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Home / Undergraduate Research Highlights / Biology
 
Biology Highlights
Total Listing: 306    (Listed by the order of record adding time, Descending)
( 1 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Characterization of photoreceptor cell types in the little brown bat Myotis lucifugus (Vespertilionidae)
Journal Comp Biochem Physiol B., 2009;154:412-418, Feller KD, Lagerholm S, Clubwala R, Silver MT, Haughey D, Ryan JM, Loew ER, Deutschlander ME, Kenyon KL (corresponding author).
Description This research provides important insights relating to the role of vision in little brown bats. Our work demonstrates that nocturnal bat species Myotis lucifugus utilizes visual pigments involved in both scotopic (dim light) vision as well as phototopic (daylight) vision. These findings will shape future projects to address the ecological significance of vision in bats.
Faculty Kristy L. Kenyon is an assistant professor of Biology; Mark Deutschlander is an associate professor of Biology; Jim Ryan is a professor of Biology.
Student "Kathryn (Kate) D. Feller (WS '06) is the lead author. She completed an honors project involving this research and had a central role in the writing of the manuscript. Rashna Clubwala (WS ‘07) and Matthew Silver (HO ‘07) both completed honors project involving this research. David Haughey (HO ‘09) completed his contribution as part of his summer science project (summer of 2007). Kate is in a PhD program for biology at the University of Maryland, Rashna is a medical student at SUNY Stonybrook, Matt is working at a research assistant at Harvard Medical School (he is currently applying to dental school), and David Haughey will be attending SUNY Upstate Medidcal School (he deferred his early acceptance to complete a year of education service)."
Fund All of the research was supported by the Provost 's Office at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
 
( 2 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Solving a Hamiltonian Path Problem with a bacterial computer
Journal Jour Bio Eng., 2009;3:11, Baumgardner J, Acker, Adefuye, Crowley, DeLoache, Dickson, Heard, Martens, Morton, Ritter, Shoecraft, Treece, Unzicker, Valencia, Waters, Campbell AM, Heyer LJ, Poet JL, Eckdahl TT.
Description This interdisciplinary team of undergraduates from two institutions used the principles of synthetic biology to design, construct, and test E. coli capable of finding the solution to a simple Hamiltonian Path Problem and report the existence of the solution by expressing green and red fluorescent protein. This contribution extends the field of bacterial computing by showing proof of concept for using programmed living bacteria to address computationally significant mathematics problems. This article quickly become the most accessed article in the two-year history of the journal, recently reaching the level of 22000 downloads since its publication in late July.
Faculty Malcolm Campbell is a professor of biology at Davidson College. Todd Eckdahl is a professor of biology at MWSU. Laurie Heyer is associate professor of mathematics at Davidson College. Jeff Poet is an associate professor of mathematics at MWSU.
Student Student at both campuses worked through an intensive summer research program with follow-up research taking place during the academic year. Students include majors in biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and mathematics. Several have been accepted in graduate school or are gainfully employed in careers in their field.
Fund Support is gratefully acknowledged from NSF UBM grant DMS 0733955 to Missouri Western State University and DMS 0733952 to Davidson College, HHMI grants 52005120 and 52006292 to Davidson College, and the James G. Martin Genomics Program, HHMI, and various campus resouces from the two campuses.
 
( 3 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title TGFâ inhibits GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of ERK and MEK in human myeloid leukaemia cell lines via inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-k).
Journal Cell Prolif., 2009;42:1-9, Montenegro DE, Franklin T, Moscinski LC, Zuckerman KS, and Hu X-T.
Description Studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for normal cell cycle control and growth factor (with an emphasis on TGFbeta)-mediated growth inhibition, which involves several cell cycle regulatory molecules and tumor repressor genes. The study of TGFâ signals will provide insight into the understanding of the negative control of hematopoietic cell growth and the mechanisms leading to cancer and other diseases. Xiao-Tang Hu is an associate professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences. Tina Franklin, junior biology major, participated in the research as an MBRS RISE student.
Faculty Dr. X-T Hu is a professor in the Biology Department, College of Arts & Sciences, Barry University.
Student The research was carried during the 2007-08 academic year when Tina Franklin was an undergraduate at Barry University, as part of the NIH funded-RISE (Research Iinitiative for Scientific Enhancment) program. Tina is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in physiology at Rutgers University.
Fund The research was supported by NIH MBRS RISE Grant.
 
( 4 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Female-specific ornamentation predicts offspring quality in the striped plateau lizard, Sceloporus virgatus
Journal Behav Ecol., 2009;20:1063-1071, Weiss SL, Kennedy EA, Bernhard JA.
Description This study examined whether the female-specific ornament of striped plateau lizards, which previously has been found to signal female phenotypic quality, also honestly signals information about offspring quality. We measured females’ peak ornament expression, collected and incubated their eggs, and reared the resulting offspring to Day 180, measuring both the body condition and sprint speed of those offspring. Female ornament size, but not ornament color intensity nor saturation, reliably predicted both the body condition and the sprint speed of her offspring. Thus, males may gain fitness benefits from preferentially allocating their reproductive effort towards females with larger ornaments by producing higher quality offspring.
Faculty Stacey Weiss is an assistant professor of biology and James Bernhard is an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science.
Student Eileen Kennedy participated in this research beginning in the summer between her sophomore and junior years, and developed this research into her senior thesis. Her work was supported by Puget Sound Summer Research Stipends and University Enrichment grants. She is currently in a master’s program in Animal Behavior at Bucknell University.
Fund Additional funding was provided by the university to Stacey.
 
( 5 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Molecular Variation in the Mitochondrial D-loop of Squalus acanthias from the Gulf of Maine
Journal Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory Bulletin, 2009;48:45-46, Simard M, Lage CR, Wray C
Description This study investigates the population genetics of spiny dogfish , a small shark species, from the Northwest Atlantic to determine whether reductions in molecular genetic diversity have occurred through time and whether any genetic sub-populations can be identified. Listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, understanding the genetic stock structure of spiny dogfish is fundamental for its assessment and long-term management. From 2004 to 2008 a reduction in molecular diversity was observed suggesting a decline in the number of reproducing females in the population.
Faculty This project is overseen by Dr. Christopher Lage (Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Maine at Augusta).
Student This project has thus far resulted in multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications, including a first-authorship by a University of Maine at Augusta undergraduate biology student, Maxwell Simard. Max is currently a senior and plans to enter medical school.
Fund Support for this project has been provided by the Maine IDEA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence grant (Maine INBRE P20 RR-016463), Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory undergraduate and faculty research grants, as well as a University of Maine System Maine Economic Improvement Fund research grant.
 
( 6 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Effects of iron depletion on Entamoeba histolytica alcohol
Journal J Antimicrob Chemother, 2009;63: 675–678, Espinosa, A. Perdrizet, G. Paz-y-Miño C., G. Lanfranchi, R., Phay M.
Description Entamoeba histolytica infects 50 million people yearly causing 100,000 fatalities worldwide. E. histolytica lacks mitochondria and obtains energy by fermenting glucose. This study demonstrates that iron chelation interrupts the completion of the fermentative pathway of E. histolytica by removing the metal cofactor indispensable for the structural and functional stability of EhADH2, an essential enzyme, thus affecting trophozoite survival. It also suggests that iron-starvation-based strategies could be used to treat amebiasis.
Faculty Avelina Espinosa is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, Roger Williams University; Guillermo Paz-y-Mino C. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
Student The work was performed by Monichan Phay (sophomore at the time, summer scholar) and George Perdrizet (senior at the time, senior thesis) in the Spring, Summer and Fall 2008.Monichan Phay is currently in a junior student with a double major Biology and Chemistry, (Fall 2009) at Roger Williams University. George Perdrizet is currently in a doctoral program in Biochemistry at the University of Chicago.
Fund This work was supported by NIH-NCRR grant # 2 P20RR16457-04 and Roger Williams Universit summer scholars program.
 
( 7 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Base excision repair in developing zebrafish: functional evidence for polymerase switching and multiple AP endonucleases
Journal Biochemistry, 2009;48:5396-5404, Fortier, SF., Yang, XJ., Wang, Y., Bennett, RAO and Strauss, PR.
Description This work provides evidence for the base excision DNA repair pathway in early zebrafish embryos. Although the pathway has been described in cells and tissues from adult animals, this is the first description of the pathway in early embryos. Unlike cells from adult animals, early embryos lack the major DNA polymerase that performs short patch repair. Instead, they use replicative polymerase or other bypass enzymes for this function.
Faculty Phyllis Strauss is Matthews Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biology at Northeastern University.
Student Sean Fortier graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern in 2009. He began this work as his honors project in 2007 and was awarded a Matthews Fellowship to support his efforts. Sean’s poster presentation at the 2009 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in New Orleans took first place in the undergraduate biochemistry section; the work was selected for presentation from the platform. Sean is currently employed as he applies for medical school.
Fund The work was supported by the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation as well research awards from the Office of the Provost, Northeastern University.
 
( 8 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Two distinct Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811) Taxa are Found in Sympatry in Guatemala and Mexico.
Journal PLoS Negl Trop Dis., 2009;3:e393, Dorn PL, Calderon, C, Melgar S, Moguel B, Solorzano E, Dumonteil E, Rodas A, de la Rua N, Garnica R, Monroy C.
Description Results from DNA analyses show that there is a very distinct population of Triatoma dimidiata, the main Chagas disease insect vector in Mesoamerica, likely a cryptic species. Results using nuclear DNA divide the remaining T. dimidiata into three distinct taxa; however, mitochondrial DNA does not distinguish these additional groups. Both markers show that distinct taxa occur in sympatry, sometimes within the same house. This work is important for effectively targeting vector populations responsible for transmitting this devastating disease.
Faculty Dr. Patricia Dorn is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Student Nick de la Rua, a biology senior, worked on this project from 2008-2009 as part of his participation as a Public Health Research Scholar and completing Honors in Biology. He is continuing his work on Chagas disease vectors in the southwestern U.S. and plans to apply to MD/PhD programs this coming spring.
Fund This research was funded by a grant from the Louisiana Board of Reagents for Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement and a Student Government Association Richard Frank grant.
 
( 9 )   Recorded at: 1/12/2010      
Title Feeding behavior of triatomines from the southwestern United States: an update on potential risk for transmission of Chagas disease.
Journal Acta Tropica., 2009; 111: 114-8, Klotz SA, Dorn PL, Klotz JH, Pinnas JL, Weirauch C, Kurtz JR, Schmidt J.
Description We assessed the health risk to human residents from the Chagas insect vectors, Triatoma protracta and T. rubida, in the southwestern United States. Twenty-one percent of T. protracta and no T. rubida tested positive for the Chagas parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, which is normally passed through the bug feces to the mammalian host. In feeding studies no triatomines defecated on the host (mouse) suggesting that these species do not pose an imminent risk for transmission of Chagas disease to residents of the southwestern United States.
Faculty Dr. Patricia Dorn is a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Student Jonathan Kurtz, a Biology senior, worked on this project 2007-2009. The research was part of his participation as a Public Health Research Scholar and completing Honors in Biology. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Tulane University.
Fund The research was supported by grants from the Louisiana Board of Reagents for Research Commercialization and Educational Enhancement and the Student Government Association Richard Frank Fund.
 
( 10 )   Recorded at: 12/16/2009      
Title Influence of hatch duration and individual daily growth rates on size structure of age-0 smallmouth bass cohorts in two glacial lakes
Journal Ecol Freshwater Fish, 2008;17:363-373, Phelps QE, Isermann DA, Willis DW
Description We assessed hatch dates and daily growth rates of age-0 smallmouth bass from two South Dakota glacial lakes over a 3-year period. Correlation analysis indicated that hatch date had little effect on daily growth rates. Daily growth rate significantly explained variation in smallmouth bass total at time of capture in all six models, accounting for 31–86% of the variability in bass length. Our findings suggest that size structure of age-0 cohorts in some populations may be more strongly regulated by variation in individual daily growth rate than by hatch timing
Faculty Daniel Isermann was a Ph.D. student at SDSU during the time of this study, and currently is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. David Willis is Head of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at SDSU
Student Quinton Phelps was an undergraduate student in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at South Dakota State University (SDSU) at the time of this study. He subsequently completed his M.S. at SDSU, and is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in fisheries science at Southern Illinois University
 
( 11 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Uncovering tropical diversity: Six sympatric cryptic species of Blepharoneura (Diptera: Tephritidae) in flowers of Gurania spinulosa (Cucurbitaceaee) in eastern Ecuador
Journal Biol J Linn Soc, 2008;93:779-797, Condon M, Adams DC, Bann D, Flaherty K, Gammons J, Johnson J, Lewis M, Marsteller S, Scheffer S, Serna F, Swensen S
Description This publication reports the discovery of an extraordinary number morphologically indistinguishable species of flies (genus Blepharoneura), living in the same area and all feeding on flowers of a single sexually dimorphic host species (Gurania spinulosa) in eastern Ecuador. Molecular analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-I gene from flies reared from flowers of G. spinulosa reveal six distinct haplotype groups that differ by 7.2-10% and that correspond to six distinct and well-supported evolutionary groups
Faculty Marty Condon is associate professor of Biology at Cornell College, Susan Swensen is associate professor of Biology at Ithaca College
Student Their research students, D. Bann, K. Flaherty, J. Gammons, J. Johnson, and F. Serna, were biology majors at their respective institutions and participated in this research for independent study credit, or as part of a research requirement. D. Bann is currently in an MD-PhD program at Penn State; K. Flaherty is a graduate student at University of Northern Iowa; J. Johnson is attending medical school, S. Marsteller is a graduate student at Arizona State University, and F. Serna is employed by a hospital in Houston
Fund This research was funded by a National Science Foundation REU Grant awarded to MC and SS
 
( 12 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title In vitro inhibition of dengue virus entry by p-sulfoxy-cinnamic acid and structurally related combinatorial chemistries
Journal Antiviral Research, 2008;80:135–142, Rees CR, Costin JM, Fink RC, McMichael M, Fontaine KA, Isern S, Michael SF
Description Together, the four strains of dengue virus comprise the most important public health threat from mosquito-borne viral pathogens, causing an estimated 50 million human infections per year. The marine eelgrass-derived anti-adhesive compound p-sulfoxy-cinnamic acid, zosteric acid (ZA), and five combinatorial chemistries based on ZA were evaluated for their anti-viral properties against dengue virus. We observed inhibition of infection associated with enhanced, yet unproductive virus:cell binding. These chemistries may thus be useful reagents for probing the interactions between dengue virus and entry receptor molecules
Faculty Sharon Isern and Scott Michael are Associate Professors in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University
Student Craig Rees, a Biotechnology major, participated in the research his sophomore through senior years as a volunteer as well as for independent study and senior research credit during the academic year, and as a Department of Defense-funded summer undergraduate researcher. Krystal Fontaine, a Biotechnology major, worked as a laboratory research technician after graduation to gain additional research experience prior to applying to graduate school. Craig is presently a first year student in the School of Public Health at the University of Florida and Krystal is a first year graduate student in the Microbiology Program at the University of Washington
Fund The research was supported by the Department of Defense awards N00173-06-1-G901 and N00173-07-1-G015 and CernoFina, LLC
 
( 13 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Robust cross-links in molluscan adhesive gels: testing for contributions from hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions
Journal Comp Biochem Physiol B, 2009;152:110-117, Smith AM, Robinson TM, Salt MD, Hamilton KS, Silvia BE, Blasiak R
Description A number of terrestrial gastropods produce remarkably strong glues that are dilute gels. This study tested the effect of different treatments on gel mechanics and solubility to demonstrate that cross-links common in most gels, such as electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, do not play a role in the cohesive strength of the glue. In contrast, metal-based cross-links play a central role as metal removal disrupts the gel. Experiments with gel filtration chromatography identified a 40 kDa protein that is a central component of the cross-links. Determining the mechanism by which this glue is cross-linked could guide a biomimetic approach to developing new medical adhesives
Faculty Andy Smith is an associate professor of biology
Student Tracy Robinson, Michael Salt, Kristia Hamilton, Brittany Silvia and Rachel Blasiak are recent Ithaca College biology majors who participated in this research for independent research credit or as part of a summer research program during their junior and/or senior years. Tracy recently finished her M.D. from Duke University, Rachel will attend the University of North Carolina Medical School, Brittany is attending New England College of Optometry, and Michael and Kristia are currently applying to premedical or graduate research programs respectively
Fund The research was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Andy
 
( 14 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Fecundity of the exotic applesnail Pomacea insularum
Journal J N Am Benthol Soc, 2008;27:738-745, Barnes MA, Fordham RK, Burks RL, and Hand JJ
Description This study examined the fecundity of Pomacea insularum, a recently-introduced exotic applesnail in Texas, by quantifying egg clutch size and individual egg success in field and laboratory settings. Observations indicated that P. insularum consistently produced more eggs per clutch than the related devastating global invader P. canaliculata. In particular, this study highlights the need for further life history studies to better understand the invasive potential of P. insularum and other exotic species
Faculty Romi Burks will soon complete her 6th year as an Assistant Professor of Biology and currently serves as Chair of the Animal Behavior Program at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas
Student Matthew Barnes began this research in the Southwestern University Biology Summer Research Program at the end of his junior year and continued researching through his senior year, culminating in the completion of an undergraduate Honors Thesis entitled “The snail or the egg? Investigations of early life history stages of applesnails”. Matthew now studies in a doctoral program in ecology and evolution at the University of Notre Dame. In 2008, Rebecca Fordham received a Masters Degree in Aquatic Biology at Texas State University-San Marcos, and she currently works as a Bridging the Watershed Educator for the Alice Ferguson Foundation which teaches high school students watershed science within national parks in the Potomac Basin. In 2006, Jennifer Hand completed a Masters Degree in Environmental Biology at the University of Houston- Clear Lake. Jennifer currently works for NASA in the Toxicology Division at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
Fund ”. Several sources funded this research, including a Brown Junior Faculty Fellowship, the Southwestern University Biology Summer Research Program, and the Southwestern University Endowment
 
( 15 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Effects of disturbance, position of observer, and moonlight on efficiency of anuran call surveys
Journal Applied Herpetology, 2008;5:253-263, Granda JR, Pena RM, Pierce BA
Description Anuran (frog) call surveys are being used widely to monitor amphibian populations and study amphibian declines. To help optimize call surveys, this study examined several factors that potentially affect the efficiency of this method. A 5-minute waiting period after approach to the listening station did not increase the number of species detected, nor did changing the orientation of listening during the survey. Significantly more species were detected during surveys conducted under conditions of low moonlight
Faculty Benjamin Pierce is Professor of Biology and holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair at Southwestern University
Student Jose Granda and Robert Pena, both biology majors, participated in research for independent study credit in their senior year; Jose also participated in the Biology Summer Research Program at Southwestern University. Both Jose and Robert are employed and in the process of applying to medical school
 
( 16 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title . In vitro cytotoxic activity of anthrapyrazole analogues in human prostate (DU-145) and testicular (NTERA-2) carcinoma cells
Journal Oncology Reports, 20:239-244, Cuevas ME and Seilheimer K
Description Anthrapyrazoles are potent cytotoxic agents that intercalate into DNA, causing DNA strand breaks, inhibition of DNA synthesis and topoisomerase II. In this study, we investigated the in vitro cytotoxic activity of two anthrapyrazole analogues (AP-10 and AP-11) in human prostate (DU-145) and testicular (NTERA-2) carcinoma cells. Using the standard MTS cell growth inhibition assay, analogue AP-10 was found to have a higher cytotoxic activity than AP-11. Furthermore, NTERA-2 cells appeared to be more sensitive to these compounds than DU-145 cells. Finally, based on the DNA-fragmentation assay, apoptosis appeared not to be the underlying cellular mechanism of the cytotoxic effect of AP-10 and AP-11
Faculty Maria E. Cuevas is an assistant professor of biology
Student Kurt Seilheimer, a senior, who is currently employed- conducted the experiments as part of his Introduction to Research experience and used the collected data to satisfy the capstone credit requirement for graduation. This research was conducted over two years including the summer research program. The authors are indebted to Dr Frank Guziec for providing the anthrapyrazole analogues and Dr. Maria Todd for her technical expertise
Fund This work was partially supported by an internal grant-Fleming Fund, Southwestern University
 
( 17 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Similarity in the begging calls of nestling red-winged blackbirds
Journal J Field Ornithol, 2008;79:254-262, Yasukawa K, Urish J, Her A, Light E
Description We recorded the begging calls of nestling red-winged blackbirds to determine whether nest-mates produce similar calls. We found that nest-mates gave similar calls when they were recorded together in the nest, but not when they were recorded separately, and that similar calls caused females to feed rapidly. Our results suggest that similar begging calls may be beneficial for both nestlings and their parents
Faculty Al is a high school biology teacher in Washington state
Student Jody Urish and Alan Her, biology majors, and Erin Light, a psychology major, were rising seniors when they participated in the research as summer research scholars. Jody is in graduate school at the University of Chicago. Erin will be starting law school in the fall
Fund The research was supported by the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program and the Beloit College Sanger Scholars Program
 
( 18 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title A reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for detecting filarial infective larvae in mosquitoes
Journal PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2008;2:e251, Laney SJ, Buttaro CJ, Visconti S, Pilotte N, Ramzy RM, Weil GJ, Williams SA
Description The Global Programme for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) plans to eliminate the disease by 2020 using mass drug administration (MDA). As the rates of infection are driven to very low levels, the development of new, highly sensitive methods are required for monitoring transmission of the disease by mosquitoes. This paper reports the first development of a stage-specific assay for a filarial parasite in mosquitoes based on RT-PCR detection of a gene transcript found only in infective larvae. This strategy of detecting stage-specific messenger RNA from filarial parasites may also prove useful for detecting infective stages of other vector-borne pathogens
Faculty Steven A. Williams is the Gates Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College
Student Caitlin Buttaro (a Smith College senior biochemistry major) participated in this research as an independent studies student, while Sabato Visconti (a sophomore) participated as an Amherst College independent studies student. Sandra Laney is a research associate at Smith, Nils Pilotte is a Smith master's degree student, and Reda Ramzy and Gary Weil are collaborators from other academic institutions. Caitlin is currently employed in the biotechnology industry and is applying to graduate school, while Sabato is a senior at Amherst College
Fund The research was supported by an NIH grant to Williams, Ramzy and Weil
 
( 19 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Menthol shares general anesthetic activity and sites of action on the GABAA receptor with the intravenous anesthetic, propofol
Journal European Journal of Pharmacology, 2008;590:120-126, Watt EE, Betts BA, Kotey FO, Humbert DJ, Griffith TN, Kelly EW, Veneskey KC, Gill N, Rowan KC, Jenkins A, Hall AC
Description The present study investigated the modulation by menthol and related compounds of human GABAA receptor currents expressed in Xenopus oocytes (frog eggs). GABAA receptors are critical for inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain and are thought to be important neuronal targets for the action of general anesthetics in rendering patients unconscious during surgery. The experiments demonstrated that menthol’s positive modulation of GABA currents may be mediated through binding to the same sites on the receptor as propofol, a commonly used intravenous anesthetic. Furthermore, menthol was shown to exhibit anesthetic properties in an in vivo tadpole assay
Faculty Adam Hall is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Smith College
Student Erin Watt was a neuroscience major and participated in the research as a senior honors project (2006). Erin is currently applying for graduate school Ph.D. programs in neuroscience. Brooke Betts completed an honors project in Biology (2005) and is currently at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Francesca Kotey, Danielle Humbert, Theanne Griffith, Elizabeth Kelly and Kelly Veneskey all participated as research assistants in the Hall lab through special studies projects and/or summer internships. Kathleen Rowan was a Masters student in the lab from 2002-2004
Fund The research was supported by grants from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation to Smith College Neuroscience Program, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Beckman Foundation for funding Brooke, from Merck/AAAS and Tomlinson funding for Erin, and from Blakeslee funding for Adam Hall
 
( 20 )   Recorded at: 12/7/2009      
Title Transcription of the LAT gene is regulated by multiple binding sites for Sp1 and Sp3
Journal Gene, 2008;413(1-2):58-66, Whitten C, Swygert S, Butler SE, Finco TS
Description This study focused on elucidating the mechanisms responsible for transcription of the human LAT gene, which encodes an adaptor protein required for the proper function of cells that comprise the immune system. The research identified a number of G/C-rich DNA elements in the LAT promoter that regulate gene expression in T cells and mast cells, and further demonstrated that these DNA elements function by binding the Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors
Faculty Tim Finco is an associate professor in the biology department
Student Caitlyn is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, Sarah Swygert is working in a research lab at Emory University, and Sara Butler is presently an Emerging Infectious Diseases Training Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fund Caitlyn Whitten, Sarah Swygert, and Sara Butler participated in the research as part of an independent study project supported by funding from the National Science Foundation
 
( 21 )   Recorded at: 11/24/2009      
Title Inhibitory effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on Kv4 potassium channels.
Journal Am J Physiol, 2009: 296:C1003-C1014, Boland LM, Drzewiecki MM, Timoney G, Casey E
Description This study examined the mechanism of fatty acid inhibition of a fast-inactivating potassium channel which regulates the excitability of native nerve and muscle cells. The results show the concentration-dependence of the lipid effect on the channel, the lack of requirement for channel accessory subunits, and support a mechanism of acceleration of two forms of inactivation by interaction with the internal side of the membrane. The research is important for understanding the physiological impact of endogenous lipids on cellular excitability.
Faculty Linda M. Boland is an Associate Professor of Biology.
Student Michelle M. Drzewiecki and Erin Casey are senior Biology majors. Gabriela Timoney is a sophomore major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Drzewiecki will be entering medical school this fall and Casey will pursue post-graduate education. Timoney will continue her undergraduate studies.
Fund This study was a part of the independent study project conducted by Nina and Sara during their senior years. Nina graduated this year from Marywood University as valedictorian for the class of 2009. She will be beginning her Master 's in speech-language pathology at Gallaudet University from fall 2009. Sara is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in audiology from James Madison University.
 
( 22 )   Recorded at: 11/24/2009      
Title Elevated temperature reduces survivorship and settlement of the larvae of the Caribbean scleractinian coral, Favia fragum (Esper).
Journal Coral Reefs, 2009:28:537-545, Randall CJ, Szmant AM
Description As sea surface temperatures increase due to global warming, there is the potential for the coral’s larval stage to be affected. Survival and settlement rates of larvae of F. fragum were tested across a 3 °C range of treatment temperatures. Results indicated that survival during the planktonic larval stage decreased as the temperature increased. In addition the larval settlement process was highly sensitive to and negatively affected by increased temperatures. These results suggest that as Caribbean temperatures warm, we will likely see a reduction in recruitment of F. fragum larvae to the population.
Faculty Dr. Alina M. Szmant is a professor of biology.
Student Carly J. Randall, a marine biology major, conducted this research as part of her honors thesis during 2005-7. Carly recently graduated with her master’s degree in marine biology from UNCW and is currently employed as a marine science educator with MarineQuest.
Fund The research was supported by the Honors Scholars Program, the Center for Support of Undergraduate Research, the National Science Foundation Bio-Complexity grant to A. Szmant , and the University of North Carolina Wilmington coral reef program development funds.
 
( 23 )   Recorded at: 9/23/2009      
Title Inhibitory effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on Kv4 potassium channels
Journal Am J Physiol (Cell Physiol), 2009;296:C1003-C1014, Boland LM, Drzewiecki MM, Timoney G, Casey E
Description This study examined the mechanism of fatty acid inhibition of a fast-inactivating potassium channel which regulates the excitability of native nerve and muscle cells. The results show the concentration-dependence of the lipid effect on the channel, the lack of requirement for channel accessory subunits, and support a mechanism of acceleration of two forms of inactivation by interaction with the internal side of the membrane. The research is important for understanding the physiological impact of endogenous lipids on cellular excitability
Faculty Boland is an Associate Professor of Biology
Student Michelle M. Drzewiecki and Erin Casey are senior Biology majors. Gabriela Timoney is a sophomore major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Drzewiecki will be entering medical school this fall and Casey will pursue post-graduate education. Timoney will continue her undergraduate studies
Fund Students participated in the research for undergraduate credit and for summer research experiences supported by funds from an HHMI grant to the University of Richmond (MD and GT), an American Physiological Society fellowship to Timoney and a research grant to Boland from the Thomas and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial
 
( 24 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Effects of hypercapnic hypoxia on the inactivation and elimination of Vibrio campbellii in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica
Journal Appl. Envir. Microbiol, 2008; doi:10.1128/AEM.00317-08, Macey, BM, Achilihu, IO, Burnett, KG, Burnett LE
Description This study was designed to test whether exposure to low, naturally-occurring levels of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide (hypercapnic hypoxia) reduces the ability of oysters to inactivate bacteria that may penetrate their tissues. The results showed that hypercapnic hypoxia did impair the oyster’s ability to inactivate bacteria, suggesting that poor water quality may increase the risk that oysters will harbor and transmit bacterial pathogens hazardous to human and ecosystem health.
Faculty Brett Macey was a postdoctoral fellow at the College of Charleston when these studies was conducted, and is currently a staff scientist in the Department of Environmental and Tourism Affairs, Marine and Coastal Management, Capetown, South Africa. Karen Burnett is a research associate and Lou Burnett is a professor in the College of Charleston’s Department of Biology
Student Ikenna Achilihu was a summer intern in the Fort Johnson Undergraduate Summer Research Program when he performed these studies. Since graduating from Brown University, Ikenna has been working as a research associate at Pennington Medical Research Center in Baton Rouge. He will be applying to graduate schools in the near future
Fund This work was supported by NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduate Site Award DBI-0552828, funded by DoD’s ASSURE program and awarded to Lou Burnett at the Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston. Additional support was provided by NOAA’s Center of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health at the Hollings Marine Laboratory.
 
( 25 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Light wavelength biases of scorpions
Journal Animal Behaviour, 2008;76:365-373, Blass GRC, Gaffin DD
Description For unknown reasons, all scorpions fluoresce bright green under ultraviolet light. We hypothesize that scorpion fluorescence may be related to their vision. In this study, we tested scorpion behavior under UV, green, red, and IR frequencies of light. We found that scorpions responded most to UV and secondarily to green wavelengths, whereas previous physiological reports show their eyes are most sensitive to green and secondarily to UV. These experiments are a crucial first step for developing a behavioral test to explore the putative linkage of fluorescence to vision
Faculty
Student Greg Blass conducted this work as an independent study research project during his junior and senior years of study at OU in conjunction with Doug Gaffin, an associate professor of zoology at OU. Greg is now a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Fund Greg’s research was supported by an OU Undergraduate Research Opportunities Grant and by funds from the LIFE fund of the University of Oklahoma Foundation
 
( 26 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Effects of drying regime on microbial colonization and shredder preference in seasonal woodland wetlands
Journal Freshwater Biology, 2008;53:435–445, Inkley, M.D., S.A. Wissinger, and B.L. Baros
Description Leaf litter that falls from the forest canopy dominates the energy budgets of woodland vernal pools, but little is known about the factors that affect the breakdown rates of this leaf litter. In this study, we experimentally manipulated the inundation schedule of maple leaves in a wooded vernal pool and found that leaves incubated under permanent and semi-permanent conditions had higher fungal and bacterial biomass, and lower C:N ratios than those incubated under intermittent conditions. To determine the effects of these differences in litter nutritional quality on preference by leaf-shredding caddisflies, we conducted a subsequent laboratory experiment and found that caddisflies spent twice as much time foraging on permanent and semi-permanent litter than on that incubated under intermittent conditions. Our results suggest that climate-change shifts in drying regime should alter detritus processing rates, and hence the mobilization of the energy and nutrients in leaf litter to vernal pool food webs
Faculty Professor Scott Wissinger is a wetland ecologist and Assistant Professor Brandi L. Baros is a microbiologist
Student This research was inspired by an intensive literature review and discussions in a junior seminar course, which in turn stimulated one of the students, Martyn Inkley, to propose and then conduct this research for his senior thesis project. Martyn is currently enrolled in Veterinary School at Edinburgh University in Scotland
Fund The research was supported by a NSF grant to Wissinger and the Class of ’39 senior research fund at Allegheny College
 
( 27 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title An aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor from Xenopus laevis: function, expression, and role in dioxin responsiveness during frog development
Journal Toxicol. Sci, 2008;104:124-34, Zimmermann AL, King EA, Dengler E, Scogin SR, Powell WH
Description Xenopus laevis and other frogs are extremely insensitive to the toxicity of dioxin-like chemicals. We sought to test the hypothesis that constitutive activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) protein underlies dioxin insensitivity. After cloning the cDNA, we determined that its low expression in the absence of dioxin makes a role for AHRR unlikely
Faculty Wade Powell is an associate professor of biology
Student Other authors participated in the research for academic credit or in the Kenyon Summer Science Scholars Program in 2004-2007. First author Anna Zimmermann is currently studying in China on a Fulbright Scholarship
Fund The research was supported by an NIEHS AREA grant and by an HHMI Education Grant to Kenyon College
 
( 28 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Mountain Pine Beetle Attack Associated with Low Levels of 4-Allylanisole in Ponderosa Pine
Journal Environ Entomol, 2008;37:871-5, Emerick, JJ, Snyder, AI, Bower, NW, and Snyder, MA
Description Mountain pine beetle is the most important insect pest in ponderosa pine forests. Tree mortality is hastened by symbiotic fungal pathogens. 4-allylanisole is an antifungal and beetle semiochemical. Levels of 4-allylanisole were half as large in trees under attack compared to controls
Faculty Nathan W. Bower is a professor of chemistry; Marc Snyder is a professor of Biology
Student Jay Emerick and Aaron Snyder did the research during the summer of 2007. Jay is currently a junior chemistry major and Aaron is a senior neuroscience major
Fund The research was funded by the Barnes Trust (private) and a US Forest Service grant
 
( 29 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Foreign gene transfer in termite cells using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus
Journal Jour. Insect Sci, 2008;8:52, available online: insectscience.org/8.52., Modisett KL, Robinson CD, Raina AK, Lax AR, Michael SF, Isern S
Description Formosan subterranean termite and the eastern subterranean termite are well known for their destruction of human dwellings and flora in the tropics and subtropics. A method to deliver foreign genes into termite cell cultures would provide a controlled environment to facilitate the study of key regulatory functions at the molecular and cellular level. The present study developed a method for the establishment and cryopreservation of primary embryonic termite cell cultures. Evidence was presented of viral-mediated gene transfer in these cells and foreign gene expression using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vector
Faculty Sharon Isern, presently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, was a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine at Tulane University when the work was conducted
Student Katharine Modisett, a sophomore Cell and Molecular Biology student at Tulane University, participated in the research for internship credit during the academic year, and as a NSF-supported summer undergraduate researcher. Katharine is presently a second year medical student at the Georgetown University School of Medicine
Fund The research was supported by the National Science Foundation (an ADVANCE Fellows award to SI), the US Department of Agriculture, Tulane University Newcomb Foundation (KLM and SI), and the Coypu Foundation through an award to the Tulane-Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research
 
( 30 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Sub-kilometer length scales in coastal waters
Journal Cont. Shelf Res, 2008;28:215–226, Blackwell SM, Moline MA, Schaffner A, Garrison T, Chang G
Description The current work focuses on defining fine scale structure in the coastal ocean. Using data collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle off the east and west coasts of the United States between 2001 and 2004, a novel variogram analyses was used to reveal the true scales of variability in a number of physical and biological parameters and to identify the scale at which ocean sampling should be conducted. This work provides valuable insight for future sampling design by scientists and resource managers in the coastal ocean
Faculty Shelley Blackwell is a member of Professor Mark Moline’s laboratory in the Biological Sciences Department. Thomas Garrison, a senior statistics major, contributed his recent work on variogram analysis to this paper as part of his senior thesis project supervised by Professor Andrew Schaffner. Thomas has recently graduated and is pursuing a doctoral degree in Quantitative Ecology at the University of Washington
Student The research was supported by a grant from the Office of Naval Research to Mark Moline
 
( 31 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Different crab species influence feeding of the snail Nucella lapillus through trait-mediated indirect interactions
Journal Mar. Ecol, 2008;29:1-8, Aschaffenburg MD
Description This study examined the effect of sympatric predatory and non-predatory crabs, and allopatric predatory crabs, on feeding rate of the snail, Nucella lapillus, to explore trait-mediated indirect interactions in a rocky intertidal zone. Snails were exposed to visual and chemical cues from each crab species in small aquaria, and allowed to feed freely on a barnacle-encrusted rock. Snails housed with sympatric predatory crabs had significantly lower feeding rates than snails housed with non-predatory and allopatric predatory crabs. This suggests that N. lapillus alter their behavior in response to chemical risk cues from local predators, and have the adaptive ability to detect and respond to cues from predators in their environment
Faculty Dr. Catherine Bevier, an associate professor of Biology
Student Matt completed this study as an honors thesis during his senior year, 2006-07, in the Department of Biology. Matt is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine Studies at the University of Delaware
Fund The research was supported by grants from the Colby College Student Special Project Fund, and from the Department of Biology at Colby College
 
( 32 )   Recorded at: 9/14/2009      
Title Alternative reproductive behaviors in lampreys and their significance
Journal Jour. Freshwater Ecol, 2008;23:437-444, Cochran, PA, Bloom DD, Wagner RJ
Description Analysis of videotapes of spawning Lampetra appendix in the North Branch of the Whitewater River in Minnesota (Mississippi River drainage) and Jambo Creek in eastern Wisconsin (Great Lakes drainage) revealed that at both sites at least 50% of matings in nests with at least three lampreys included a satellite male, which circles about the urogenital area of a mating pair at the moment of gamete release in what has been interpreted as an attempt to gain fertilizations. Nest associations involving more than one lamprey species in the same nest are known to involve many combinations of species, but especially relevant are cases involving closely related parasitic and nonparasitic species. Conventional wisdom is that the size difference between parasitic and nonparasitic lampreys prevents successful mating, but a combination of interspecific nest association and satellite male behavior could conceivably permit gene flow between paired nonparasitic and parasitic forms
Faculty Phil Cochran was an associate professor of biology at Saint Norbert College but is now a professor and chair of biology at Saint Mary’s University
Student Rick Wagner and Devin Bloom respectively majored in environmental science at Saint Norbert and environmental biology at Saint Mary’s, and both conducted their research to satisfy undergraduate thesis requirements. Devin completed a master’s at Southeast Louisiana State and is now in a Ph.D. program at the University of Toronto
Fund Rick was funded in part by a grant from the Saint Norbert Faculty Development program and went into a master’s program at Michigan Tech
 
( 33 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Anti-predator behaviour in response to conspecific chemical alarm cues in an esociform fish, Umbra limi (Kirtland 1840)
Journal Environmental Biology of Fishes, 2008;82:85-92, Wisenden BD, Karst J, Miller J, Miller S, Fuselier L
Description This team of students demonstrated that a predatory fish, related to pike and musky, nevertheless respond behaviorally to chemical alarm cues derived their skin extract from their own species. No doubt, this is due to their diminutive size. This was demonstrated in the field using minnow traps and in the lab
Faculty Brian Wisenden and Linda Fuselier are faculty at MSUM
Student Justin Karst graduated from MSUM. Jeff Miller is a senior at MSUM who is doing an internship in Voyageur National Park this summer. Stacey Miller is studying landscape ecology at NDSU
 
( 34 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Cost of exposure to trematode cercariae and learned recognition and avoidance of parasitism risk by fathead minnows
Journal Journal of Fish Biology, 2008;73:2238-2248, James CT, Noyes KJ, Stumbo AD, Wisenden BD, Goater CP
Description Kyle Noyes showed that fathead minnows infected with the trematode Ornithodiplostomum experienced decreased growth rate as the cercariae metamorphosed in metacercariae in the body cavity of the fish. Tony Stumbo showed that minnows exposed to (and infected by) live cercariae once learned to recognize and avoid dead (thawed) cercariae in subsequent exposures. This work won best poster at the Fisheries Society of the British Isles conference on Parasites as Agents of selection in Fish, convened in Wales in July 2008
Faculty Brian Wisenden is on faculty at MSUM. Cam Goater is on faculty at Lethbridge University
Student Tony was the only undergaduate present at the meeting. Kyle and Tony both start graduate school this fall. Clayton James finished his MSc (Lethbridge-MSUM collaboration) and is now working for the Alberta Conservation Association in Peace River, AB
 
( 35 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Young convict cichlids use visual information to update olfactory homing cues
Journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2009;63:443-449, Wisenden BD, Dye TP
Description Tome Dye showed that young convict cichlids find home by orienting to chemical cues. Moreover, when placed in a new chemical signature, and shown their parents in the next tank, they imprint on the new odor within 20 minutes
Faculty Brian Wisenden is on faculty at MSUM
Student Tom is a senior at MSUM
 
( 36 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Use of a mine by eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus) in east-central Nebraska
Journal Western North American Naturalist, 2008;68:382-389, Damm JP, Geluso, K
Description We studied the natural history of eastern pipistrelles, one of 13 species of bats in Nebraska, by monitoring use of a mine by bats throughout the year. This species is one of the rarest species in Nebraska. Bats mainly used the mine from late September to early May as a hibernaculum. Observations on timing of use already have assisted landowners to reduce detrimental human activities in the mine when bats are most vulnerable to disturbance
Faculty Keith Geluso is an assistant professor of biology
Student Jason Damm, biology major, completed this project as his undergraduate senior thesis at UNK. Jason currently is a master’s student at Indiana State University studying parasites in small mammals. Jason was a fellow in the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) at UNK
Fund Financial assistance was provided by UNK’s SSRP, Sponsored Programs, and the Biology Department
 
( 37 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Gallium maltolate treatment eradicates Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in thermally injured mice
Journal Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2009;53:1331-1337, DeLeon K, Balldin F, Watters C, Hamood A, Griswold J, Sreedharan S, Rumbaugh KP
Description This study shows that gallium maltolate completely prevents the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a mouse burn-wound model. Thermal injury removes or impairs the body’s natural barrier to microbes, and the cause of death in over 75% of burned individuals is infection. Most pathogenic bacteria require iron to grow, and gallium maltolate prevents the growth of these microbes by acting as an iron mimic. In our study 100% of wounded mice infected with P. aeruginosa died, while none of the gallium maltolate-treated mice died
Faculty Kendra Rumbaugh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center
Student Katrina DeLeon is currently a senior Cell and Molecular Biology major and participated in this research through the Texas Tech/Howard Hughes Medical Institute program from 2007-2008. Katrina will be graduating in spring 2009, and will start at Texas Tech Foster School of Medicine in the fall
Fund This research was supported by a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant through the Undergraduate Science Education Program to Texas Tech University, Titan Pharmaceuticals, and the American Diabetes Association
 
( 38 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title A novel experimental design for examining bryophyte response to increased ultraviolet radiation
Journal Journal of Natural Resources and Life Science Education, 2009;38:27-32, Fuselier L, True N
Description We designed an inquiry-based laboratory exercise for introductory biology students that integrates impacts of climate change on plant populations with experimental design and liverwort ecology. Students implement a controlled experiment to investigate effects of increased ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure on liverwort gemmae. The exercise uses a readily available and easily propagated thallose liverwort, it can be completed in two, two-hour laboratory periods, and concepts and techniques are transferrable to a variety of learning environments. After the first implementation of this laboratory exercise, the majority of students agreed that they learned more about bryophytes, experimental methods, and reporting statistics in lab reports
Faculty Linda Fuselier is an Associate Professor of Biosciences with research interests in sexual dimorphism and the evolution of bryophytes
Student Nicole True was a Life Science Education major at MSUM and now teaches high school science in rural Minnesota. The project was completed in 2008 as part of an independent research experience
Fund This project was supported by a National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education, Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement grant (Award #0736872), and a faculty research grant from the College of Social and Natural Sciences at MSUM
 
( 39 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the rock crab, Cancer irroratus: An early indicator of temperature stress
Journal J. Exp. Biol, 2009;212:722-730, Frederich M, O’Rourke M, Furey N, Jost J
Description This study investigates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as an indicator for temperature stress in a decapod crustacean. Rock crabs were exposed to a fast progressive temperature increase and AMPK activity, as well as heat shock protein (HSP70) expression was analyzed. We found that AMPK is activated by temperature stress much earlier than HSP70. We conclude that AMPK might be a new early and sensitive marker for temperature stress in invertebrates
Faculty Markus Frederich is an assistant professor of biology
Student Michaela O’Rourke did most of this work as her honors thesis. Nathan Furey contributed as an independent study project. Michaela graduated in 2007 and is now a medical student at UNE, Nathan Furey will graduate this year and is accepted into the Wildlife and Fisheries Science graduate program at Texas A&M
Fund The project was supported by an INBRE summer grant to M.O’R. and NSF grant IOB-0640478 to M.F.
 
( 40 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title A quantitative study and floristic quality analysis of a botanically diverse lowland
Journal Proceedings of the Twentieth North American Prairie Conference, 2008;20:113-126, Veloso SL, Rothenberger SJ. Thomsen Meadow
Description This study quantitatively analyzed the vegetation of a small (16 Ha), high diversity wet meadow near the Loup River in central Nebraska. This ungrazed site was dominated by the aster, grass and sedge families and has a very high Floristic Quality Index which indicates an abundance of native plant species. A total of 279 plant species were documented including the discovery of 25 colonies of white lady's slipper orchid, a species that is officially listed as "threatened" by the State of Nebraska
Faculty Steve Rothenberger is a professor of biology
Student Sara Veloso was a research assistant in this study that served as her senior research project. . Sara is currently an educational specialist at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska.
Fund The research was supported by the Department of Biology and the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney
 
( 41 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Effects of methyl jasmonate and an endophytic fungus on plant resistance to insect herbivores
Journal J. Chem. Ecol, 2008;34:1511-1517, Simons L, Bultman TL, Sullivan TJ
Description Fungal endophytes commonly infect the shoots of cool deason grasses. Previously our lab had shown that the fungus (Neotyphodium coenophialum) infecting tall fescue mediates wound-inducible resistance. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is hormone found throughout the plant kingdom that initiates the production of defensive compounds in many plants. We asked if and how tall fescue and its endophyte respond to MJ exposure and if these responses interact in antagonistic or synergistic ways. Plants were exposed to MJ via gaseous diffusion within a controlled environment chamber. Response to MJ was assessed using an herbivore bioassay, GC-MS to quantify alkaloids, and real time RT-PCR to quantify mRNA from a loline alkaloid biosynthesis gene. We found that MJ hindered endophyte-infected tall fescue's resistance against aphids by down-regulating transcription of the LolC gene. The opposite pattern was observed for endophyte-free tall fescue; its exposure to MJ resulted in a significant increase in resistance to aphids, apparently through stimulating defense compounds produced by the plant. These results indicate that MJ induces production of defensive compounds by tall fescue when it lacks fungal infection while it compromises the protection from herbivores that the fungus otherwise provides to its host plant
Faculty Tom Bultman (professor of biology) and T.J. Sullivan (post-doctoral associate) are members of the Biology
Student Lacy Simons is an undergraduate at Truman College in Chicago, IL. She plans to transfer from Truman College (a 2 year institution) to a 4-year school in the Chicago area next fall and eventually plans to obtain the M.D./Ph.D
Fund She conducted the research during the summer at Hope College through support from a NSF-CRUI award to TLB
 
( 42 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Reinventing the Ames test as an investigative lab that connects classical and molecular genetics
Journal Genetics, 2009;181:23-31, Goodson-Gregg N., De Stasio EA
Description We modified the Ames test as an investigative lab for undergraduate Genetics to encourage student input in experimental design, to produce quantitative data on reversion of both missense and frameshift mutants, and to connect classical and molecular genetic concepts. To help students connect phenotypes to DNA sequences, we designed and assessed procedures for characterizing the molecular lesions that confer revertant phenotypes. The extended lab allows students to investigate mutagenicity and mutation spectra quantitatively and to discover that multiple DNA sequences can confer a single phenotype. Efficacy of the new lab was assessed
Faculty Elizabeth De Stasio is Raymond J. Herzog Professor of Science, Department of Biology
Student Nathan Goodson-Gregg is currently a sophomore biology major who undertook this summer research project after his freshman year
Fund The work was funded by a Curricular Development Grant from Lawrence University
 
( 43 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Exposure to disability and hearing loss narratives in undergraduate audiology curriculum
Journal Am J Audiol, 2008;17:123-128, Berg AL, Canellas M, Salbod S, Velayo R
Description This study examined whether exposure to disability and hearing loss narratives increased undergraduate communication sciences and disorders (CSD) students’ affective responses to scenarios of individuals with hearing impairment. Thirty-five CSD undergraduates responded to 8 scenarios. Sixteen students completed a course in audiologic rehabilitation with no exposure to disability and hearing loss narratives; 19 students completed the same course with exposure. Two audiologists, independent and blind to group status, rated the 35 student responses for affective and technical content. Students exposed to the narratives incorporated more affective elements into their technical responses than students not exposed. Narratives appear to be effective in increasing affective elements in students’ technical/informational responses and may have a place and be of value in undergraduate CSD curriculum
Faculty Abbey L. Berg is an associate professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) Program, Department of Biology and Health Sciences. Stephen Salbod (instructor) and Richard Velayo (professor) are in the Department of Psychology
Student Maryrose Canellas, a CSD major, completed this as part of a senior thesis. Maryrose is enrolled in the CSD graduate program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She was the 2006 recipient of the New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association Undergraduate Research Award
 
( 44 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of mercury in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and tautog (Tautoga onitis) from the Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island, USA)
Journal Mar. Env. Res, 2009;67:117-128, Piraino MN, Taylor DL
Description We examined mercury contamination in two important recreational and commercial marine finfish: striped bass and tautog. Fish muscle tissue was analyzed for total mercury (Hg) and results were evaluated relative to interspecies life history characteristics. The Hg content of bass and tautog was positively correlated with fish age and length, indicating both species bioaccumulate Hg. Hg bioaccumulation rates were faster in bass, however, owing to their higher trophic level status in the estuary. Results presented in this study also indicate that frequent consumption of target fish could pose a human health risk, and thus, justify their inclusion in state-specific consumption advisories
Faculty David Taylor is an assistant professor of marine biology
Student Maria Piraino was involved in the research for 2.5 years, with opportunities provided by a grant-supported fellowship, independent study, and senior thesis. Maria is currently pursuing a Masters degree at the University of South Carolina
Fund This project was supported by Award No. P20RR016457 from the National Center for Research Resources/National Institutes of Health
 
( 45 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Identification of an rsh gene from a Novosphingobium sp. necessary for quorum-sensing signal accumulation
Journal J. Bacteriol, 2009;191:2551-2560, Gan HM, Buckley L, Szegedi E, Hudson AO, Savka MA
Description The present study identified a grapevine crown gall tumor bacterial isolate as a member of the Novosphingobium genus. A genetic mutation in its rsh gene was shown to influence the production of soluble polysaccharides, cell aggregation as well as cell-to-cell quorum sensing communication signals
Faculty Larry Buckley and Michael A. Savka are associate professors, and André O. Hudson is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, RIT
Student Han Ming Gan carried-out this research as a Merck/AAAS Fellow during the summer of 2008 and during the previous academic year as an Undergraduate Researcher supported by the College of Science at RIT, and received independent research credit. Han Ming Gan is currently in the biological sciences and bioengineering doctoral program at the Technical University of Malaysia. Han Ming Gan was an undergraduate in our biotechnology program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Fund Erno Szegedi is a Researcher at the Research Institute for Viticulture and Enology, Kecskemét, Hungry, and supported by the Hungarian National Scientific Foundation
 
( 46 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title . Seasonal changes in abundance and phosphorylation status of photosynthetic proteins in eastern white pine and balsam fir
Journal Tree Physiology, 2009;29:361-374, Verhoeven A, Osmolak A, Morales P, Crow J
Description The study examined changes in both the abundance of individual light harvesting proteins and the phosphorylation status of thylakoid proteins in conifer needles upon acclimation to winter conditions and during recovery in the spring. During winter conifers downregulate photosynthesis and there are many open questions about how this occurs mechanistically. Our study demonstrated that there are changes in the relative abundance of light harvesting complexes, suggesting some are more important for the cold-acclimated state. Some interesting winter-induced changes in thylakoid protein phosphorylation were also observed
Faculty Amy Verhoeven is an associate professor in biology
Student Paul Morales and Angela Osmolak both participated in the project for three years (primarily as summer projects), Paul starting in the summer of 2003 and Angela in the summer of 2005. Jordan Crow participated from the summer of 2006 until the summer of 2007. Angela Osmolak is currently in medical school at Creighton University. Paul Morales is currently in pharmacy school at Creighton University. Jordan Crow is still enrolled at the University of St Thomas
Fund The work was supported by a grant from the National Research Initiative of the USDA CSREES program to Amy Verhoeven, and by summer fellowships from the University of St. Thomas Young Scholars Program to Angela Osmolak and Paul Morales
 
( 47 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Evidence of behavioral co-option from context-dependent variation in mandible use in trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus spp.)
Journal Naturwissenschaften, 2008;96:243-350, Spagna JC, Schelkopf A, Carrillo T, Suarez AV
Description This paper provides evidence for ‘intentionality’ in the use of rapid jaw-closures to perform jumping maneuvers in trap-jaw ants, by comparing the rates at which ants perform various jaw-strike behaviors (striking, jumping horizontally or vertically, or running away) in different behavioral contexts, including in the presence of prey and the presence of dangerous competitors
Faculty Joseph Spagna, currently an assistant professor in the Biology department at William Paterson University of New Jersey, supervised the research as a postdoctoral researcher at U. of I. Andrew Suarez is an assistant professor in the departments of Entomology and Animal Biology at U. of I., and his lab hosted the research
Student Over 2 years, Adam Schelkopf and Tianna Carillo designed, carried out and summarized the majority of the experiments discussed in the paper as independent study projects taken for course credits, while they were junior and senior biology majors in the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Adam is currently a veterinary student at the U. of I., and Tianna is a medical student at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Fund The work was supported by a seed grant from the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
 
( 48 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Genome-wide and expression analysis of protein phosphatase 2C in rice and Arabidopsis
Journal BMC Genomics, 2008;9:550-570, Xue T, Wang D, Zhang S, Ehlting J, Ni F, Jakab S, Zheng C, Zhong Y
Description All protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa (rice) were identified, classified into subfamilies, and compared. The expression patterns of the PP2Cs from rice and Arabidopsis and their upstream regulatory regions were analyzed and compared. This study provides insights into the functions and regulatory mechanisms, as well as the evolution and divergence of the PP2C genes in dicots and monocots
Faculty The corresponding author Yuan Zhong is an assistant professor of Biology
Student Stephan Jakab is a senior nuclear medicine major, who participated in the research as a volunteer assistant in 2008
Fund This research was supported by Shandong Agricultural University in China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30571308), the National Basic Research Program (Grant No. 2006CB1001006) of China and Millersville University of Pennsylvania in the US. Stephan Jakab is still enrolled
 
( 49 )   Recorded at: 9/10/2009      
Title Guo R, Lin W, Zhang J, Simon AE, Kushner DB
Journal J. Virol, 2009;83:927-939, Guo R, Lin W, Zhang J, Simon AE, Kushner DB
Description Cis-acting sequences in (+)-sense single stranded viral RNAs control diverse functions such as replication initiation. In vivo SELEX of Turnip crinkle virus satellite C (satC) RNA with 45 nt (13%) randomized resulted in recovery of sequences allowing satC to mediate helper virus fitness. Winning sequences consisted of either two stem-loops (like wt), or, unexpectedly, a singular hairpin and evolved rapidly until the satC winners accumulated to ca. wt levels, indicating extreme plasticity can exist in viral RNAs
Faculty Kushner is an assistant professor of biology
Student Wai Lin, a senior biochemistry & molecular biology major, participated in this research the summer before (as a summer research student) and during (for independent study credit) her junior year and currently is applying to graduate school. Collaborators Rong Guo and Jiuchun Zhang (graduate students) and Anne Simon (professor) are in the department of cell biology and molecular genetics at Univ. of Maryland College Park
Fund The research was supported by the NSF (Simon) and a Dickinson College Dana Research Fellowship (Lin).
 
( 50 )   Recorded at: 1/6/2009      
Title The development and lateralization of prey delivery in a bill load holding bird
Journal Anim Behav, 2008;75:2005-2011, Grace J, Craig DP
Description Many terns, puffins, and other waterbirds deliver "bill loads" or whole fish held cross-wise in the beak during courtship or chick rearing. Cross-wise bill loads have the fish's head either left or right of the beak, and in a study of Caspian Terns it turns out that chicks consumed 99% of meals head first and were more successful feeding on right-headed deliveries. The lateralization or right-oriented bias was strongest in one-week-old chicks when they consumed linear shaped fish like anchovies. As chicks aged the lateralization bias disappeared, which merits further investigation. Bill load holding birds are an excellent model to study lateralization of feeding behavior in the wild, and they may allow integration of lateralization with developmental changes associated with feeding
Faculty David Craig is an associate professor of biology
Student Jacquie Grace completed the research in 2007 as part of her senior thesis. Jacque is presently in a doctoral program at Wake Forest University, where she is studying the behavioral development of Nazca Boobies in the Galapagos Islands with funding from a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
Fund The research was supported by the Willamette University Science Collaborative Research Program and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust College Life Sciences Research Program
 
( 51 )   Recorded at: 1/6/2009      
Title The effect of menarcheal age on anthropometric, limb length, and bone measures in Hutterite and non-Hutterite women
Journal Am Journal of Hum Biol, Published Online: May 19, 2008. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20794, Grimsrud C, Binkley T, Specker B
Description This study was conducted to investigate the associations between menarcheal age and body size and bone measures. Estrogen is known to take part in growth plate closure of long bones and has a positive effect on bone density. On average, Hutterite women start menses about 8 months earlier than non-Hutterite women. In final regression models controlling for diet and activity patterns, the younger menarcheal age in Hutterite women did not explain their shorter standing height and limb lengths. Bone mineral density in the hip was greater in women with younger menarcheal ages and greater in Hutterite than non-Hutterite women
Faculty Drs. Teresa Binkley and Bonny Specker conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University. Dr. Binkley is an Assistant Professor and Dr. Specker is the Director and Endowed Chair for the Program
Student Courtney Grimsrud, a senior pre-med major, participated in the research for independent study credit. Ms. Grimsrud graduated from South Dakota State University in May, 2008 and plans to attend the University of South Dakota Medical School in August, 2008
Fund The research was supported by the EA Martin Program in Human Nutrition and in part by NIH Grant R01-AR47852
 
( 52 )   Recorded at: 1/6/2009      
Title Strain differences in the expression of dopamine D1 receptors in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats
Journal Life Sci, 2008;83:74-78, Novick A, Yaroslavsky I, Tejani-Butt S
Description The Wistar-Kyoto rat is a stress-sensitive animal that demonstrates depressive-like features in various experimental paradigms. Because abnormalities in central dopamine transmission may be a part of depression, we measured the expression of dopamine D1 receptors in WKY rats versus Wistar controls. A significant strain difference was found, with WKY rats having lower D1 receptor expression in key motivational regions of the brain. The results add to previous studies suggesting deficient dopamine activity in the WKY rat model of depression
Faculty The work was done under Dr. Shanaz Tejani-Butt, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Significant contributions and guidance were provided by Dr. Irene Yaroslavsky, who was a doctoral candidate at the time of experiment.
Student The undergraduate author, Andrew Novick (a senior pharmacology and toxicology major) completed the project as part of an independent study. Andrew Novick is now in the dual MD/PhD program at the University of South Dakota
 
( 53 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Laboratory conditioning to still or flowing water does not affect the responses to a food stimulus by red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in flowing water habitats.
Journal Mar Fresh Behav Physiol, 2008;41:43-51, Pecor KW, Dean KC, Cullender TC
Description In this project, we considered the role that habitat acclimation plays in the foraging behavior of red swamp crayfish. The crayfish responded similarly to a food stimulus irrespective of their test environment or acclimation environment. Our results demonstrate that crayfish of this species are not habitat specialists and easily adjust to a variety of environmental conditions
Faculty Keith Pecor was a faculty fellow in biology. He is currently an assistant professor of biology at The College of New Jersey.
Student Kelsey Dean and Tyler Cullender, both biology majors, participated in the project as independent study students. Kelsey was a sophomore at the time of the research, and she is now a rising senior. Tyler was a junior, and he will enter the Ph.D. program in Microbiology at Cornell University in Fall 2008
Fund The research was funded by the Department of Biology at Rhodes College
 
( 54 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that alter specific K79 methylation states genetically act through distinct repair pathways
Journal Curr Genet, 2008;53:259-274, Evans ML, Bostelman LJ, Albrecht AM, Keller AM, Strande NT, Thompson JS
Description UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 were identified that cause distinct changes to H3 K79 methylation states. Epistasis analysis indicated that each mutation possesses a distinct genetic relationship with various UV repair genes, suggesting that discrete K79 methylation states act through separate DNA repair pathways. The results further support the existence of a novel trans-histone regulatory pathway involving histone H4 acetylation in response to UV damage
Faculty Jeff Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Denison University
Student Margery Evans, Lindsey Bostelman, Ashley Albrecht, Andrew Keller, and Natasha Strande participated in this work as part of a summer research program and their respective biology/biochemistry senior research projects. Margery and Natasha are currently in doctoral research programs at The University of Michigan and The University of North Carolina, respectively. Lindsey and Andrew are in medical school at The Ohio State University and The University of Cincinnati, respectively. Ashley is a research technician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
Fund Funding was provided through Anderson Summer Research Assistantships awarded to all five students, with additional support from the Fairchild Foundation, the Denison University Research Foundation, and the Office of the Provost at Denison University
 
( 55 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Large P body-like RNPs form in C. elegans oocytes in response to arrested ovulation, heat shock, osmotic stress, and anoxia and are regulated by the major sperm protein pathway
Journal Dev Biol, 2008;318:38-51, Jud MC, Czerwinski MJ, Wood MP, Young RA, Gallo CM, Bickel JS, Petty EL, Mason JM, Little BA, Padilla PA, Schisa JA
Description This study used Caenorhabditis elegans to characterize changes that occur in eggs as animals age. Similarities were found between the large granules of RNA and RNA-binding proteins (RNPs) that form in aging eggs and two well-characterized RNPs, stress granules and P bodies. Three environmental stresses were sufficient to induce formation of large RNPs in eggs of young animals indicating novel commonalities between the cellular responses to stress and aging in eggs
Faculty Jennifer Schisa is an associate professor of biology at Central Michigan University
Student Megan Wood, Rachel Young, Emily Petty, and Jennifer Mason worked on the research as part of their undergraduate, independent research projects in their senior years. Megan is currently employed; Rachel is in medical school at Michigan State University; Emily and Jennifer are 3rd and 4th year graduate students in the Program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Michigan. Molly Jud, Mike Czerwinski, and Jeremy Bickel worked on the research as CMU masters students
Fund Funding for this project was provided by a CUR summer fellowship to support E. Petty and an AREA grant from NIH
 
( 56 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Precision of the XCT 3000 and comparison of densitometric measurements in distal radius scans between XCT 3000 and XCT 2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanners
Journal J Clin Densitom, Published Online: Aug 18, 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2008.06.002, Koenig C, Wey H, Binkley T
Description Researchers conducting longitudinal studies face challenges as technology evolves and data collection equipment is upgraded from older to newer models. In this study, we report precision error and associations from correlation, regression equations, and Bland-Altman plots that compare results of radius images from the XCT 2000 and XCT 3000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography densitometers. The bone parameter precision error coefficients of variation (CV) from duplicate scans for the XCT 3000 ranged from 0.8-2.7 % for cortical bone measures and 1.3-7.5% for trabecular bone measures. There were strong associations between bone parameter measures from the XCT 3000 and XCT 2000 that allow for the comparison of results with minor adjustments
Faculty Drs. Teresa Binkley and Howard Wey conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University
Student Cory Koenig, a senior pre-med biology major, graduated from South Dakota State University in May, 2008 and completed the research to fulfill his senior biology seminar requirement. Cory plans to attend the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa in August, 2008
Fund The research was supported by the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition.
 
( 57 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Increased Chlorophyll a, phytoplankton abundance, and cyanobacteria occurrence following invasion of Green Bay, Lake Michigan by dreissenid mussels
Journal Aquat Inv, 2008;3:21-27, De Stasio, BT, Schrimpf MB, Beranek AE, Daniels WC
Description We re-visited established sampling locations in Green Bay, Lake Michigan during four years after the invasion of the bay by zebra mussels. We measured water quality parameters (water clarity and algae community composition and dynamics) at five stations along a previously documented trophic gradient. Our data support the continued existence of a strong trophic gradient between lower and middle bay areas of Green Bay. Following invasion water clarity did not improve and algal populations increased. Along with these increases in abundance there was a significant shift to higher and more frequent dominance of the phytoplankton community by nuisance algae
Faculty Bart De Stasio is associate professor of biology
Student Michael Schrimpf, Ashley Beranek and Will Daniels, all senior biology majors, participated in the research during the summer, then received independent study credit and completed senior honors theses. Will Daniels is employed and in the process of applying to graduate schools. Michael Schrimpf and Ashley Beranek were both employed as research technicians during part of this work. Michael is now in a doctoral program at the University of Washington and Ashley is attending graduate school at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
Fund The research was supported by funding from the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, a Franklin Grant from the American Philosophical Society, and the Excellence in Science Fund from Lawrence University
 
( 58 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Observations of cavity-roosting behavior in Costa Rican Lophostoma brasiliense (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
Journal Mamm Biol, 2008;73:230–232, York HA, Foster PF, Jones MF, Schwarz WH, Vezeau AL, Zerwekh MS
Description This study, which reports the observation of Brazilian round-eared bats roosting in an active termite nest in lowland rainforest in Costa Rica, represents only the fourth known report of this behavior in this species and is the first to provide details of its roosting behavior. The current study confirms the presence of both males and females in the roost and the recovery of the roost cavity by termites after bat vacancy, indicating a harem mating system in this bat species, with regular maintenance of the roost by the bats
Faculty
Student Matthew Jones, Walter Schwarz, Anne Vezeau, and Michael Zerwekh conducted this study while participating in a Neotropical Bat Ecology course offered in 2006 at the Bijagual Ecological Reserve by the Office of Study Abroad at the University of Kansas (KU). Matt graduated with a degree in Biology from KU and holds a zookeeping position at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. Walter is a computer systems administrator at the University of Nebraska and is a hobby beekeeper. Anne recently graduated from KU with honors in Biology, is finishing her degree in Spanish, is conducting behavioral research on Drosophila, works in a pediatric pulmonary lab, and is applying to medical schools. Mike graduated with a degree in Biology from KU and is a herpetology field technician in Riverside County, California.
Fund Funded in part by International Programs at KU
 
( 59 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title The small molecule 2-furylacrylic acid inhibits auxin-mediated responses in Arabidopsis thaliana
Journal Plant Cell Physiol, 2007;48:1693-1701, Sungur C, Miller S, Bergholz J, Hoye RC, Brisbois RG, Overvoorde PJ
Description Auxins are a class of plant hormones involved in a wide array of growth and developmental processes. Large-scale, chemical genetic screens for small molecules that block auxin responses have been described by others. Here we report the synthesis and detailed testing of compound A and its derivatives on several molecular and physiological responses mediated by auxin. Based on our structure-function analysis we conclude that 2-furylacrylic acid is liberated from the parent molecule and is the active component that inhibits auxin signaling
Faculty Paul Overvoorde is an associate professor of biology, Rebecca Hoye is an associate professor of chemistry, and Ron Brisbois is a professor of chemistry
Student Can Sungur, Sarah Miller, and Johann Bergholtz, all biology majors, performed this work during the summer and their senior academic year. Can has begun a MD/PhD program at U. California at Davis, Sarah is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry Program at Harvard University, and Johann is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry Program at Boston College
Fund The research was supported by funds from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Merck Institute for Science Education, and the National Science Foundation
 
( 60 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Purification and characterization of enterocin 62-6, a two peptide bacteriocin produced by a vaginal strain of Enterococcus faecium: Potential significance in bacterial vaginosis
Journal Microb Ecol Health Dis, 2007;19:241-250, DeZwaan DC, Mequio MJ, Littell J, Allen J, Rossbach S, Pybus V
Description This paper reports the first characterization of a class IIc bacteriocin (enterocin 62-6) from a strain of Enterococcus faecium of vaginal origin and its potential significance for the establishment of the abnormal microflora associated with the vaginal syndrome bacterial vaginosis
Faculty Vivien Pybus is an Associate Professor of Biology
Student Diane DeZwaan and Mike Mequio, both biology majors, undertook this research for their senior theses and Julia, a mathematics major, undertook it as an independent study. Diane is currently pursuing a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Mike has an MD from Wayne State Medical School and Julia is studying veterinary medicine at Cornell University. The molecular characterization studies were undertaken in collaboration with Professor Silvia Rossbach and graduate student Jonathan Allen at Western Michigan University
Fund This research was supported by an R15 grant awarded to VP from the National Institute’s of Health, AI054402, and by a grant from the M.W. Keck Foundation. Mike Mequio and Diane DeZwaan were supported by fellowships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Heyl Scholars Fund, respectively, through Kalamazoo College
 
( 61 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Methods for measurement of pediatric bone
Journal Rev Endocr Metab Disord, 2008;9:95-106, Binkley TL, Berry R, Specker BL
Description The purpose of this review was to describe changes in bone with growth, to define “bone density” in biological terms and to discuss some of the issues with pediatric bone measurements. The advantages and disadvantages of the three main methods for assessing bone parameters in pediatric populations were discussed. These methods include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
Faculty Drs. Teresa Binkley and Bonny Specker conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University. Dr. Binkley is an Assistant Professor and Dr. Specker is the Director and Endowed Chair for the Program
Student Ryan Berry, a pre-med biology major, participated in the research to fulfill his senior biology seminar requirement. Ryan will complete his degree at South Dakota State University in May, 2009 and plans to attend medical school
Fund The research was supported by the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition
 
( 62 )   Recorded at: 1/5/2009      
Title Evolutionary physiology: the extent of C4 and CAM photosynthesis in the genera Anacampseros and Grahamia of the Portulacaceae
Journal J Exp Bot, 2008;59:1735-1742, Guralnick LJ, Cline A, Smith M, Sage R
Description The Portulacaceae is one of four plant families known to have both C4 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species and reports published in the literature have stated that in addition to the genus Portulaca, the genera Anacampseros and Grahamia contain C4 photosynthetic species. Our results indicate that these genera do not utilize the C4 photosynthetic pathway and this is the first report to identify Grahamia species as facultative CAM plants. This study supports previous physiological work indicating that the clade containing Anacampseros and Grahamia species have predominantly facultative CAM species. This report suggests there may be only one clade within the Portulacaceae that contain C4 photosynthetic members with CAM-like characteristics
Faculty Lonnie Guralnick and Rowan Sage are Professors of Biology at Roger Williams University and the University of Toronto respectively
Student Amanda was a senior biology major at Western Oregon University who participated for independent research credit. Amanda has been accepted to the University of Nevada, Reno Ph.D. graduate program in Biochemistry. Monica Smith was a former undergraduate research student at Western who performed this work while completing her MS in Botany at Washington State University
Fund The research was supported by a Cummins Math-Science Western Foundation scholarship to Amanda and the WOU Provost fund to Lonnie. This work was also supported by an NSF-ROA award to Lonnie and Dr John Cushman, University of Nevada, Reno.
 
( 63 )   Recorded at: 12/29/2008      
Title Effect of UVA Fluence Rate on Indicators of Oxidative Stress in Human Dermal Fibroblasts
Journal International Journal of Biological Sciences, 2008;4:63-70, Hoerter JD, Ward CS, Bale KD, Gizachew AN, Graham R, Reynolds J, Ward ME, Choi C, Kagabo J-L, Sauer M, Kuipers T, Hotchkiss T, Banne N, Chellson RA, Ohaeri T, Gant L, Vanderhill L
Description The biological response to a given dose of UVA/UVB radiation is affected by the intensity at which the UVA dose is delivered. Higher UVA radiation intensity of a tanning bed increases the level of four indicators of oxidative compared over that found after solar radiation with a lower UVA intensity. Our results underscore the important role of UVA radiation intensity on how human fibroblasts respond to a given dose UVA/UVB radiation
Faculty
Student
 
( 64 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Nest abandonment as a potential anti-parasite adaptation in the Red-winged Blackbird
Journal Passenger Pigeon, 2007;69:481-489, Yasukawa K, Werner W
Description We examined female Red-winged Blackbird responses to Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism by artificially parasitizing nests with either a fresh cowbird egg or a fresh redwing egg and by examining nest records. We found that female Red-winged Blackbirds were most likely to abandon nests that were parasitized before egg laying began. Nest abandonment by female Red-winged Blackbirds prior to laying seems to be a response to disturbance at the nest site rather than an evolved anti-parasite strategy
Faculty Ken Yasukawa is professor of biology
Student Will Werner, an Environmental Biology major, participated in the research with support from the Sanger Scholars Program at Beloit College. Will is currently a senior at Beloit College
 
( 65 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Occurrence of Conchophthirus acuminatus (Protista: Ciliophora) in Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca: Bivalvia) along the River Shannon, Ireland
Journal Biol. Invasions, 2008;10:149-156, Conn DB, Simpson SE, Minchin D, Lucy FE
Description Adults of the European zebra mussel, which invaded Ireland in the mid 1990s, was shown to be infected with an obligate commensalist ciliate at 7 of 8 sites along Ireland’s primary navigational river. The presence of this symbiont in Irish mussels, compared with its absence from mussels in North America, confirms that Ireland was invaded by adults, whereas North America was invaded by planktonic veliger larvae, which the ciliates cannot infect
Faculty Bruce Conn is professor of biology and dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
Student Sarah Simpson, a senior biology major, participated in this project at Berry following a study-abroad semester at the Univeristy of Limerick in Ireland on the Shannon River. Sarah is completing the Master of International Health degree at Curtin University in Australia.
 
( 66 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) as a nectar plant for butterflies
Journal J. Lep. Soc, 2007;61:222-227, VanOverbeke DR, Kleintjes Neff P, Fettig SM
Description We quantified the use (e.g., species visitation rates, nectar carbohydrate content) of Potentilla fruticosa flowers by adult butterflies in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. We observed butterflies (10 species) nectaring 56% of total observation time on P. fruticosa, where the plant composed 26% of total blooming forb availability. We also found significantly more carbohydrates (nectar) in flowers excluded (26.83+1.35 µg/2ml) than available (6.71+1.40 µg/2ml) to nectivores. Our results suggest P. fruticosa is an important nectar resource for adult butterflies in the arid montane meadows of northern New Mex
Faculty Paula Kleintjes Neff is a professor of biology at UW-EC and CUR Councilor. Stephen Fettig is a wildlife biologist at Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, NM
Student Dustin VanOverbeke completed this project as an independent study as a UW-Eau Claire undergraduate and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Entomology at UC- Riverside
Fund The project was funded by grants from the Council for Undergraduate Research Summer Research Opportunity Fund, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and the National Park Service-Bandelier National Monument.
 
( 67 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title An assessment of leech parasitism on semi-aquatic turtles in the western Piedmont of North Carolina
Journal Southeastern Naturalist, 2007;6:191-202, McCoy JC, Failey EL, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description This investigation assessed the occurrence of leeches on semi-aquatic turtles in the North Carolina Piedmont. Placobdella parasitica (smooth turtle leech) was the only parasitic leech found on turtles and was present on turtles from all ponds. Female Painted Turtles were more frequently parasitized than males, possibly because they are larger and provide more surface for leech attachment, yet Snapping Turtles had the highest leech load, which we attributed to its large size and bottom-dwelling habits
Faculty Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Clint McCoy and Betsy Failey developed this study as a summer research project between their junior and senior years at Davidson College. Clint is a second-year Masters student in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Auburn University, and Betsy is currently applying to PhD programs in Environmental Science and Policy
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M.E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
 
( 68 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Spatial and thermal ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a South Carolina salt marsh
Journal Journal of North Carolina Academy of Science, 2007;123:154-162, Harden LA, DiLuzio NA, Gibbons JW, Dorcas ME
Description This investigation was initiated to better understand the ecology of terrapins within a tidal creek ecosystem. Results showed that terrapins spent more time in the marsh (Spartina sp., mud, and occasional shallow water) than in open water of the creek channel. Terrapins remained within the same tidal creek system and moved a mean total distance of 750 m with individual total distances moved ranging from 440 to 1,159 m. Carapace temperatures of two male terrapins varied from 16.0 to 41.0°C.
Faculty J. Whit Gibbons is a professor at University of Georgia and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Leigh Anne Harden and Nick DiLuzio, a senior and junior, respectively, conducted this investigation during a week-long stay at Kiawah Island, SC. Leigh Anne Harden is currently beginning graduate school at University of North Carolina-Wilmington and Nick DiLuzio is a senior at Davidson College
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M. E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
 
( 69 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Ecology of turtles inhabiting golf course and farm ponds in the western Piedmont of North Carolina
Journal Journal of North Carolina Academy of Science, 2007;123:221-232, Failey EL, McCoy JC, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description This study compared turtle ecology in five golf course and five farm ponds was conducted in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Relative species abundances, size distributions for each sex and sex ratios were not distinguishable between the two pond types, yet characteristics of the surrounding landscape influenced turtle distributions. In the western Piedmont of North Carolina, both farm and golf course ponds can provide habitat for several species of semi-aquatic turtles and for some species
Faculty Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Betsy Failey and Clint McCoy developed this study as a summer research project between their junior and senior years at Davidson College. Betsy is currently applying to PhD programs in Environmental Science and Policy and Clint is a second-year Masters student in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Auburn University
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M. E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
 
( 70 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title The diet of larval red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) examined using a non-lethal technique
Journal Journal of Herpetology, 2007;41:741-745, Cecala KK, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description This study was conducted using larval Red Salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) to examine factors affecting feeding rates and diet. We also tested whether nonlethal stomach flushing is an effective technique for examining the diet of larval salamanders. Feeding rates were negatively correlated with stream water temperature, and larger larvae consumed a wider diversity of prey items than smaller individuals. Our results also suggest that nonlethal stomach flushing did not affect survivorship.
Faculty Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Kristen Cecala developed this project as an independent study at between her junior and senior years at Davidson College. Kristen is currently a PhD student at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, a Grant in Aid-of-Research from the National Academy of Sciences, administered by Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society; a Yarbrough Research Grant administered by the Collegiate Academy, North Carolina Academy of Science; Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326) to M. E. Dorcas
 
( 71 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Physiological and behavioral control of heating and cooling rates in rubber boas
Journal Charina bottae. Journal of Thermal Biology, 2008;33:7-11, Zhang Y, Westfall MC, Hermes KC, Dorcas ME
Description This investigation examined the ability of rubber boas (Charina bottae) to physiologically and behaviorally control their heating and cooling rates In both unconstrained and constrained treatments, heating rates were faster than cooling rates, suggesting that rubber boas can physiologically slow their cooling rates and/or accelerate their heating rates. These findings provide a greater understanding of physiological thermoregulation in rubber boas and insight into mechanisms of reptilian thermoregulation
Faculty Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Ying Zhang, M.Caitlin Westfall and Kathleen Hermes developed this research as part of a class project for Comparative Physiology during their senior year at Davidson College. Ying is currently enrolled in graduate school at Eastern Carolina University.
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326) to M. E. Dorcas and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
 
( 72 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Effects of relocation on movements and home ranges of eastern box turtles
Journal Journal of Wildlife Management, 2008;72:772-777, Hester JM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description This study examined the effects of relocation on eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) by comparing home ranges and movement patterns of 10 resident and 10 relocated box turtles. Home ranges of relocated turtles were much larger than resident turtles. Five relocated turtles experienced mortality or disappearance compared to no mortality or disappearance of resident turtles. Our results raise questions about the success of relocation as a management strategy for eastern box turtles.
Faculty Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
Student Joy M. Hester developed this research as part of an independent study during her senior year at Davidson College. Dorcas. Joy is currently enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Colorado State University
Fund This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326 and an REU Supplement) to M.E
 
( 73 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Dynamics of jack pine at the southern range boundary in downeast Maine
Journal Can. J. For. Res, 2008;38:733-743, Barton AM, Grenier DJ
Description Using age structure and historical aerial photographs, this study examined the 20th century dynamics of jack pine, a boreal tree species at its range boundary on Great Wass Island, Maine. Despite no evidence of widespread fire, populations of this usually fire dependent species exhibited self-perpetuating populations on upland outcrops and in bogs, apparently because of little competition from other species on these unfavorable sites. Both age and photographic data suggest further that jack pine has recently invaded the island’s coastal plateau bogs, rare habitats with high conservation value
Faculty Andrew Barton is a professor of biology
Student Daniel Grenier, a biology major, participated as a research assistant and then collaborated for his senior thesis on all phases of the study over two years. Dan is now Land Steward for The Nature Conservancy in Maine
Fund The research was supported by grants from The Nature Conservancy in Maine, University of Maine System, and the University of Maine at Farmington
 
( 74 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Patterns of fish diversity in a mainstem Missouri River reservoir and associated delta
Journal River Research and Applications, 2007;23:786-791, Kaemingk MA, Graeb BDS, Hoagstrom CW, Willis DW
Description Expanding deltas on many Missouri River mainstem reservoirs provide diverse aquatic habitat that is somewhat similar to the historic Missouri River. We found that both fish species richness and species diversity was higher in a delta than in the associated reservoir. These results suggest that newly forming deltas have the potential to protect and restore fish species diversity, similar to remnant riverine habitats
Faculty
Student Mark Kaemingk undertook this independent study while employed as a research technician at South Dakota State University during the summer of 2005. He presented his results at both the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Dakota Chapter, American Fisheries Society, and the 67th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in 2006. Mr. Kaemingk is currently enrolled in the M.S. program in aquatic biology at Central Michigan University
Fund The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks provided funding through Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-15-R, Study 1599
 
( 75 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title Real-time PCR assays of single-nucleotide polymorphisms defining the major Brucella clades
Journal Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2008;46:296-301, Foster JT, Okinaka RT, Svensson R, Shaw K, De BK, Robison RA, Probert WS, Kenefic LJ, Brown WD, Keim P
Description The study used highly specific genetic markers to accurately distinguish among seven species of Brucella, a bacterium that affects livestock, wildlife, and humans globally. We were able to identify all species with minute amounts of DNA, often as few as 1-3 copies. This work will be valuable to clinicians and laboratory workers in identifying the most common zoonotic infection worldwide
Faculty Paul Keim is a Regents Professor of Microbiology at the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics
Student Will Brown is a senior biology major and participated in the study for independent study credit in 2007. Will continues to conduct research in the lab as an undergraduate researcher and is anticipating entering graduate school next fall
Fund The work was funded by an HSARPA grant from the US Department of Homeland Security awarded to Keim
 
( 76 )   Recorded at: 12/22/2008      
Title . Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and expression of a cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein 1 homolog during the early response of maize pulvini to gravistimulation.
Journal Plant Cell Environ, 2008;31:144-158, Clore AM, Doore SM, Tinnirello SMN
Description The maize stem pulvinus is a region of tissue found apical to each node that functions to return tipped (i.e., gravistimulated) stems to a more upright position via differential cell elongation on its lower side. In the present study, changes in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in the expression of a cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein 1 homolog were documented during the early part of the gravity response. Asymmetric application of hydrogen peroxide and the ROS scavenger, ascorbic acid, further implicated a role for ROS in the pathway leading from graviperception to changes in growth. Although more is known about cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein1 homologs in mammalian systems than in plants, evidence is accumulating that the protein plays a role in redox sensing. Collectively, the results point to a role for ROS during the gravity response, and we hypothesize that asymmetries in ROS are generated soon after reorientation and play a role in directing asymmetric growth
Faculty Amy Clore is an associate professor of biology
Student Stella Tinnirello and Sarah Doore worked on the project in succession for their biology senior theses spanning the years 2004 through 2007. Both are currently employed and in the process of applying to graduate programs
Fund Funded by NASA NSCORT grant NAGW-4984. Majority of the work was funded by the New College of Florida Foundation, Alumni Association (including a Matthew Wahl Memorial Student Grant awarded to SMNT), and the Division of Natural Sciences
 
( 77 )   Recorded at: 12/16/2008      
Title Stroma-forming endophyte Epichloe glyceriae provides wound-inducible herbivore resistance to its grass host
Journal Oikos, 2008;117:629-633, Gonthier DJ, Sullivan TJ, Brown KL, Wurtzel B, Lawal R, VanderOever K, Buchan Z, Bultman TL
Description Fungal endophyte-grass associations are diverse and complex. We asked if wound-inducible resistance like that in asexual endophytes also occurs in the ancestral, sexually reproducing Epichloë glyceriae, which infects the grass Glyceria striata. Host grasses were damaged by fall armyworm caterpillars, artificially cut, or left undamaged. An aphid bioassay tested the plant’s toxicity to herbivores. Expression of lolc (a gene in the loline biosynthesis pathway) was quantified using real-time RT-PCR and loline concentration was quantified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Artificially-damaged plants supported fewer live aphids, had greater lolc mRNA expression, and greater loline concentration than undamaged plants. Our study is the first to demonstrate sexual endophytes can produce lolines following wounding.
Faculty Tom Bultman (professor of biology) and T. J. Sullivan (post-doctoral associate) are members of the Biology Department.
Student David Gonthier (senior biology major), Benjamin Wurtzel (senior chemistry major), Rasheed Lawal (sophomore chemistry major), and Zachery Buchan (junior chemistry major) were all undergraduates who conducted summer research. David is currently in Honduras working on a coffee plantation and will be attending graduate school in the fall at the Univeristy of Toledo. Zachary Buchan is currently working on his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Michigan State University. Benjamin Wurtzel is currently in dental school. Kenneth VanderOever is working in Kalamazoo, MI as an analytical chemistry.
Fund research supported through a NSF-CRUI award to TLB
 
( 78 )   Recorded at: 12/16/2008      
Title An in silico analysis of cytochrome c from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: its amino acid sequence and characterization of gene structural elements
Journal Silico Biology, 2007;8(0001) http://www.bioinfo.de/isb/2007/08/0001/main.html, Bumpus JA, Trax M, Reisdorph A, Boyd C, Gilbert D, Techau S, Ventullo RM
Description An in silico approach was used to investigate cytochrome c and the cytochrome c gene of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Selected aspects of the molecular architecture of cytochrome c and regulatory control elements of the P. chrysosporium cytochrome c gene were analyzed and compared to those present in other fungi and to those present in genes for lignin peroxidases and cytochromes P-450, two important families of hemeproteins produced by this fungus
Faculty John A. Bumpus is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Northern Iowa. Marc Trax is a Lecturer and Roy M. Ventullo is a Professor, both in the Biology Department at Wartburg College. Cindi Boyd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Math and Science at Hawkeye Community College
Student Sara Techau was a 2nd-year student at Wartburg College. Damien Gilbert started this project as a 2nd-year student at Hawkeye Community College. Ashley Reisdorph was a high school senior. Sara Techau is currently in the Physician Assistant program at the University of Iowa, Ashley Reisdorph is attending South Dakota State University and is planning to pursue a career in Pharmacy. Damien Gilbert is a 2007 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa
Fund This research was supported by a NSF URC planning grant, CHE-0417964, "A Midwestern Undergraduate Research Center-Bringing Research to the Student", a Wartburg College Undergraduate Research Fellowship awarded to Sara Techau, and a UNI Upward Bound Math & Science Program grant to Ashley Reisdorph
 
( 79 )   Recorded at: 12/11/2008      
Title Clearance of Vibrio campbellii injected into the hemolymph of Callinectes sapidus, the Atlantic blue crab: the effects of prior exposure to bacteria and environmental hypoxia.
Journal Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 2008;doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2008.02.009, Macey BM, Rathburn CK, Thibodeaux LK, Burnett LE, Burnett KG
Description The results of this study showed that crustaceans, such as the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, can eliminate disease-causing bacteria from their tissues more rapidly if the animals have been exposed previously to a sublethal dose of that same bacterial pathogen. The mechanisms responsible for this immunological “memory” are short lived, lasting less than 24 hours, and appear to be sensitive to the levels of low dissolved oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations that occur in estuarine waters. Thus, constant exposure to bacteria in their natural environment may enhance the resistance of marine crustaceans to infectious disease. This disease resistance may be impaired by poor water quality
Faculty Lou Burnett is a professor of biology and Karen Burnett is a research associate in the same department
Student Kolo Rathburn participated in this study as part of the Fort Johnson Undergraduate Summer Research Program. Kolo is currently a graduate student in the Graduate Program in Marine Biology at the College of Charleston
Fund funding from the National Science Foundation REU Program and the Department of Defense ASSURE Program
 
( 80 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Intrinsic, inter-specific competition between egg, egg-larval, and larval parasitoids of plusiine loopers
Journal Ecol Entomol, 2007;32:221–228, Yamamoto D, Henderson R, Corley LS, Iwabuchi K.
Description Three wasp species with overlapping host ranges were used to experimentally examine parasitoid – parasitoid interactions. Differences between the species in their competition with larval parasitoids were clearly evident, including changes between soldier to reproductive larvae when exposed to specific parasitoids
Faculty Laura Corley is an assistant professor in entomology at Washington State University, and supervised the experimental studies of Ruth Henders
Student Ruth Henderson, an undergraduate student at Washington State University’s Honors College in 2005
Fund The undergraduate work was supported through the WSU Center for Integrated Biotechnology Summer Fellowship program
 
( 81 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Population genetic effects of urban habitat fragmentation in the perennial herb Viola pubescens (Violaceae) using ISSR markers
Journal Ann Bot, 2007;100:91-100, Culley TM, Sbita SJ, Wick A
Description This study examined the genetic effects of habitat fragmentation in plant populations growing in urban areas. DNA-based molecular markers revealed that populations of the yellow violet (Viola pubescens) within Cincinnati, Ohio retained high levels of genetic variation with relatively few genetic differences among populations. Thus urban fragmentation does not appear to impede gene flow in this species, which may reflect its reproductive system of producing both outcrossed and automatically self-pollinated flowers
Faculty Theresa Culley is an assistant professor of plant biology
Student Anne Wick was a senior biology major (2003-2004) and Sara Sbita was a senior psychology major (2004-2005), both participating in the undergraduate research program offered by the Department of Biological Sciences. Anne is currently enrolled in the graduate program at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Miami University and Sarah is enrolled in Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Fund This research was supported by set-up funds from the University of Cincinnati, awarded to Theresa Culley
 
( 82 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Parasympathetic control of the pupillary light response in the red-eared slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans).
Journal Vet Ophthalmol, 2007;10:106-110, Dearworth JR, Cooper LJ, McGee C
Description The present study investigated effects of different cholinergic antagonists on the pupil of turtles to determine if responses to light are controlled by parasympathetic innervations acting on the iris. Vercuronium bromide, nicotinic antagonist, dilated pupils 28%; atropine, muscarinic antagonist, had no effect on pupil size. The results suggest that cholinergic receptors of the sphincter pupillae in turtles are more similar to birds and not to mammals as once thought
Faculty James Dearworth is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Neuroscience Program
Student Caitlin McGee ‘05, biology major, participated in the research for independent study credit. Lori Cooper ‘07, neuroscience major, participated in the research during the summer 2005. After graduating, Caitlin became Assistant Project Manager at TTI Environmental, Inc., a small private environmental consulting company. Lori accepted a postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) at the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/NIAAA) where she is investigating the efficacy of gene therapy on treating XP neurological disease. She is applying to neuroscience graduate programs
Fund She was funded by the Nalven Memorial Research Fellowship, which was awarded to her by the Department of Biology.
 
( 83 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Role of maternal provisioning in controlling interpopulation variation in hatching size in the marine snail Nucella ostrina
Journal Biol Bull, 2007;213:316–324, Lloyd MJ, Gosselin LA
Description Animal populations often differ in the average size of their offspring, but the mechanisms responsible for these difference are not well understood. This study of the marine snail Nucellaostrina examined the role of maternal allocation of nurse eggs and fertilized eggs to egg capsules in controlling interpopulation variation in offspring size among nine isolated populations. The study revealed that most of the differences among populations in offspring size are due to differences in the number of nurse eggs allocated per egg capsule by the moth
Faculty Louis Gosselin is an associate professor of biological sciences
Student Michelle Lloyd was a senior biological sciences undergraduate student at the time of her involvement in this project (2004-2005). Michelle carried out all the field and laboratory work and was the lead author of the paper. Michelle is employed as a biology instructor at the Bamfield Marine Research Centre and has applied to begin a graduate program next fall
Fund This was an independent research project supported by an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) awarded to Michelle by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC) of Canada, and the project was also supported by an NSERC Discovery research grant awarded to Louis Gosselin
 
( 84 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Synanthropic flies as vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia among livestock and wildlife in a multispecies agricultural complex
Journal Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis., 2007;7:643-652, Conn DB, Weaver J, Tamang L, Graczyk TK
Description The capacity of synanthropic flies to serve as mechanical vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, pathogens of humans and other vertebrates, was studied using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) techniques. All three fly families studied were shown to be competent vectors among beef cattle, dairy cattle, horse, sheep, and wildlife populations in a 10-km-radius area of Berry College’s 26,000-acre laboratory.
Faculty Bruce Conn is professor of biology and dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Student Jennifer Weaver, a junior biology major, participated in this project as a student researcher. . Jennifer is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental management at Duke University
Fund The research was funded by an NSF-REU grant (DEB0354017), with additional support from the Johns Hopkins NIEHS Center in Urban Environmental Health.
 
( 85 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Intramolecular disulfide bond formation in the NEMO dimer requires Cys54 and Cys347
Journal Biochem Biophys Res Comm., 2008;367:103-10, Herscovitch M, Comb W, Ennis T, Coleman K, Yong S, Armstead B, Kalaitzidis D, Chandani S, Gilmore TD
Description This research describes a biochemical and molecular characterization of NEMO, a cellular protein involved in the NF-kB signaling pathway, which regulates key steps in immune responses and cellular growth. The human gene encoding the NEMO protein is also mutated in some inherited immunodeficiency diseases. This paper identifies certain amino acid residues as playing important roles in NEMO structure and function, and describes the first proposed model for the NEMO protein structure
Faculty Thomas Gilmore is professor of biology
Student William Comb (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology [BMB]) major; currently PhD student at the University of North Carolina), Tom Ennis (BMB major; applying to PhD programs), Kate Coleman (BMB major; now a research technician at Harvard Medical School), Sheila Yong (BMB major; PhD student Duke University) were undergraduates who performed part of their senior research on this project. Brinda Armstead was a summer NSF-REU undergraduate researcher currently a senior at Jackson State University
Fund This research was supported by a National Cancer Institute grant (TDG), Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grants (WC, TE, KC, SY), and an NSF-REU grant (BA).
 
( 86 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Experience-dependent plasticity in the mushroom bodies of the solitary bee Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae).
Journal Dev Neurobiol, 2008;68:73-82, Withers GS, Day NF, Talbot E, Dobson HEM, Wallace CS
Description This research tests hypotheses about how experience affects the organization of the insect brain, examining brain development in a solitary bee species,O. lignaria, as these bees become foragers. The volume of the mushroom bodies, a brain region thought to be involved in learning and memory, increases significantly as these bees become experienced foragers, similar to previous findings in the honey bee. This is the first study to test for such brain changes in a solitary insect, and these findings suggest at least some common brain mechanisms, e.g. neural plasticity in the mushroom bodies, occur in association with foraging behaviors and are independent of social regulation
Faculty Associate professors Ginger Withers and Christopher Wallace and professor Heidi Dobson of the Biology Department collaborated with undergraduates
Student Nancy Day, Biology ('05), and Emily Talbot, Bio/Environmental Studies ('05), who conducted this research as part of their senior theses. Nancy is currently a graduate student in the Neuroscience Program at the University of Minnesota, and Emily is attending nursing school
Fund This work was funded by an NSF CAREER award to Withers, and by support from the Keck Foundation to the Whitman College Biology Department.
 
( 87 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Stomatal response of swordfern to volcanogenic CO2 and SO2 from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii
Journal Geophys Res Lett, 2007;34:L15807, doi:10.1029/2007GL030320, Tanner LH, Smith DL, Allan A.
Description This study examined the effects of volcanogenic CO2 and SO2 on the frequency of leaf stomata in common swordfern. We found that stomatal index is lowest at sample sites where concentrations of both CO2 and SO2 or SO2 alone are much higher than background. Therefore, we propose that decreases in the stomatal index of fossil leaves may record transient atmospheric increases in both SO2 and CO2, such as may be caused by the large eruptions of flood basalts that are associated with major extinctions
Faculty Lawrence Tanner and David Smith are associate professors of Natural Systems Science
Student Amanda Allen participated in the study in 2005 for independent study credit. Amanda has since graduated with a degree in biology, is employed, and is applying to graduate programs
Fund The research was supported by a grant from the NSF Integrative Plant Biology program
 
( 88 )   Recorded at: 6/25/2008      
Title Altered levels of STAT1 and STAT3 influence the neuronal response to interferon gamma
Journal J Neuroimmunol, 2007;192:145-156, Rose RW, Vorobyeva AG, Skipworth JD, Nicolas E, Rall GF
Description As immune responses in the CNS are highly regulated, cell-specific differences in IFNg signaling may be integral in dictating the outcome of host cell responses. In comparing the IFNg-treated primary neurons to control MEF, we observed that neurons expressed decreased levels of signal transduction components and demonstrated distinct response kinetics to IFNg. These observations may reflect modifications in the IFNg negative feedback loop, which may provide a mechanism for the cell-specific heterogeneity of responses to IFNg. R.
Faculty Wesley Rose is an assistant professor of biology at Arcadia University
Student Anna Vorobyeva is an undergraduate biology major in her senior year at Arcadia University who participated in this project during the summer and into her senior year as her senior thesis project. Jason Skipworth is a laboratory technician at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Emmanuelle Nicolas is a Research Scientist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Glenn Rall is an associate member in the Viral Pathogenesis program at the Fox Chase Cancer Center
Fund The research was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health to RWR and GFR
 
( 89 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Beta-carotene protects sudan (IV) from photocatalytic oxidation in a micellar model system: Insight into the antioxidant properties of the golden Staphylococcus aureus
Journal World J Microb Biot, 2007;23:1305-1310, Coates CM, Caldwell W, Alberte RS, Barreto PD, Barreto JC
Description We investigated the mechanism for anti-oxidant resistance of the “golden staph aureus” (an important human pathogen) with a micellar model system. We co-located beta-carotene in the hydrophobic core of a CTAB micelle, which also contained an oxidizable sudan red target dye. The carotenoid was able to rescue the sudan red target from the reductive and oxidative species (ROS) generated by a titanium oxide photocatalyst and by a Fenton reaction; prolonged oxidation was needed to eventually destroy the sudan red target
Faculty Jose Barreto is a professor of chemistry, Cristina Coates is a post-doctoral fellow and Patricia Barreto is a research associate. Alberte was a professor of biotechnology and has moved on to employment in the private sector
Student During 2004- 2006 William Caldwell participated in this research as a senior biology student. Bill completed the work as part of his senior research project and won the overall student prize at the student research competition in 2005 (from over 250+ posters submitted). He has been accepted into a graduate nurse anesthetist program at FGCU
Fund The work was funded by DOD grant #N00173-06-1-G901.
 
( 90 )   Recorded at: 2/14/2008      
Title Spatial patterns of Juniperus virginiana and Lonicera maackii on a road cut in Kentucky, USA
Journal J Torrey Bot Soc, 2007;134:188-198, Castellano SM, Boyce RL
Description We investigated the spatial patterns of several woody species that colonize disturbed sites, including the native Juniperus virginiana and the exotic Lonicera maackii. Spatial patterns were quantified and compared with Ripley's K and the pair correlation function, which analyze the distribution of interplant distance at varying scales. J. virginiana was distributed randomly, while L. maackii was clustered while both J. virginiana and L. maackii were distributed independently of each other. Smaller L. maackii individuals clustered with larger ones, but this pattern was not seen in J. virginiana. L. maackii was found in areas of lower light than J. virginiana but there was only a weak indication of differences in soil depth means between these two species. The different physiological requirements and growth forms of the two species appear to explain the lack of interaction between them
Faculty Richard Boyce is an associate professor of biological
Student Steven Castellano initiated this research after his junior year and continued into his senior year. He is now a graduate student in the Botany Department at Miami University
Fund The research was supported by Northern Kentucky University and a CUR travel grant.
 
( 91 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Members of the Toll-like receptor family of innate immunity pattern-recognition receptors are abundant in the rat male reproductive tract
Journal Biol Reprod, 76:958-964, 2007, Palladino MA, Johnson TA, Gupta R, Chapman JL, Ojha P
Description Protection of spermatozoa from microbial and viral pathogens during gamete formation, transport, and storage in the male reproductive tract is an important aspect of reproductive physiology. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a large family of pathogen-recognition receptors that are essential for innate immunity. This work describes the identification and distribution of TLRs in the rat male reproductive tract and provides important insight into antimicrobial mechanisms for protecting spermatozoa and reproductive organs from pathogens
Faculty Michael A. Palladino is associate professor of biology
Student Theresa Johnson, Rajesh Gupta, Jessica Chapman and Prithi Ojha were undergraduate students involved in this research through the summer research course Research in Molecular Cell Physiology and Independent Study. Theresa and Rajesh are employed in industry. Jessica is a graduate student and Prithi is a medical student
 
( 92 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Activation and endocytic internalization of melanocortin 3 receptor in neuronal cells
Journal Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2007;1096:271-286, Wachira SJ, Guruswamy B, Uradu L, Hughes-Darden CA, Denaro FJ
Description Endocytosis is critically important to the regulation of cell surface density of receptors and ion channels. The regulation and trafficking of melanocortin 3 receptor in neuronal cells was investigated. Activated receptor is trafficked to the pericentriolar region and its translocation is accompanied by lysosomal degradation. This suggests that melanocortin receptors undergo activation dependent desensitization during their function
Faculty James Wachira, Cleo Hughes-Darden and Frank Denaro are associate professors of biology
Student Bindhu Guruswamy is enrolled in the Department of Biology for studies leading to a Masters of Science degree. Lawrence Uradu was an NIH/NIGMS/MARC-USTAR undergraduate research student in Wachira’s laboratory during his junior and senior years. He was recently admitted to medical school for studies leading to an MD degree
Fund The research was supported by grants from the NIH/NIGMS/MBRS-SCORE and NIH/NCRR/RCMI programs
 
( 93 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Development of an acyclovir implant for the long-term control of herpes simplex virus infection
Journal Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2007;30:428-435, Johnson TP, Frey R, Modugno M, Brennan TP, Margulies BJ
Description Human herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is treatable with oral doses of an antiviral agent such as aciclovir (ACV), a drug that has poor bioavailability. An alternative for delivering ACV would employ a long-lived subcutaneous implant that would allow for near zero-order drug delivery kinetics. This study aimed to develop an implant composed of a matrix of silicone and ACV that is capable of sustained long-term release of ACV. Release of ACV from the implants was not affected by temperature or pH, but was dependent upon surface area. More importantly, implants protected against in vitro infection, and HSV-1-infected SKH-1 mice from viral reactivation (n = 37; P = 0.0367) via ultraviolet light
Faculty Barry Margulies is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics Program and the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Student Robin Frey and Melissa Modugno were undergraduates in the Department of Biological Sciences. Both are now students at Virginia Tech, working on their DVMs
Fund this work was supported in part by undergraduate research grants to them by Towson University between 2005 and 2006, when both were doing research for credit for their bachelor's degrees
 
( 94 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Prevalence of melanocortin system transcripts in rat salt homeostasis endocrine tissues
Journal Cell Mol Biol, 2007;53:8-14, Wachira SJ, Temoney S, Ramlochansingh C, Hughes-Darden CA
Description The expression of genes with a possible role in the excretion or retention of sodium was examined in pituitary and adrenal glands by real time PCR. Consistent with known endocrine gland hierarchy, the proopiomelanocortin transcript was more abundant in pituitary tissues whereas expression of its receptor, melanocortin 2 receptor, was more abundant in adrenal tissues. Prohormone convertases and melanocortin 3 receptor transcripts were expressed at similar levels in both tissues. These studies suggest that melanocortins can be produced and act in an autocrine manner in these glands
Faculty James Wachira and Cleo Hughes-Darden are associate professors of biology and Shonanate Temoney was a research associate at the RCMI molecular and cell biology core laboratory
Student Carlana Ramlochansingh was an undergraduate research student in Wachira’s laboratory during her junior year and the following summer. She is currently a third year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology at Howard University College of Medicine
 
( 95 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title The impacts of forest management on the invertebrate communities associated with leaf packs of forested streams in New York State
Journal Freshwater Ecol, 2007;25:325-331, Myers L, Mihuc TB, Woodcock T
Description A comparison of stream leaf litter in logged and unlogged Adirondack Upland watersheds illustrates the importance of land use activities on forest litter composition and subsequent impacts on stream ecosystems. Litter composition and invertebrate communities varied between logged and unlogged systems with more palatable high quality leaf litter in logged systems. Results suggest that land use alteration may impact energy processing in stream systems in forested catchments
Faculty
Student Luke Myers completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Paul Smith's College in 2005. Luke is currently a graduate student at Colorado State University working on a survey of aquatic invertebrate biodiversity of Adirondack Streams. Tim Mihuc is coordinator of the Lake Champlain Research Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh and Tom Woodcock is a post-doctoral researcher at SUNY Plattsburgh
Fund The research was supported through an NSF C-RUI grant to SUNY Plattsburgh, Paul Smith's College, and SUNY Cortland
 
( 96 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title The role of light and oxygen in Chaoborus punctipennis (Insecta: Diptera) diel vertical migration
Journal J Freshwater Ecol, 2007;22:101-106, Stratton MA, Kesler DH
Description This research investigated the diel vertical migration of aquatic phantom midge larvae (Chaoborus punctipennis) in response to light intensity and dissolved oxygen concentration. Final larval instar average depth was significantly correlated with the critical oxygen threshold for fish (DO2=3.5 mg/L; R2=0.783, df=11, P<0.01) but not with maximum light penetration (R2=0.183, df=11, P>0.05), indicating that oxygen was the overriding stimulus governing C. punctipennis diel vertical migration seasonal changes and average daytime depth. This is the only field-based research looking simultaneously at the controlling influences of light and oxygen on Chaoborus diel vertical migration
Faculty David Kesler is a professor of biology
Student Mark Stratton conducted this independent research project in the summer after his junior year and continued it as a senior. He is currently employed as a marine fisheries technician for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and will be attending graduate in marine biology next fall
Fund This project was supported by Rhodes College Biology Department funds
 
( 97 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Restoration of Hawaiian montane wet forest: endemic longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae: Plagithmysus) in koa (Fabaceae: Acacia koa) plantations and in intact forest
Journal Southwest Nat, 2007;53:356-363, Goldsmith S, Gillespie H, Weatherby C
Description Reforestation of degraded lands in the tropics is one of the most important goals of ecological restoration. We used longhorned beetles (Plagithmysus claviger and P. varians) as indicator species to assess restoration of montane forest at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii, where plantations of Koa (Acacia koa) were established over the past 20 years. Density of beetles was greater in canopy trees than in planted trees and was greater in older plantations than in younger plantations. Mean basal diameter of branches in canopy trees was greater than in planted trees and was greater in older plantations than in younger plantations. Branch diameter had a positive effect on number of beetles per branch. Koa plantations promote recovery of plant and animal biological diversity in degraded habitats formerly occupied by montane forest
Faculty Steven Goldsmith is a professor of biology
Student Hayley Gillespie participated in this research during the summers of 2002 and 2003; Cole Weatherby joined the team in 2003. Gillespie is currently in the PhD program in Integrative Biology at the University of Texas, Austin. Weatherby is in the DO program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fund The research was funded by Austin College and the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust
 
( 98 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Genetic modifiers of Drosophila palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1-induced degeneration
Journal Genetics, 2007;176:209-220, Buff H, Smith AC, Korey CA
Description This genetic screen performed in Drosophila demonstrated a connection between palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (Ppt1) function and endocytic processes in the cell. Specifically, modifier genes identified in this screen tied Ppt1 to synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Ppt1 is the gene that is mutated in the neurodegenerative disease, infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. This screen, along with work in other model organisms, suggests that patients may have synaptic defects that contribute to the loss of neuronal cells in the brain
Faculty Christopher Korey is an assistant professor of biology
Student Haley Buff and Alexis Smith presented this work at the Society of Neuroscience meetings in 2005 and 2006. This work was completed during their junior and senior year and was submitted as Haley's Senior Honors thesis. Haley is currently a first year dental student at the Medical University of South Carolina. Alexis is currently a first year medical student at Midwestern University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Fund The work was supported by funds from a Biology Department Research Grant (CAK), a College of Charleston Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (CAK and ACS), a Support of Mentors and their Students in the Neurosciences grant from the NSF (DUE-0426266) (CAK and HB), and National Institutes of Health Grants R15-HD052362 and P20-RR16461
 
( 99 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Allometric analysis reveals relatively little variation in nitrogen versus biomass accrual in four plant species exposed to varying light, nutrients, water and CO2
Journal Plant Cell Environ, 2007;30:1216-1222, Bernacchi CJ, Thompson JT, Coleman JS, McConnaughay KDM
Description Altered rates of plant growth and development under varying resource availabilities were examined to determine their effects on changes in whole-plant N use efficiency (NUE). Study results show highly variable N accrual rates when expressed as a function of plant age or size, but similar patterns of whole-plant N vs. non-N biomass accrual over a wide range of environmental conditions. Physiological adjustments in NUE, expressed as N vs. biomass accrual, were limited to environments with severely limited or overabundant resources
Faculty Kelly McConnaughay is a professor of biology
Student Carl Bernacchi was involved in this project during his graduate studies at Bradley University, and is currently at the Illinois State Water Survey. Jim Coleman was involved in the research as a collaborator at Syracuse University, and is currently associate provost for research at Rice University. Jennifer Thompson participated in this research the summer after her junior year and then continued it as a senior thesis project. She is currently in her second year in the medical program at Washington University
Fund The research was supported through a NSF-RUI grant.
 
( 100 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title Methylation of histone H3 lysine-79 by Dot1p plays multiple roles in the response to UV damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Journal DNA Repair, 2007;6:383-395, Bostelman LJ, Keller AM, Albrecht AM, Arat A, Thompson JS
Description Methylation of lysine-79 in histone H3 was examined for its potential importance in the repair of DNA damage caused by UV radiation. It was observed that this post-translational modification plays multiple roles in DNA repair, potentially serving as regulator to coordinate various repair pathways
Faculty Jeffrey Thompson is an assistant professor of biology
Student Lindsey Bostelman, Andrew Keller, and Ashley Albrecht participated in this research during the summer after their respective junior years and as part of their senior honors projects. Bostelman and Keller are currently in medical school at The Ohio State University and The University of Cincinnati, respectively. Albrecht is currently in a post-baccalaureate program at The National Institutes of Health. Arzu Arat participated in this project during the summer after her freshman year. She is continuing her undergraduate studies in Turkey
Fund Funding was provided by the Anderson Endowment, the Fairchild Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Office of the Provost at Denison University
 
( 101 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2008      
Title One gland, two lobes: organogenesis of the "Harderian” and "nictitans” glands of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and fallow deer (Dama dama)
Journal Ann Anat, 2007;189:434-446, Rehorek SJ, Hillenius WJ, Sanjur J, Chapman NG
Description The precise nomenclature of the anterior orbital glands (which includes the Harderian and nictitans glands) has been problematic since its first official description in 1694 by Johann Jakob Harder. Since the two glands reside next to each other in the adult, the issue of homology (character similarity denoting common ancestry) is difficult to untwine. This is the first of several studies (some of which include undergraduate researchers) examining the embryogenesis of these glands in an effort to unravel the true identity of these anterior occular glands
Faculty Susan Rehorek is a professor of biology at Slippery Rock University. W. Jaap Hillenius is a professor of biology at the College of Charleston
Student Norma Chapman is an independent researcher in deer in the UK (not affiliated with any university). Janet Sanjur was a cytotechnology student at Slippery Rock University. She spent a semester working in the histology lab at SRU, thereby learning more about the field of histotechnology (many cytotechs also work as histotechs). She is currently a cytotech and is employed at a hospital
Fund This work was funded internally by the department of Biology at Slippery Rock University.
 
( 102 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Human lead exposure in a late 19th century mental asylum population.
Journal Sci Total Environ, 2007;372:463-473, Bower NW, McCants SA, Custodio JM, Ketterer ME, Getty SR, Hoffman JM
Description Lead levels and isotope ratios were analyzed in skeletons from an asylum cemetery in Colorado dating to 1879-1898. Healing fractures, cortical bone, and tooth dentine provided sources of lead exposure during life that gave life histories and migration patterns. Results indicated lead exposure impacted the mental health of a large number (5-10%) of the patients, and that differences exist in ancestral groups’ exposure histories
Faculty
Student Nate Bower (Colorado College), Mike Ketterer (Northern Arizona University), and Mike Hoffman (Colorado College) collaborated with Steve Getty (Biological Sciences Curriculum Studies, Colorado Springs), Joseph Custodio (graduate school, UCSF) and Sarah McCants (Teach for America). Joseph and Sarah did a summer of research in their junior years (1997 and 2004)
Fund Funded by faculty grants from Colorado College and the Barnes Trust, respectively
 
( 103 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Nutritional endoderm in a direct developing frog: a potential parallel to the evolution of the amniote egg
Journal Dev Dynam, 2007;236:1259-1272, Buchholz DR, Karadge U, Singamsetty S, Williamson S, Langer CE, Elinson RP
Description We define a new tissue type, the nutritional endoderm, which provides a possible evolutionary intermediate between frog and bird patterns of development. Nutritional endoderm is divided into cells as in frogs, but it is used up and disappears like bird yolk
Faculty Richard Elinson is a professor in biological sciences
Student Sean Williamson cloned a gene, important for the analysis, in the course of summer research after his sophomore and junior years and as a technician between his December graduation and his August entry to Temple Medical School
Fund The research was supported by the Duquesne Undergraduate Research Program (URP), an NSF grant, and an NSF-REU supplement
 
( 104 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Toward the automated generation of genome-scale metabolic networks in the SEED.
Journal BMC Bioinformatics, 2007;8(139)., DeJongh M, Formsma K, Boillot P, Gould J, Rycenga M, Best A
Description A method for generating metabolic networks for sequenced microbial genomes is described. This method is based on the subsystems technology for sequence annotation implemented in the SEED. A database of reusable components of metabolic networks is described, along with tools for assembling complete and coherent reaction networks from these components. The method is tested by successfully regenerating a published metabolic network for Staphylococcus aureus N315, and preliminary results for E. coli K12 are described. Matt DeJongh is a professor of computer science
Faculty Aaron Best is a professor of biology
Student Kevin Formsma and Paul Boillot participated in this research during the summer of 2006. They are both currently seniors. John Gould and Matt Rycenga participated in this research as part of an advanced course in bioinformatics in 2006. John is employed in industry and Matt is a graduate student in chemistry at the University of Washington
Fund This research was supported through a NSF REU grant, and a grant to Hope College from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Undergraduate Science Education Program
 
( 105 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Natural History of box turtles, Terrapene carolina, in an urbanized landscape
Journal Southeast Nat., 2006;5:191-204, Budischak SA, Hester JM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description To assess the effects of urbanization and to help develop proper conservation strategies for Terrapene c. carolina (Eastern Box Turtles), we conducted a mark-recapture study in the vicinity of Davidson, NC, from 1999 to 2004. We made 354 turtle captures, 42 of which were recapture events. We found that box turtles may persist in urbanized landscapes and may grow more quickly there, but they suffer higher mortality in these habitats compared to forested landscapes
Faculty Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology. Steven Price is research coordinator for the Herpetology lab
Student Sarah Budischak and Joy Hester conducted this research as independent study students during their senior years. Sarah is currently is enrolled in graduate school at Virginia Tech University. Joy Hester is enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University
Fund This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
 
( 106 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title A comparison of the effectiveness of recommended doses of MS-222 (Tricaine Methane Sulfonate) and Orajel ® (Benzocaine) for amphibian anesthesia
Journal Herpetol Rev, 2007; 38:63-66, Cecala KK, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
Description Tricaine methanesulfonate (Ethyl 3-aminobenzoic methanesulfonate salt), commonly known as MS-222, and Orajel®, a widely used analgesic for oral pain in humans, were examined for their effectiveness for amphibian anesthesia. We test four amphibian species and found that for most of the species, anesthetization using Orajel® required less time for induction and produced a longer anesthetization period with variable recovery periods than recommended doses of MS-222. Orajel® appears to be a relatively safe, quick, and convenient anesthesia for amphibians
Faculty Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology.
Student Steven Price is the research coordinator for the Herpetology Lab. Kristen Cecala participated in this research during her junior year as an independent study project and she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Georgia
Fund This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
 
( 107 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title The pesticide malathion disrupts Xenopus and zebrafish embryogenesis: An investigative laboratory exercise in developmental toxicology
Journal Bioscene, 2006;32:4-18, Chemotti DC, Davis SN, Cook LW, Willoughby IR, Paradise CJ, Lom B
Description The pesticide malathion has dramatic teratogenic effects on the development of non-target aquatic vertebrates. This research examined specific time windows of sensitivity in Xenopus embryos and describes how this pesticide can be used effectively as an investigative developmental toxicology undergraduate laboratory exercise
Faculty Barbara Lom and Chris Paradise are associate professors of biology.
Student Diana Chemotti, Sarah Davis, and Leslie Cook, contributed to this research via independent research, summer research, and/or senior honors theses while junior and/or seniors. Ian Willoughby, also a Davidson graduate, contributed as a research technician. Currently, Ms. Chemotti is a nurse; Ms. Davis is an MD/PhD student, Ms. Cook is a camp director and graduate student, and Mr. Willoughby is in pharmaceuticals.
Fund The research was supported by Davidson College, a National Science Foundation Course, Curriculum, & Laboratory Improvement Award (BL), an Associated Colleges of the South Environmental Student Engagement Award (DCC), a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid (LWC), and a Merck Foundation internship (SND).
 
( 108 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Do habitat size and shape modify abiotic factors and communities in artificial treeholes?
Journal Community Ecol, 2006;7:211-222, Harlan NP, Paradise CJ
Description The dimensions or size of a habitat may influence abiotic conditions, and this may modify community structure or biotic interactions. We manipulated depth and surface area of artificial habitats to determine the direct and indirect effects of habitat dimensions on dissolved oxygen concentration and insect communities in water-filled treeholes. Dissolved oxygen was lower in deep than shallow habitats, and mosquito densities and species richness were lower in deep mesocosms compared to shallow mesocosms. By modifying abiotic factors, dimensional aspects of a habitat, in this case depth, may affect community structure in ways not predicted simply by volume or area
Faculty Chris Paradise is associate professor of biology
Student Nicole Harlan performed this research from 2002-2003. She recently graduated with a Master's from the University of Maryland and will attend Emory Medical School
Fund The research was supported by Davidson College and a NSF-RUI grant
 
( 109 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title How much solute is needed to inhibit the fluid-gel membrane phase transition at low hydration?
Journal BBA – Biomembranes, 2007;1768:1019-1022, Lenné, T, Bryant G, Holcomb R, Koster KL
Description Sugars and other small solutes are known to influence phospholipid phase transitions such that the increase in the temperature of the fluid-gel transition during dehydration is diminished in the presence of sugars. In this paper, we present a quantitative study of this effect as a function of sugar:lipid ratio. We show that the maximum effect occurs at around 1.5 sugar rings per molecule for both mono- and di-saccharides. Furthermore, we present a theoretical model to explain these results, and discuss the assumptions inherent in the model
Faculty Karen Koster is a professor of biology at The University of South Dakota, and Gary Bryant is an associate professor of applied physics at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
Student Thomas Lenné is a doctoral student at RMIT University. Roland Holcomb conducted a significant portion of this research for his Honors Thesis during his junior and senior years at The University of South Dakota. Holcomb is currently serving with the US Army in Iraq and plans to enter medical school upon completion of his military service
 
( 110 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Composition and temporal change of the forest in 18th century Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Journal J Torrey Bot Soc., 2007;134:75-80, Sholes ODV, Hawkins DL
Description By the middle of the 19th century, nearly all of central Massachusetts was cut at least once and 80% deforested. When did deforestation begin? We recorded all the trees and other corner markers used in 18th century proprietors’ surveys of Shrewsbury, MA. From 1718-1799, the percentage of corner markers that were “trees” declined from 45% to 20%, and the relative abundance of white oak tended to decrease. This is the first analysis of survey records to include an analysis of change over time
Faculty O.D.V Sholes is an associate professor of biology
Student D.L Hawkins, who graduated in 2004, participated in this research as an independent study project during her senior year and is currently at Genzyme Corporation in Framingham, MA
Fund This research was done through the Department of Natural Sciences at Assumption College
 
( 111 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title An identification key to the rodent prey found in owl pellets: employing incisor size to distinguish among genera
Journal Am Biol Teach, Online Publication, November/December 2006:135-144. Available at: http://www.nabt.org/sites/S1/File/pdf/068-09-0024.pdf, Hager SB, Cosentino BJ
Description Owl pellet dissection is a common laboratory exercise in science classes. The contents of owl pellets include the bony tissue of mice and rats (rodents) and are used to address broad ecological issues related to owl biology, such as diet, prey distribution and abundance, food webs, and conservation. Traditional identification keys of rodent prey emphasize particular skull characteristics. We developed an identification key to the rodent prey in owl pellets for student use in science labs that 1) is specific to the northwestern and southeastern United States, two regions of the country from which owl pellets are collected for and sold to teaching laboratories by biological supply companies, 2) highlights a little known, yet interesting feature—incisor morphology—that can be used to identify rodent prey, 3) provides detailed illustrations of important cranial and mandibular features to augment rodent identification using incisor sizes, and 4) is inquiry-based
Faculty Steve Hager is Co-Chair and associate professor in the Department of Biology
Student Brad Cosentino, a 2004 graduate, worked on this project as an undergraduate from 2001-2004 and is currently a PhD student in the Program for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Fund This research was supported, in part, by a summer stipend from the Augustan Research Foundation, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
 
( 112 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Heterozygosity and fitness in a California population of the labyrinth spider Metepeira ventura (Araneae, Araneidae).
Journal Invertebrate Biology, 2007;126:67-73, Ramirez MG, Eiman SS, Wetkowski MM, Mooers MK, Alvarez MH, Mitchell KG, Ocampo LA, Olvera SV, McGran AS
Description The relationship between individual heterozygosity and characteristics likely to be associated with female fitness was investigated in the labyrinth spider Metepeira ventura. Individual females were heterozygous at up to two of three allozyme loci, forming three heterozygosity classes (0, 1, and 2). While the bodily condition of classes was comparable, the most heterozygous females produced fewer total eggs and eggs per sac than their less heterozygous peers. Since female M. ventura engage in a reproductive investment-number tradeoff, these results suggest that high-variability and low-variability females pursue distinct reproductive strategies in the wild, with more heterozygous females being K-selected (smaller clutches, heavier eggs) and more homozygous females being r-selected (larger clutches, lighter eggs).
Faculty Martin Ramirez is an associate professor of biology at Loyola Marymount and Allison McGran is an officer with the United States Air Force
Student Sarah Eiman and Melissa Wetkowski participated in this research the summer after their freshman year and then continued it during their sophomore year. Miranda Mooers, Michelle Alvarez, Kathleen Mitchell, Luningning Ocampo and Sylvia Olvera collected the spider sample and conducted preliminary genetic assays during their senior year. All the students are currently enrolled in professional schools in a variety of fields: dentistry (Michelle); law (Melissa); medicine (Kathleen, Luningning, Miranda, Sylvia); veterinary medicine (Sarah).
Fund Financial support was provided by Loyola Marymount University (Kadner-Pitts and McLaughlin Research Funds).
 
( 113 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Using interdisciplinary bioinformatics undergraduate research to recruit and retain computer science students
Journal SIGCSE Bulletin, 2007;39(1):358-361, Beck J, Buckner B, Nikolova O, Janick-Buckner J
Description A bioinformatics system was created for the storage, analysis, and presentation of functional annotations of maize genes. An interdisciplinary team of undergraduate computer science and biology students collaborated on developing this system, populating it with annotations of genes differentially expressed in the maize shoot apical meristem, and mining the data for bioinformatics analyses
Faculty Jon Beck is an associate professor of computer science, and Brent Buckner and Diane Janick-Buckner are professors of biology, at Truman State University
Student Olga Nikolova participated in this project during her junior and senior years, including the summers, as part of Truman State's Mathematical Biology Initiative; she is now a PhD student in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program at Iowa State University
Fund This work was supported by NSF plant genome award DBI-0321515 “Functional Analyses of Genes Involved in Meristem Organization and Leaf Initiation,” Michael J. Scanlon, PI and NSF award DUE-0436348 “Research-Focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology,” Jason Miller, PI.
 
( 114 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Involving undergraduates in the annotation and analysis of global gene expression studies: Creation of a maize shoot apical meristem expression database
Journal Genetics, 2007;176(2):741-747, Buckner B, Beck J, Browning KF, Fritz AE, Hoxha E, Grantham LD, Kamvar ZN, Lough AN, Nikolova O, Schnable PS, Scanlon MJ, Janick-Buckner D.
Description Genomics research can be particularly difficult to undertake at undergraduate institutions. Through a multi-university and interdisciplinary project we have involved undergraduate biology and computer science research students in the functional annotation of genes differentially expressed in the maize shoot apical meristem. We describe how we have prepared undergraduate students to participate in and make meaningful contributions to this project, as well as the database that we created as a result of this work
Faculty Brent Buckner and Diane Janick-Buckner are both professors of biology, and Jon Beck is an associate professor of computer science at Truman State University. Patrick S. Schnable is a professor in the departments of agronomy and genetics, developmental biology and cell biology at Iowa State University. Michael J. Scanlon is an associate professor in the department of plant biology at Cornell University.
Student Kate Browning is a medical student at University of Missouri at Columbia while Ashleigh Fritz, Lisa Grantham, Ashley Lough and Olga Nikolova are PhD graduate students at University of Kansas, Iowa State University, University of Missouri at Columbia and Iowa State University, respectively. These students conducted research for at least one summer and the academic year preceding and following their summer experience. Eneda Hoxha and Zhian Kamvar are completing Bachelor of Science degrees at Truman State University and have worked on this project for two summers and two academic years
Fund This work was supported by NSF plant genome award DBI-0321515 “Functional Analyses of Genes Involved in Meristem Organization and Leaf Initiation,” Michael J. Scanlon, PI and NSF award DUE-0436348 “Research-Focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology,” Jason Miller, PI
 
( 115 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Diversity of escape variant mutations in Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 Tag) epitopes selected by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones
Journal Virology, 2007;364:155-168, Mylin LM, Schell TD, Epler M, Kusuma C, Assis D, Matsko C, Smith A, Allebach A, Tevethia SS
Description A surprisingly large number of single amino acid substitution mutations were identified that allowed for the survival (escape) of Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 Tag) transformed cells in the presence of individual cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones specific for two CD8+ epitopes within the SV40 T ag. Epitopes I and V are presented by the same major histocompatibility molecule but display differing immunogenic properties and therefore are good models for targets of differing properties in tumor immunotherapy.
Faculty Lawrence Mylin is an associate professor of biology at Messiah College. Todd Schell is an assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and Satvir Tevethia is a distinguished professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Student The five student coauthors, David Assis, Caroline Kusuma, Chelsea Wong (Matsko), Alexandra Smith, April Mascia (Allebach), performed key portions of this collaborative multi-year study as the focus of their respective one or two semester senior research experiences. Assis and Smith have both completed medical school and are now in residencies. Kusuma is employed by a biotech company and pursuing her Masters degree in Biotechnology. Wong (Matsko) currently works as a research technician. Mascia (Allebach) is employed as a clinical trials manager by a pharmaceutical company. Additional students participated to a lesser degree in the study and are listed in the acknowledgements section of the paper
Fund The study was funded by Public Health Service Grant CA25000 (a merit award) to Satvir Tevethia from the National Cancer Institute, an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant RSG04-059-01-LIB to Todd Schell, a “Project Inquiry” grant to Messiah College from the Whitaker Regional Foundation, and ongoing senior research course support from the Messiah College Department of Biological Sciences
 
( 116 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title The reproductive pattern of male dusky salamanders (genus Desmognathus) is neither associated nor dissociated
Journal Horm Behav., 2007;51; 542-547, Benner SL, Woodley SK
Description It had long been hypothesized that androgens do not regulate male sexual behavior in species of amphibians and reptiles in which mating behavior is dissociated in time from spermatogenesis. We tested this hypothesis in mountain dusky salamanders. A castration/androgen replacement experiment indicated that the expression of male mating behavior does indeed require circulating levels of androgens. We discuss the limitations of the associated-dissociated framework in clarifying hormone-behavior relationships in reptiles and amphibians.
Faculty Sarah Woodley is an assistant professor of biology
Student Stacey Benner conducted this independent study project her senior year. Stacey will begin a graduate program in Education in fall 2007 in order to teach biology at the two-year college level.
Fund This research was supported by Duquesne University
 
( 117 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Catawba River corridor coverboard program: a citizen science approach to amphibian and reptile inventory
Journal J NC Acad Sci., 2006;122:142-151, Pittman SE, Dorcas ME.
Description The Davidson College Catawba River Corridor Coverboard Program was initiated in 2003 to help coordinate the efforts of public and private sectors in surveying amphibians and reptiles. A total of 38 species was documented between 2003 and 2005, including 18 species of amphibians and 20 species of reptiles. Coverboards proved more effective for inventory of salamanders, anurans and lizards (47%, 44% and 48%, respectively, of within-range species), and less effective for snakes and turtles (35%, and 24%, respectively, of within-range species)
Faculty Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology
Student Shannon Pittman participated in this research during her sophomore year as an independent study project and is currently a senior
Fund This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants.
 
( 118 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Heating and cooling rates of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, Crotalus adamanteus
Journal J Therm Biol, 2006;31:501-505, Rice AN, Roberts IV TL, Dorcas ME
Description Temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters were used to monitor heating and cooling rates between 5 and 35 1C of four Crotalus adamanteus in the laboratory. We found no difference between heating and cooling rates in C. adamanteus and rates of temperature change mirrored those of a biophysical model. Our findings contrast previously published studies that demonstrate active temperature control of similarly sized reptiles and demonstrate a need for more investigations of physiological thermoregulation in reptiles
Faculty Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology
Student Aaron Rice and T. Luther Roberts conducted this research as independent study students during their senior year at Davidson College. Aaron Rice is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. T. Luther Roberts is enrolled in the Department of Orthodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University
Fund This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
 
( 119 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title First record of a sleeper shark in the western Gulf of Mexico and comments on taxonomic incertainty within Somniosus (Somniosus).
Journal B Mar Sci., 2007;80:343-351, Benz GW, Hoffmayer ER, Driggers III WB, Allen D, Bishop LE, Brown D
Description This report documents the first record of a sleeper shark (Somniosus sp., Somniosidae) from the western Gulf of Mexico (Alaminos Canyon) and deepest record (2647 m) of any shark from the Gulf of Mexico. A review of the literature concluded that no taxonomic character has been identified that can be used to unequivocally identify all representatives of Somniosus (Somniosus).
Faculty George Benz is an associate professor of biology, Eric Hoffmayer is a research scientist at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, William Driggers III is a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service and Dan Allen and David Brown are specialists with Chevron Gulf of Mexico Business Unit and Shell EP Europe, respectively.
Student Lougan Bishop participated in this research during his senior year as a biology major. Lougan is currently employed by Dell
 
( 120 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title The hormonal herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, inhibits Xenopus oocyte maturation by targeting translational and post-translational mechanisms.
Journal Reprod Toxicol, 2007;23:20-31, LaChapelle AM, Ruygrok ML, Toomer ME, Oost JJ, Monnie ML, Swenson JA, Compton AA, Stebbins-Boaz B.
Description The phenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D, is a commonly used herbicide as well as a plant hormone (auxin) that induces cell growth, division and differentiation. Global amphibian declines may, in part, be due to exposure to endocrine disruptors, some of which block hormone induced events. We hypothesized that 2,4-D may negatively effect amphibian fertility and reproduction and used in vitro assays to determine whether 2,4-D affects the ability of oocytes from the frog, Xenopus laevis, to undergo progesterone-induced meiotic maturation, a prerequisite for formation of fertilizable eggs. Our results showed that 2,4-D blocked meiotic maturation irreversibly through perturbation of biochemical and molecular mechanisms key to maturation
Faculty Barbara Stebbins-Boaz, PhD is an associate professor in biology
Student All students started research during the summer of sophomore or junior year and with two exceptions finished with senior theses. Alexis LaChapelle is a lab assistant at a research one university. Mike and Jay attend medical school. MaryEllen Toomer is pursuing a master's degree in pastoral care in medical settings. Michelle Monnie is in medical school. Alex Compton is an NIH research fellow.
Fund Research support: Science Collaborative Research Program, Arthur A. Wilson Research Award, and Murdock Charitable Trust
 
( 121 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Roles for Drp1, a dynamin-related protein, and Milton, a kinesin-associated protein, in mitochondrial segregation, unfurling, and elongation during Drosophila spermatogenesis
Journal FLY, 2007;1:38-46, Aldridge AC, Benson LP, Siegenthaler MM, Whigham BT, Stowers RS, Hales KG
Description The functions of two gene products essential for mitochondrial transport in nerve cells were examined in spermatogenic cells of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Flies heterozygous for mutations were triggered to become homozygous in a subset of cells in the testis. The Drp1 dynamin-related protein was found to be required for proper separation of mitochondria during meiotic divisions and for unfurling and elongation of mitochondria along growing sperm tails. The Milton kinesin-related protein was found to be required for proper anchoring and elongation of the large mitochondrial derivative
Faculty Karen G. Hales is associate professor of biology
Student Levi Benson was a rising senior at Colgate University in the summer of 2005 when he participated in the project as part of Davidson College’s REU program funded by the NSF. He is now a medical student at the Pennsylvania State University. Monica Siegenthaler was a senior in 2002-2003 when she initiated this project as an independent study in the lab. She is now a PhD student at the University of California, Irvine, in the program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry. Benjamin Whigham was a sophomore in 2004-2005 when he worked on this project; he presented his work at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference in San Diego, California, in April, 2005. He recently graduated from Davidson College and will matriculate as a medical student at Duke University in Fall 2007
Fund This work was funded by an NSF CAREER grant and by Davidson College.
 
( 122 )   Recorded at: 11/19/2007      
Title Estrogenic impurities in tissue culture plastic ware are not bisphenol
Journal A. In Vitro Cell Dev–An, 2006;42:294-297, Biswanger C, Davis L, Roberts RA
Description Estrogenic compounds arising from common plastic ware have been found during cell culture and can adversely affect cultures and, therefore, experimental results. One such compound, the environmental endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol A, can bind to estrogen receptors and effect cellular changes. We monitored bisphenol A concentrations in culture dishes from six different manufacturers under typical cell culture conditions using a gas-chromatography mass-spectrophotometric assay. We determined that bisphenol A contamination from the culture dishes did not occur. These findings will allow scientists concerned about possible effects of bisphenol A on their culture systems to choose appropriate plastic ware.
Faculty Rebecca Roberts is an associate professor of Biology and Coordinator of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program
Student Caroline Biswanger and Laura Davis carried out this during the summers of 2004 and 2005, respectively. Both are currently pursuing degrees at Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Fund The research was supported through an NIH AREA grant and a Merck/AAAS USRP grant
 
( 123 )   Recorded at: 11/6/2007      
Title Evaluating support for the current classification of eukaryotic diversity
Journal PLOS Genet, 2006;2:2062-2073, Parfrey LW, Barbero E, Lasser E, Dunthorn MS, Bhattacharya D, Patterson DJ, Katz LA
Description This paper evaluates the support in the literature for the proposed six supergroup classification of eukaryotes. e evaluate the membership with and monophyly of the supergroups. We conclude that support for supergroups varies, with only the "Opisthokonta" (animals, fungi plus microbial relatives) receiving strong support. Other proposed supergroups were either weakly supported or lack compelling evidence in the literature. Hence, we argue that the six supergroup classification of eukaryotes is premature
Faculty
Student Erika Barbero and Elyse Barbero were honors and special studies students, respectively. Both played key roles in collecting and evaluating literature
Fund The research was funded by NSF grant DEB 043115
 
( 124 )   Recorded at: 11/6/2007      
Title Land use and forest history in an urban sanctuary in central Massachusetts
Journal Rhodora, 2006;108:119-141, Bertin RI, DeGasperis BG, Sabloff JM
Description Forest composition and land use history were examined at an urban wildlife sanctuary in central Massachusetts, using written and oral records, aerial photographs, maps, tree cores and vegetation sampling. The current flora reflects a history of fire, forest clearing, limited cultivation, introduction of non-native species and the use of some areas for rubbish dumps. Current vegetation contrasts sharply with pine- and hemlock dominated forest studied at another central Massachusetts site by researchers at Harvard Forest
Faculty Robert Bertin is a professor of biology
Student Brian DeGasperis and Jean Sabloff each participated in research during their senior year. Jean is employed in a laboratory position and Brian has completed a Master’s at Harvard University
 
( 125 )   Recorded at: 11/6/2007      
Title Propagation of Sciadopitys verticillata (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. by stem cuttings and properties of its latex-like sap
Journal HortScience, 2006;41(7):1662-1666, Yates DI, Earp BL, Levy F, Walker ES
Description Vegetative stem cuttings of Japanese umbrella pines (Sciadopitys verticillata) were shown to root most efficiently after a 24 hour water soak pre-treatment. Soaking channels away the latex-like sap that was hypothesized to inhibit adventitious roots. The latex-like sap was water insoluble and had strong antibacterial activity against three of 11 bacterial species tested, but activity was not related to bacterial Gram reaction or the bacterial natural environment.
Faculty Foster Levy is a professor of biology and director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at East Tennessee State University
Student Elaine Walker conducts research in infectious diseases at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. David Yates completed a masters degree in biology and now teaches at Davey Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Brandi Earp was an undergraduate Research Discovery work study student and is now pursuing a Masters in Public Health at the University of Kentucky.
 
( 126 )   Recorded at: 10/31/2007      
Title Phylogeny of the American silverfish Cubacubaninae (Hexapoda: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae): a combined approach using morphology and five molecular loci
Journal Cladistics, 2007;23:1–19, Espinasa L, Flick C, Giribet G
Description Relationships within the subfamily Cubacubaninae (Nicoletiidae: Zygentoma: Insecta) are appraised based on sequence data from five loci (18S, 28S rRNA, 16S rRNA, histone H3, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). The data indicated that species within the traditional genera Anelpistina, Cubacubana and Neonicoletia should be united within a single taxon. A new species, A. yatbalami is also described
Faculty Luis Espinasa is a professor at Marist College. Gonzalo Giribet is a professor at Harvard University
Student At the time of the research, Casey Flick was an undergraduate student at Shenandoah University and her independent study project work consisted in doing the publication quality illustration required for describing a new species in this article.
Fund Molecular work was supported by internal funds from Harvard University and the Museum of Comparative Zoology
 
( 127 )   Recorded at: 10/24/2007      
Title The biodiversity box: Inquiry science at the elementary level
Journal MSTA J., 2006;51(2):31-32, Gauss M, Dobson C
Description The article describes the construction and use of the Biodiversity Box as a means to engage elementary students in the inquiry-based learning of ecological topics related to conservation (species diversity, habitat loss, and invasive species). Students learn how the theory of island biogeography is relevant to conservation of species by making predictions and reaching conclusions based on evidence, an approach called for by both Michigan and national science education standards. The development of this original lesson followed the Five E format (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate), an instructional model that accommodates many learning styles
Faculty Christopher Dobson is an assistant professor of biology and member of the Integrated Science Program at Grand Valley State University. Megan Gauss is currently enrolled as a preservice teacher. Megan began this project as a student in a course for preservice teachers who are nonscience majors during fall semester 2004, but primarily developed it over the subsequent year and a half as part of her professional development.
Student
 
( 128 )   Recorded at: 10/24/2007      
Title An a-amylase (At4g25000) in Arabidopsis leaves is secreted and induced by biotic and abiotic stress
Journal Plant Cell Environ, 2007;30:388–398, Doyle EA, Lane AM, Sides JM, Mudgett MB, Monroe JD
Description Arabidopsis contains three a-amylase genes, one of which, AMY1 has a signal sequence suggesting that it is secreted. The function of secreted a-amylase, previously reported to be induced by stress in other plants, is not clear because its substrate, starch, is only found in chloroplasts. We showed that expression of AMY1 is induced during senescence and by biotic and abiotic stress and also by the stress hormone abscisic acid. Using transgenic plants expressing an AMY1-GFP fusion protein, we demonstrated that the product of this gene is secreted from leaf cells
Faculty Elizabeth Doyle is a postdoctoral teacher/scholar and was the primary mentor for Ashleigh Lane and James Sides, both undergraduates who spent about two years in the lab of Jonathan Monroe, a professor of biology. Mary Beth Mudgett is a professor of biology at Stanford University where Monroe spent a semester on sabbatical
Student Lane completed an honors thesis and is presently in Dental School at the University of Illinois. Sides completed a Masters Degree at Georgetown University
Fund The research was supported through a NSF-RUI grant
 
( 129 )   Recorded at: 4/17/2007      
Title The effect of artificial defaunation on bacterial assemblages of intertidal sediments.
Journal J Exp Mar Biol Ecol, 2006;337:147-158, Stocum ET, Plante CJ
Description Artificial defaunation of sediments is commonly used to study the disturbance and recovery of benthic macrofaunal communities. Standard methods of defaunation include asphyxiation, freezing and sieving. In this study we performed field experiments to test the assumption that the bacterial community structure is unaffected by these methods of defaunation. Numerical effects were determined via epifluoroescence microscopy, whereas differences in community composition were followed using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Experimental defaunations had recognizable effects on bacteria, although these impacts were relatively minor and appeared to be short-lived, as both numerical and genomic recovery was rapid. Relative to recolonization times of benthic macrofauna, these transitory changes in sedimentary bacteria are expected to have little effect on animal recovery
Faculty Craig Plante is an associate professor in Biology
Student
 
( 130 )   Recorded at: 4/17/2007      
Title Comparison of the genome sequence of the poultry pathogen Bordetella avium with those of B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis and B. parapertussis reveals extensive diversity in surface structures associated with host interaction.
Journal J Bacteriol, 2006;188(16):6002-15, Sebaihia M, Preston A, Maskell DJ, Kuzmiak H, Connell TD, King ND, Orndorff PE, Miyamoto DM, Thomson NR, Harris D, Goble A, Lord A, Murphy L, Quail MA, Rutter S, Squares R, Squares S, Woodward J, Parkhill J, Temple LM
Description The genome sequence and some biological observations from experiments based on the sequence of Bordetella avium, a pathogen of birds, were presented. The paper is based on a comparison of this genome to previously sequenced bordetellae, which are also pathogenic. Studies of mutation of predicted genes were presented, including a novel autotransporter, one of a large family of proteins frequently involved in pathogenesis
Faculty Louise Temple is associate professor and head of Biology, formerly at Drew University
Student Other co-authors are from Drew University, North Carolina State University, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Center (UK) where the sequencing was done. Holly Kuzmiak was an undergraduate research student at Drew University and a summer researcher in the lab of Dr. Rachel Fernandez, University of British Columbia. Her work was presented as a senior honors thesis. She is currently a third year graduate student in the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester
Fund The research was supported by a grant from the USDA.
 
( 131 )   Recorded at: 4/16/2007      
Title . The puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase PAM-1 is required for meiotic exit and anteroposterior polarity in the one-cell Caenorhabditis elegans embryo
Journal Development, 2006;133:4281-4292, Lyczak R., Zweier L, Group T, Murrow MA, Snyder C, Kulovitz L, Beatty A, Smith K, Bowerman B
Description PAM-1 aminopeptidase function was examined during embryogenesis of the nematode C. elegans. Loss of this amiopeptidase resulted in meiotic exit delays and polarity defects. The meiotic exit defects required the B type cyclin CYB-3. It was discovered that this aminopeptidase regulates meiotic exit and polarity through separable targets, revealing new roles for this protease in cell cycle regulation and axis establishment
Faculty Rebecca Lyczak is an assistant professor of biology at Ursinus College. Bruce Bowerman is a professor of biology at the U of Oregon
Student All undergraduate authors contributed to this project through academic year research at Ursinus College and all but K Smith also participated in the Ursinus Summer Fellows research program. Beatty, Snyder, Smith and Zweier are currently pursing graduate degrees. Group is employed in industry. Murrow is a secondary science teacher. Kulovitz is a current junior at Ursinus.
Fund This work was supported through grants from NIH-AREA, American Cancer Society and Merck-SURF
 
( 132 )   Recorded at: 4/16/2007      
Title Genetic similarity, extrapair paternity, and offspring quality in Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Journal Behav Ecol, 2006;17:952-958, Freeman-Gallant CR, Wheelwright NT, Meiklejohn KE, Sollecito SV
Description The influence of genetic similarity on a female's choice of social and extrapair mates was examined over a four-year period in an island population of Savannah sparrows. Females were more likely to mate outside the pairbond then paired to genetically similar males, the resulting extrapair offspring were of higher quality than withpair young in the same nest, and parental genetic similarity tended to predict offspring performance
Faculty Corey Freeman-Gallant is professor biology and Suzanne Sollecito is a technician. Nathaniel Wheelwright in a professor of biology at Bowdoin College
Student Katherine Meiklejohn pursed this research the summer after her junior year and continued it as a senior thesis project. Katherine is currently a graduate student in ecology at Columbia University
Fund The research was supported by a NSF-CRUI grant.
 
( 133 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title Initial den location behavior in a litter of neonate Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnakes)
Journal Southeast Nat, 2005; 4:723-730, Cobb VA, Green JJ, Worrall T, Pruett J, Glorioso B
Description Post-parturient movements during September and October for an adult female Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and her neonates were monitored by radiotelemetry. After one week, movements of neonates were independent of the mother’s movements. Although born 320 m from the winter hibernaculum, several observations of these neonates with conspecifics support the hypothesis that conspecific pheromone trails are used by neonates during their initial den location
Faculty Vincent Cobb is an associate professor of biology
Student Jeff Green and Brad Glorioso were MS students. Tim Worrall and Jake Pruett participated in this research the summer of their junior years. Both Tim and Jake are currently in MS biology programs.
Fund The research was partially supported through a MTSU faculty research grant, MTSU’s Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Projects Task Force, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achieve Program.
 
( 134 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title The repetitive DNA elements called CRISPRs and their associated genes: evidence of horizontal transfer among prokaryotes
Journal J Mol Evol, 2006;62:718-729, Godde JS, Bickerton AJ
Description We have found clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) in a wide range of diverse prokaryotes. A number of cas, CRISPR-associated genes, have also been characterized in many of the same organisms. Phylogenetic analysis of these cas genes suggests that the CRISPR loci have been propagated via HGT, horizontal gene transfer
Faculty James Godde is an associate professor of biology and chair of the department
Student This work was initiated by Tom Murphy, who began this project the summer of his junior year at the Bioinformatics and Bioengineering Summer Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. Amanda Bickerton then continued the project and brought it to completion as her senior thesis project. Tom is enrolled at the University of Illinois School of Medicine and Amanda works in a pharmacy and is taking classes to become a dental hygienist.
 
( 135 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title Acetaminophen self-administered in the drinking water increases the pain threshold of rats (Rattus norvegicus).
Journal J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci, 2006;45:48-54, Mickley GA, Hoxha Z, Biada JM, Kenmuir CL, Bacik SE
Description There is a requirement to provide post-surgical analgesia in experimental animals and many labs have chosen to add flavored acetaminophen to drinking water. However, a controversy exists regarding the efficacy of this procedure since, following surgery, animals may reduce drinking. The present study reports that rats naive to the taste of flavored acetaminophen do indeed drink significantly less of this liquid than tap water. Still, they drank sufficient amounts of the solution to significantly raise pain thresholds, as measured by the hot-plate test. Moreover, rats that had undergone surgery drank significantly more acetaminophen solution than did those that had no surgery. These data suggest that oral self-administration of flavored acetaminophen by rats may be an appropriate means to reduce pain
Faculty G. Andrew Mickley, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the neuroscience program
Student Zana Hoxha has graduated and did this work while she was Laboratory Director of the B-W Neuroscience Laboratory. She is in the process of applying to Medical School. Cynthia Kenmuir helped collect the behavioral data while she was working in the Neuroscience Laboratory as laboratory director and is now in medical school at the University of Toledo (Ohio). Stephanie Bacik is a current student and this work was part of her summer research experience in the neuroscience laboratory during 2005.
Fund The studies were encouraged by the B-W Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and were funded by the College
 
( 136 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title Wild-caught hybrids between sailfin and shortfin mollies (Poeciliidae, Poecilia): Morphological and molecular verification
Journal Hidroviológica, 2005;15:131-13, Kittell MM, Harvey, MN, Contreras-Balderas, S, Ptacek, MB
Description This study documents four wild-caught, interspecific hybrids between sailfin mollies (Poecilia velifera or P. petenensis) and shortfin mollies (P. mexicana or P. orri) from the Yucatán Peninsula and Isthmus of Tehuantepec regions of Mexico. Canonical discriminant analysis of morphological data, allele size differences at the nuclean Xsrc gene, and sequences of mtDNA control region (483 bp) and Xsrc nuclear gene (636 bp) were used to determine the generation and paternity of the wild-caught hybrids. Data showed that the female parent of the early generation hybrid individual was P. mexicana and the male parent was P. velifera. Thus, it was found that while rare in the wild, interspecific hybridization and introgression between sailfin and shortfin mollies does occasionally occur despite the existence of behavioral pre-mating isolation mechanisms
Faculty Margaret Ptacek is an associate professor of biological sciencesat Clemson. Salvador Contreras-Balderas is professor at the Laboratory of Ichthyology in the biological sciences department at the Universidad Autonóma de Nuevo León
Student Michele Kittell was a research assistant in biological sciences at Clemson. Megan Harvey participated in this research during the 2003-2004 academic year as her senior honors thesis. She is now a graduate student of plant genetics at Iowa State University
Fund The research was supported through a NSF-REU grant and an HHMI grant
 
( 137 )   Recorded at: 2/22/2007      
Title Respiratory rate is a valid and reliable marker for the anaerobic threshold: implications for measuring change in fitness
Journal J Sports Sci Med, 2005;4(4):482-488, Carey DG, Schwarz LA, Pliego GJ, Raymond, RL
Description Anaerobic threshold is the highest level of exercise that can be maintained for prolonged periods during aerobic exercise(bike, run, swim, etc.) Traditional methods of assessment that have been validated during incremental exercise testing are breakpoint in linearity for both of ventilation(VE) and ventilatory equivalent for oxygen(VE/VO2). Results have shown that, during incremental exercise to exhaustion, there is also a breakpoint in respiratory rate (RR) and this breakpoint coincides with both VE and VE/VO2 breakpoints. While no significant differences were found for these 3 breakpoints, repeat testing revealed higher standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variability (CV) for the RR method, indicating that the RR method may not be the method of choice in measuring change in anaerobic threshold for a given athlete.
Faculty Daniel Carey is assistant professor, Health and Human Performance
Student Leslie Schwarz conducted research during summer 2005 as a completion of research course PHED 449 and is an undergrad at U of St. Thomas for fall 2006
 
( 138 )   Recorded at: 2/21/2007      
Title Subsumption architecture for fluid-advected chemical plume tracing with soft obstacle avoidance, Proceedings of MTS-IEEE Oceans 2006 Boston
Journal , , Li W, Carter D
Description A typical chemical plume tracing (CPT) is to navigate an autonomous vehicle to find a chemical plume that is transported in a turbulent fluid flow, to trace the plume to its source, and to declare the source location. CPT in the real world, however, is more complicated, for example, some test runs, conducted in August 2002 on Clemente Island, California, failed because of some “soft obstacles”, such as kelp forest or seaweed in near-shore ocean environments. This paper presents a subsumption architecture for CPT with soft obstacle avoidance by integrating a Follow-Obstacle behavior. The behaviors used herein can be grouped into two categories: soft obstacle avoidance and plume searching and tracing. The simulation studies of CPT with soft obstacle avoidance are performed using a simulated turbulent fluid environment.
Faculty
Student
 
( 139 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2007      
Title Farnesol restores wild-type colony morphology to 96% of Candida albicans colony morphology variants recovered following treatment with mutagens
Journal Genome, 2006;49:346-353, Jensen E, Hornby J, Pagliaccetti N, Wolter C, Nickerson K, Atkin A
Description Dimorphism, the ability to switch between single-celled yeast and multi-celled mycelial forms, is required for the establishment of disseminated fungal infections. Farnesol is produced and secreted by C. albicans to regulate its yeast to mycelial morphological transition. A collection of mutants with altered colony morphology indicating the presence of mycelia under environmental conditions where C. albicans normally grow only as yeast were generated and their response to farnesol determined
Faculty Ellen Jensen is an assistant professor of biology at the College of Saint Benedict. Kenneth Nickerson and Audrey Atkin are professor and associate professor, respectively, in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Student Nicole Pagliaccetti and Chuleepon Wolter participated in this research the summer after their junior years and then continued it as independent senior research projects. Both are currently in graduate school.
Fund The work was funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the University of Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Enhancement Fund, the Merck Undergraduate Research Program and the Rooney Endowment for Undergraduate Research at CSB/SJU
 
( 140 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2007      
Title High contents of hypotaurine and thiotaurine in hydrothermal-vent gastropods without thiotrophic endosymbionts
Journal J Exp Zool, 2006;305A:655-662, Rosenberg NK, Lee RW, Yancey PH
Description Snails and limpets were collected by submersible from hydrothermal vents on the Juan de Fuca ridge, then placed in pressure chambers and exposed to varying levels of hydrogen sulfide. Tissue analysis revealed large amounts of hypotaurine and thiotaurine, previously only reported in vent animals with sulfide-oxidizing endosymbionts. Hypotaurine binds sulfide and converts into thiotaurine under sulfide exposure, suggesting it protects the animals from this toxic gas
Faculty Paul Yancey is a professor of biology at Whitman College, Ray Lee is an associate professor of biology at Washington State University
Student Noah Rosenberg participated in this research at Whitman the summer after his junior year and then continued it as his senior thesis project. He is currently in medical school
Fund The research was supported by NSF, NOAA and Whitman College Rall grants.
 
( 141 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2007      
Title Antler stiffness in moose (Alces alces): Correlated evolution of bone function and material properties?
Journal J Morphol, 2006;267:1075-1086, Blob RW, Snelgrove JM
Description Three-point bending tests were performed on bone specimens extracted from antlers of moose to test for three types of variation in bone material stiffness: between antler regions, between populations of moose, and between moose and other deer species. No significant differences in antler stiffness were identified between regions of the antler, or between moose populations from Michigan and the Yukon. However, moose have significantly stiffer antlers than any other deer species among their closest relatives. This higher antler stiffness may help accommodate higher bending loads experienced by moose antlers due to their broad, palmate shape, demonstrating that evolutionary diversity in bone material properties can be related to differences in the mechanical or ecological demands on skeletal elements
Faculty Richard Blob is an assistant professor of biological sciences.
Student Jason Snelgrove participated in this work as a senior honors thesis project, and is currently a graduate student in the Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research at Albany Medical College
Fund This research was supported by the Calhoun Honors College the SC LIFE Project at Clemson.
 
( 142 )   Recorded at: 2/13/2007      
Title . Aggressive contests in house crickets: size, motivation and the information content of aggressive songs
Journal Anim Behav, 2006;72:225-233, Brown WD, Smith AT, Moskalik B, Gabriel J
Description We studied aggressive acoustic signals in house crickets. We show that male crickets produce individually distinctive aggressive songs, which contain information about the ability of a male to win an aggressive contest. In contrast, we found no components of song that signal differences in male moti