but as elevation increases, UVR exposure increases leading to the prediction that darker color morphs will be more common. …
Impacts Of Floodplain Restoration On Water Temperature And Macroinvertebrates In Whychus Creek, Oregon,
2023
Portland State University
Impacts Of Floodplain Restoration On Water Temperature And Macroinvertebrates In Whychus Creek, Oregon, Wesley Nathan Noone
Dissertations and Theses
Stream restoration is a proposed climate adaptation tool, however, outcomes of floodplain restoration on stream temperature have been debated. Despite a growing number of studies that investigated water temperature in restored streams, few have quantified thermal heterogeneity in new habitat types created by restored hydrogeomorphic processes and the impact of thermal diversity on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community. In this study, I evaluated three hypotheses: 1) restoration increases habitat diversity, 2) habitat diversity increases water temperature heterogeneity, and 3) restored reaches have more diverse macroinvertebrate communities. I collected a total of 40 macroinvertebrate samples and characterized environmental conditions in three reaches …
Chemotaxis In Tardigrades,
2023
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Chemotaxis In Tardigrades, Lindsay Rowland, Jensyn Goss, Sara Dipnarine, Alex Keta, Joy Bowling, Felicity Kelsch, Sophia Willis, Emma Welsh, Ella Newton, Kathyrn Morris
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Chemotaxis describes the movement of an organism towards or away from a particular substance. Tardigrades are often thought to be lumbering organisms, not capable of seeking out nutrients and therefore unable to demonstrate chemotaxis. The ability to recognize foods and poisons in the environment and move up or down their concentration gradients appropriately is so beneficial for life that we suspected that tardigrades also possessed this ability. We constructed testing arenas where an agar block with concentrated test substance was placed on a water agar plate and incubated for two hours to establish a concentration gradient. Enough water was then …
Ketamine Slows Microinvertebrate Movement: Ecotoxicological Implications,
2023
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Ketamine Slows Microinvertebrate Movement: Ecotoxicological Implications, Joy Bowling, Felicity Kelsch, Emma Welsh, Sophia Willis, Kathyrn Morris
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
With the new release of medications incorporating ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, there is an ecotoxicology concern due to the presence of ketamine in local environments. Tardigrades, microscopic organisms commonly known as water bears, possess the same NDMA receptor that ketamine targets in humans, allowing for potential adverse reactions in exposure to ketamine. Our goal was to determine if tardigrade movement slowed under ketamine exposure over time. Tardigrade (Hypsibius exemplaris) velocity was measured using imaging software to record their response to increasing concentrations of the dissociative anesthetic. With higher concentrations, the tardigrades displayed a slower velocity. This indication of …
Survey Of Tardigrade Diversity In Cincinnati, Oh,
2023
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
Survey Of Tardigrade Diversity In Cincinnati, Oh, Justin Groskopf, Alex Keta, Kathyrn Morris
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
This study was performed to assess tardigrade (Tardigrada) diversity in the localized Cincinnati area of Xavier University in response to a shortage of similar studies in recent years. We expected to find a wide variety of genera and species in moss and lichen samples. We collected moss and lichen from many locations on the campus of Xavier University and recorded height above ground level, tree genus, latitude and longitude, and cardinal directionality. Samples were air dried until processing, when we then individually rehydrated each sample and removed all intact tardigrades for identification. Tardigrades were identified as precisely as keys allowed, …
Senesced Leaves Of An Invasive Species (Lonicera Maackii) Alter Community Composition And Ecosystem Function In Experimental Wetlands,
2023
Eastern Kentucky University
Senesced Leaves Of An Invasive Species (Lonicera Maackii) Alter Community Composition And Ecosystem Function In Experimental Wetlands, Cy Mott
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Secondary compounds produced by terrestrial invasive plants can cross terrestrial-aquatic boundaries via senesced leaves, leading to altered patterns of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Prior attempts to examine the impacts of invasive leaves on wetland communities have primarily employed the use of leaf leachates and focal taxa inhabiting relatively low trophic positions, and additional studies are needed to examine impacts on higher-order consumers and potential additive/synergistic effects of leachates and leaf decomposition. Using cattle-tank mesocosms across multiple experiments, we observed that the addition of senescent leaves of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) to native leaves resulted in mass mortality …
Evaluating Anti-Predator Behavior In A Captive Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Herd,
2023
Murray State University
Evaluating Anti-Predator Behavior In A Captive Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Herd, Jordan L. Tandy
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Predator-prey interactions drive decisions of either counterpart, meaning predators and the presence of perceived dangers, such as scent markings or calls, are capable of altering an organism’s behavior. On a spatial scale, risk and cost-benefit tradeoffs related to predation pressures create a landscape of fear (LOF), where prey avoid areas they associate with risk. Certain periods of time, such as birthing seasons, pose even greater risk to prey species. Research suggests that captive and/or historically captive animals tend to respond less effectively to predation than native populations that regularly experience threats of predation. I have gathered behavioral data on a …
Does Stress Physiology Mediate Disease Resistance In The Arizona Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma Mavortium Nebulosum)?,
2023
University of Louisville
Does Stress Physiology Mediate Disease Resistance In The Arizona Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma Mavortium Nebulosum)?, Megan Zerger
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Amphibian biodiversity has greatly diminished in recent years due to disease. Panzootic pathogenic fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes the deadly disease chytridiomycosis (chytrid), a primary driver of catastrophic global amphibian declines and extinctions. The pathogenesis of chytrid is still unclear, as certain species and individuals within a species are differentially affected. Susceptibility and mortality of Bd are influenced by prolonged chronic stress. Prolonged glucocorticoid activity deleteriously affects many of the same physiological processes as Bd infections, and corticosterone is the primary glucocorticoid released by amphibians in response to stress. Thus, the objective of our study is to assess …
Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change,
2023
University of Louisville
Adaptive Plasticity Of Coloration In Response To Environmental Change, Karissa Coffield
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
When rapid environmental changes occur, different selective forces can create phenotypic trade-offs in which a trait can provide fitness benefits or costs under different environmental conditions. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, and previous research has revealed that some species will plastically respond to variation in temperature and ultra-violet radiation (UVR) by altering their coloration. Divergent selection on coloration may change with elevation and climate induced shifts in temperature because high temperatures are likely to result in lighter color morphs but as elevation increases, UVR exposure increases leading to the prediction that darker color morphs will be more common. …
Seroton-Ing Down The Stress: Serotonergic Activity In Response To Predators In Threespined Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus),
2023
University of Dayton
Seroton-Ing Down The Stress: Serotonergic Activity In Response To Predators In Threespined Stickleback (Gasterosteus Aculeatus), Michaela M. Rogers
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Animals constantly face stress in the environment due to rapid human-induced changes. A strong interest lies in the evolution of coping mechanisms that can help organisms deal with and respond to these stressors. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is highly conserved across taxonomic groups and is upregulated in response to a broad range of stressors, including predator exposure. Serotonin upregulation can help organisms cope with the threat of a predator by decreasing fear and anxiety. Previous studies have shown an increase in serotonergic activity following acute predator exposures in mice, rats, and fish after only one exposure, but less is …
Late Cretaceous Marine Vertebrates From The Tarrant Formation, Tarrant County, Texas U.S.A,
2023
DePaul University
Late Cretaceous Marine Vertebrates From The Tarrant Formation, Tarrant County, Texas U.S.A, Aaron Johnson, Kenshu Shimada
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
The Tarrant Formation (middle Cenomanian: ca. 96 million years ago) is a stratigraphic member of the Upper Cretaceous Eagle Ford Group in Texas, U.S.A., and consists of calcareous sandstone formed near the East Texas Embayment of the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, an epicontinental seaway in North America. We examined vertebrate fossils from the Tarrant Formation based on specimens collected through surface collecting and bulk sampling from three localities in Tarrant County, Texas, including the type locality of a pachyrhizodontid fish, Polcynichthys lloydhilli. Our preliminary examination shows that the fossil fauna includes shark species such as Ptychodus anonymous, Archaeolamna sp., …
Habitiat Structure And Ecomorphology Of Fishes In Neotropical Blackwater Creeks.,
2023
University of Louisville
Habitiat Structure And Ecomorphology Of Fishes In Neotropical Blackwater Creeks., Devya Hemraj-Naraine
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Freshwater ecosystems provide habitat for a diversity of aquatic flora and fauna. However, anthropogenic activities like mining and pollution alters aquatic habitats and the ecosystem services they provide. In South America, which hosts one quarter of all freshwater fish species, aquatic habitats are under considerable encroachment from human development. We surveyed nine blackwater creeks tributary to the Demarara River along a major Highway in Guyana to determine whether fish morphology and community structure correlate with habitat characteristics among sites with different degrees of human impact. Twenty-three morphological traits were measured on 3-5 adult specimens of each species. The most abundant …
Functional Implications Reflected In Neurocranial Morphology Of Lamniform Sharks (Elasmobranchii: Lamniformes),
2023
DePaul University
Functional Implications Reflected In Neurocranial Morphology Of Lamniform Sharks (Elasmobranchii: Lamniformes), Jake J. Wood
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Lamniform sharks (Elasmobranchii: Lamniformes) display diverse habitat preferences and lifestyles. Based on museum specimens and published illustrations, we examined the proportion of the anteroposterior length of the rostral, olfactory, optic, and otic regions with respect to the neurocranial length in each lamniform species as a proxy of relative importance of each sensory region (electroreception, olfaction, vision, and ‘coordination’) to its lifestyle. We show that: 1) Carcharias and Megachasma (ragged-tooth and megamouth) have short rostral and large otic regions indicative of slower-swimming pelagic lifestyles with elevated coordination for balancing in the water column; 2) Alopias pelagicus, A. vulpinus, …
Microplastics In Western Ny River Ecosystems,
2023
Canisius College
Microplastics In Western Ny River Ecosystems, Eliana Deglopper, Jonathan O'Brien
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
The occurrence of microplastics in marine and freshwater systems has been an area of increasing concern due to its potential negative impact on aquatic organisms and human health. With continuously growing patches of plastics in oceans and the Great Lakes, we must understand the mechanisms that move these materials from the urban landscape into aquatic ecosystems. We investigated the transport and storage of microplastics in 5 streams draining into Lake Erie from Buffalo, NY. The streams were sampled from 2020-2023 to determine the amount of plastic being transported. Samples underwent chemical digestion, filtration, and staining with Nile Red, and were …
Amphipod Cage Match: Competition Between Hyalella Azteca And Gammarus Spp. Is Mediated By Resource Availability,
2023
Canisius College
Amphipod Cage Match: Competition Between Hyalella Azteca And Gammarus Spp. Is Mediated By Resource Availability, Dominic Degeorge, Jonathan O'Brien
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Ecological competition is seen throughout the environment, but effects of competition may be complex for generalist consumers with broader niche requirements. We observed Hyalella azteca and Gammarus spp. in the same and separate mesocosms to determine their levels of coexistence and resource use. Starting populations of ten Hyalella and Gammarus were added to ten mesocosms with a single species present as well as both species to an additional ten mesocosms. For each of these ten mesocosms in the three treatments, five were supplied one gram of leaf matter and five were supplied with five grams of leaf matter. After six …
Rubbish Habit Or Novel Habitat? Colonization Of Anthropogenic Litter By Stream Invertebrates,
2023
Canisius College
Rubbish Habit Or Novel Habitat? Colonization Of Anthropogenic Litter By Stream Invertebrates, Lanie Masset, Jonathan O'Brien
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
We conducted a field experiment to examine the colonization and use of human derived materials by aquatic invertebrates in three western New York streams. The study streams included two soft-bottomed urban streams, Ransom Creek and California Creek, and a hard-bottomed forested stream, Hayes Hollow Creek. In each stream, four different substrate types of similar surface areas: rocks, glass bottles, plastic bottles, and bricks were placed and left in the streams for 6 weeks to promote invertebrate colonization. Baskets filled with both rock and leaf substrates were also placed in the streams for 6 weeks to measure background community composition. The …
A Preliminary Assessment Of Microplastic Pollution In A Local Watershed Of Cincinnati, Ohio, Prior To Reservoir Dredging.,
2023
Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
A Preliminary Assessment Of Microplastic Pollution In A Local Watershed Of Cincinnati, Ohio, Prior To Reservoir Dredging., Rachel G. Bickett, Gwyneth A. Hagerty, Caroline R. Menosky, Clayton A. Strege
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Microplastics, defined as small particles of plastic between 2 and 5 µm, are a pressing environmental concern due to the growing use of plastic products and subsequent disposal. While most microplastic research has focused on marine systems, a growing concern exists on the presence of microplastics in freshwater systems and additional impacts to humans and wildlife. The main objective of this preliminary study was to assess the prevalence of microplastics in water surrounding a dammed reservoir. These results will provide baseline data to assess the role of dam dredging on microplastics. Samples were taken from Sharon Woods Park, Cincinnati, Ohio, …
Effect Of Temperature Variation On Endurance Swimming Capacity Of Juvenile White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontanus),
2023
Kalamazoo College
Effect Of Temperature Variation On Endurance Swimming Capacity Of Juvenile White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontanus), Alex M. Stolberg
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), a species within one of the most globally threatened taxa, are highly susceptible to changes in their environments due to unique life history traits. Specifically, juvenile white sturgeon are impacted by altered watershed dynamics caused by water diversion structures such as dams, weirs, irrigation ditches, or levees. One location of great concern is the Sacramento-San Joaquin (S-SJ) watershed where decades of water diversion has brought on changes to the temperature, flow, and management of the area. This study looks to primarily identify the impact of water temperature on the endurance swimming capacity of juvenile white sturgeon, …
Host Size Reduction In Response To Parasitic Infection Fuels Trophic Cascades,
2023
Indiana University - Bloomington
Host Size Reduction In Response To Parasitic Infection Fuels Trophic Cascades, Lauren Albert
2023 Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference
Outbreaks of disease epidemics continue to erupt in host populations. Within these populations, parasites drive top-down effects. For example, when parasites kill their hosts, they can indirectly increase the hosts’ resource density, causing trophic cascades. This phenomena arises in a diversity of parasite-host-resource systems; however, the mechanisms of parasite-driven trophic cascades remain less clear. A straightforward density-mediated mechanism occurs when parasites increase host mortality, depressing host density. Alternatively, host traits such as body size could be affected, depressing host resource regulation. To disentangle connections between parasites and trophic cascades, we must measure mechanisms operating at both the population (density) and …
