The goals of this dissertation are centered on understanding changes in Earth surface and climate systems through the use of geologic proxies as records of past changes in these systems. Specifically, this dissertation (1) establishes a new chronology for retreat of the Ross Sea sector of the West Antarctic Ice...
Approximately 12% of Americans do not consume the amount of zinc equal to the Estimated Average Requirement for zinc and could be at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. Zinc is an essential component of proteins in the defense against oxidative stress and DNA damage repair. Specifically in the prostate, zinc...
Methane is a product of biogeochemical processes which respond to changes in climate. The history of atmospheric methane is recorded by ice cores providing insight into past changes in these biogeochemical processes. This dissertation is comprised of three studies which focus on centennial- and millenial-scale variability of methane from ice...
Cordyceps is a genus of perithecial ascomycetes. It includes over 400 species
that are pathogens of arthropods and parasites of the truffle genus Elaphomyces. Based
on the morphology of cylindrical asci, thickened ascus apices and filiform ascospores,
it is classified in the Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales), which also includes endophytes
and epiphytes...