Cnidarians, such as anemones and corals, engage in an intracellular symbiosis with
photosynthetic dinoflagellates. Corals form both the trophic and structural foundation of
reef ecosystems. Despite their environmental importance, little is known about the
molecular basis of this symbiosis. In this dissertation we explored the cnidariandinoflagellate symbiosis from two perspectives:...
For ras gene mutation analysis in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss) model system, a partial trout ras sequence was identified
using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two synthetic
oligonucleotides based on rat K-ras gene sequence were used as
primers for the PCR procedure. A 90 base pair (bp) sequence,
referred...
Geospatial data analysis is a multifaceted discipline encompassing the collection, processing, and visualization of diverse datasets. It models and delineates the interactions of people, objects, and phenomena within geographical spaces and predicts patterns based on the relationships between different locations. Despite significant advancements in geospatial data engineering and analytics over...
The earth is undergoing a “biodiversity crisis” characterized by loss of populations, species, genetic diversity, and ecosystem services. Part of this crisis consists of population declines, extinctions, and increased incidence of deformities in amphibians. It is unknown whether deformities contribute to these declines. Many cases of population declines in amphibians...
Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia) and double-crested cormorants
(Phalacrocorax auritus) nest in large colonies on East Sand Island in the Columbia
River estuary, the largest known colonies for the two species in the world. Both
species of piscivorous colonial waterbirds have been identified as predators with a
significant impact on the...
The extent of biological invasions, their role on the feeding of
native fishes and their impact on community stability were
investigated in Alsea Bay and Yaquina Bay, two estuaries on the
central Oregon coast, USA. Most nonindigenous species (NIS)
introduced in these intermediately invaded estuaries are
considered byproducts of culturing...
The seasonal distribution of bioavailable organochiorine contaminants in surface
water and the potential environmental factors influencing their bioavailability were
evaluated. The study was carried at the lower Willamette River at Portland Harbor, Oregon
where surface water runoff varied according to season. Bioavailable water concentrations of
DDTs and PCBs were determined...
The purpose of this research was to determine if differences
existed in mathematical skills needed for entry-level employment in
selected electricity-electronics occupations in Oregon. The four
primary objectives of the study were to:
1. Identify mathematical skills from task analyses of key
electricity-electronics occupations.
2. Validate the identified mathematical skills....
The Willamette River, one of only 14 American Heritage Rivers, flows through the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of Oregon. Previous biological monitoring of Willamette River fish detected elevated frequencies of skeletal deformities in fish from certain areas of the lower (NP [NP], rivermile [RM] 26-55) and middle...
The nearshore waters off the Oregon coast (< 73 meters) are a region of high productivity and economic value, with a variety of habitats that include rock outcrops. Temperate reef habitats are important to many commercially important fishes inhabiting the Pacific coast, including canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) and yelloweye rockfish...