Browsing Dissertations by Author "Biology"
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Adaptation in a Changing World: Evolutionary mechanisms of salt tolerance in a coastal amphibian
Albecker, Molly (East Carolina University, 2018-07-20)In order to predict evolutionary outcomes of environmental change on populations in nature, we need an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms that affect whether organisms will adapt to a changed environment. ... -
ARE ALL FISH NURSERIES EQUAL? DETERMINING HOW FOOD WEB DYNAMICS AFFECT FISH NURSERY HABITAT
Lichti, Deborah Ann (East Carolina University, 2018-07-23)The fish nursery habitat concept has been used to define important habitat for larval and juvenile fish throughout coastal and estuarine areas. Nursery habitat has been defined as an area that produces more fish biomass, ... -
Bacteria of a feather floc together: Microbial interactions and function within iron-oxidizing bacterial communities
Brooks, Chequita N. (East Carolina University, 2021-05-03)The microaerophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria are highly charismatic, forming bright orange structures called iron mats in low flow creeks and streams, in road-side ditches, and marshes. Yet, the study of the microbial ... -
Behavioral and genetic divergence among wild and domesticated populations of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Lansverk, Allison L. (East Carolina University, 2017-07-18)Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) have been the subject of extensive neurological and behavioral research having served as the dominant model for vocal learning over half a century. Learned vocal communication, or vocal ... -
Color Pattern Evolution in the Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus): Functional, Mechanistic and Synthetic Approaches
Anderson, Christopher Michael (East Carolina University, 2022-07-19)Studies of animal color patterns have provided important insights into the nature of evolution and adaptation. Coloration may be the target of multiple evolutionary processes, including natural selection, intersexual ... -
Color Pattern Evolution in the Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus): Functional, Mechanistic and Synthetic Approaches
Anderson, Christopher Michael (East Carolina University, 2022-07-19)Studies of animal color patterns have provided important insights into the nature of evolution and adaptation. Coloration may be the target of multiple evolutionary processes, including natural selection, intersexual ... -
Conservation and Immunogenomics of the Endangered White-winged Duck
Foote, Dustin J (East Carolina University, 2023-05-02)White-winged Wood Ducks (WWD) are an endangered species native to southeast Asia. Efforts to conserve the species via captive breeding have been hindered because captive populations appear to be highly susceptible to avian ... -
Delination of Coastal Shark Habitat within North Carolina Waters Using Acoustic Telemetry, Fisher-Independent Surveys, and Local Ecological Knowledge
Bangley, Charles W. (East Carolina University, 2016-07-20)Knowledge of shark habitat preferences and use patterns is important to effectively manage shark fisheries and account for interactions between sharks and species targeted by other fishery management or conservation efforts. ... -
DETECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMPHIBIAN FUNGAL DISEASE CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS IN PERUVIAN AMPHIBIANS
Kosch, Tiffany A. (East Carolina University, 2012)Chytridiomycosis is an amphibian disease caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd;Longcore et al. 1999). This disease has been identified by the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan as one of the main ... -
Determining the role of the steroid hormone ecdysone in critical stages of Drosophila melanogaster early oogenesis
Finger, Danielle S. (East Carolina University, 2019-11-27)Reproductive function in many organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster, is controlled by steroid hormones. The main steroid hormone in Drosophila is ecdysone, which is structurally and functionally similar to estrogen. ... -
Development of Computational Tools and Resources for Cotton microRNA Analysis
Xie, Fuliang (East Carolina University, 2014)MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of small regulatory RNAs which regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional levels. miRNAs target genes for mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition based on the complementary ... -
Diversity and Survival of Macrofauna associated with a Non-Native Foundational Species
Lee, Timothy Seung-chul (East Carolina University, 2023-07-24)Through globalization and increased anthropogenic movement, many non-native foundation species have established across the world. These foundation species have impacted ecological communities in myriad of ways, including ... -
EFFECTS OF A REVERSE OSMOSIS-WATER TREATMENT PLANT BRINY CONCENTRATE DISCHARGED INTO AN ESTUARY.
Kleber, Katharine E. (East Carolina University, 2010)Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plants (RO-WTPs) create potable water and a briny concentrate that must be disposed; often it is discharged into nearby surface waters. Currently, there is no published research to examine ... -
Environmental Development of the External Genitalia
Maurizio, Ciro (East Carolina University, 2018-07-24)Hypospadias is one of the most common birth defects in the world. The incidence of hypospadias has nearly doubled over the past 50 years and now occurs on average in 1 in 125 male newborns each year. Hypospadias is a ... -
Evaluating the Role of Habitat Complexity in Structuring Seagrass Communities
Trackenberg, Stacy Nicole (East Carolina University, 2023-07-18)Biogenic coastal habitats such as salt marshes, seagrasses, and oyster reefs, support diverse faunal communities and can serve as nursery areas by enhancing the abundance, growth, and survival of juvenile fish and crustaceans. ... -
Evolution of olfactory receptors in birds
Driver, Robert (East Carolina University, 2022-12-05)Olfaction is an evolutionary ancient sensation, and is the perception and interpretation of chemical stimuli from surrounding air or water. Olfaction is an essential sensory modality for nearly all animals, and is used to ... -
Exploring the roles of horizotnal gene transfer in metazoans
Chen, Dongliang (East Carolina University, 2016-07-20)Horizontal gene transfer (HGT; also known as lateral gene transfer, LGT) refers to the movement of genetic information between distinct species by overcoming normal mating barriers. Historically HGT is only considered to ... -
Fear of Aquatic Predators Cause Prey to Alter Their Phenotype at Multiple Life Stages
Jones, Scott P. (East Carolina University, 2016-07-27)Many organisms can alter their behavior, life history, and morphology in response to their environment. This ability is known as phenotypic plasticity. One of the major environmental cues that triggers a phenotypic plastic ... -
Fishing For The Evolutionary Bases Of Female Ornamentation
Yong, Lengxob (East Carolina University, 2015)Sexual dimorphism, or phenotypic differentiation of the sexes, is widespread amongst animals. It is understood mainly in the context of sexual selection, i.e. selection on mating success, with such selection typically ... -
Genetic regulation of maize floral development - insights from the transcriptome and translatome
Yang, Hailong (East Carolina University, 2022-06-24)Flowers are produced by floral meristems, groups of stem cells that give rise to floral organs. In grasses, including the major cereal crops, flowers (florets) are contained in spikelets, which contain one to many florets, ...