Predator-prey interactions have historically been studied to explain patterns of organization observed in populations and communities. They have also been important in understanding the evolution of antipredator responses in prey and counterstrategies in predators. Despite the breadth of knowledge that exists for heterospecific interactions, relatively few studies have investigated the...
To assess the context dependence of kin discriminating
behavior, I examined kin-biased aggregation behavior in tadpoles
of R. cascadae in different ecological conditions. I manipulated food
distribution, predator presence, thermal heterogeneity, and
relatedness in a multifactorial mesocosm experiment. All four
factors interacted to influence tadpole dispersion. My results
suggest that...
Marine sponges are vital components of benthic and coral reef ecosystems, providing shelter and nutrition for many organisms. In addition, sponges act as an essential carbon and nutrient link between the pelagic and benthic environment by filtering large quantities of seawater. Many sponge species harbor a diverse microbial community (including...
Children’s behavioral self-regulation and executive function (EF; including attentional or
cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control) are strong predictors of
academic achievement. The present study examined the psychometric properties of a
measure of behavioral self-regulation called the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) by
assessing construct validity, including relations to EF measures, and...
Johne’s disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), which results in serious economic losses worldwide in farmed livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. To control this disease, an effective vaccine with minimal adverse effects is needed. In order to identify a live vaccine for Johne’s disease, we...
Despite nutrient-depleted conditions, coral reef waters harbor abundant and diverse microbes; as major agents of microbial mortality, viruses are likely to influence microbial processes in these ecosystems. However, little is known about marine viruses in these rapidly changing ecosystems. Herewe examined spatial and short-term temporal variability in marine viral abundance...
Agricultural land management, such as fertilization, liming, and tillage affects soil properties, including pH, organic matter content, nitrification rates, and the microbial community. Three different study sites were used to identify microorganisms that correlate with agricultural land use and to determine which factors regulate the relative abundance of the microbial...
To determine if a storm event (i.e., high winds, large volumes of precipitation) could
alter concentrations of Vibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus in aquacultured oysters
(Crassostrea virginica) and associated surface water and sediment, this study followed a
sampling timeline before and after Hurricane Irene impacted the Chesapeake Bay estuary in...
Seed dormancy has played a significant role in adaptation and evolution of seed
plants. While its biological significance is clear, molecular mechanisms underlying seed
dormancy induction, maintenance and alleviation still remain elusive. Intensive efforts
have been made to investigate gibberellin and abscisic acid metabolism in seeds, which
greatly contributed to...
Complex symbioses between animal or plant hosts and their associated microbiotas can involve thousands of species and millions of genes. Because of the number of interacting partners, it is often impractical to study all organisms or genes in these host-microbe symbioses individually. Yet new phylogenetic predictive methods can use the...