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Title: Anatomy and physiology of the elasmobranch olfactory system.
Creator: Meredith, Tricia L., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The olfactory system is the most highly developed system for molecular sensing in vertebrates. Despite their reputation for being particularly olfactory driven, little is known about how this sense functions in elasmobranch fishes. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the morphology and physiology of elasmobranchs to compare their olfactory system with teleost fishes and more derived vertebrates. To test the hypotheses that elasmobranchs possess greater olfactory sensitivities than...
Show moreThe olfactory system is the most highly developed system for molecular sensing in vertebrates. Despite their reputation for being particularly olfactory driven, little is known about how this sense functions in elasmobranch fishes. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the morphology and physiology of elasmobranchs to compare their olfactory system with teleost fishes and more derived vertebrates. To test the hypotheses that elasmobranchs possess greater olfactory sensitivities than teleosts and that lamellar surface area is correlated to sensitivity, I compared the surface area of the olfactory lamellae and the olfactory sensitivities of five phylogenetically diverse elasmobranch species. The olfactory thresholds reported here (10-9 to 10-6 M) were comparable to those previously reported for teleosts and did not correlate with lamellar surface area. Since aquatic species are subject to similar environmental amino acid levels, they appear to have converged upon similar amino acid sensitivities. To test the hypothesis that elasmobranchs are able to detect bile salt odorants despite lacking ciliated olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), the type of ORN that mediates bile salt detection in the teleosts, I quantified the olfactory specificity and sensitivity of two elasmobranch species to four, teleost-produced C24 bile salts. Both species responded to all four bile salts, but demonstrated smaller relative responses and less sensitivity compared to teleosts and agnathans. This may indicate that elasmobranchs don't rely on bile salts to detect teleost prey. Also, the olfactory system of elasmobranchs contains molecular olfactory receptors for bile salts independent of those that detect amino acids, similar to teleosts., In some elasmobranch species, each olfactory bulb (OB) is physically partitioned into two hemi-bulbs; however, the functional significance of this morphology is not fully understood. The organization of the OBs in three species with varying OB morphologies was examined to test the hypothesis that the elasmobranch OB is somatotopically arranged. Glomeruli in the OB received projections from ORNs in 3-4 olfactory lamellae situated immediately anterior. These results indicate a somatotopic arrangement of the elasmobranch OB, which may be unique among vertebrate olfactory systems and potentially led to the hemi-OB morphology.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3333058
Subject Headings: Condrichthyes, Sense organs, Condrichthyes, Physiology, Sharks, Physiology, Adaptation (Biology), Aquatic animals, Physiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Approaches for raising the level of FOXO3a in animal cells.
Creator: Navarro, Diana., Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science
Abstract/Description: The turtle is a unique model of anoxic survival. The turtle's brain can tolerate total oxygen deprivation for hours to days as well as prevent high levels of mitochondrial-derived free radicals upon re-oxygenation. Because of its ability to prevent elevated free radical generation, the turtle has also become recognized as a model of exceptional longevity. We are employing the turtle model for an investigation into the regulation of a key antioxidant enzyme system - methionine sulfoxide...
Show moreThe turtle is a unique model of anoxic survival. The turtle's brain can tolerate total oxygen deprivation for hours to days as well as prevent high levels of mitochondrial-derived free radicals upon re-oxygenation. Because of its ability to prevent elevated free radical generation, the turtle has also become recognized as a model of exceptional longevity. We are employing the turtle model for an investigation into the regulation of a key antioxidant enzyme system - methionine sulfoxide reductases (Msrs), primarily MsrA and MsrB. The Msr system is capable of reversing oxidation of methionines in proteins and Msr subtypes have been implicated in protecting tissues against oxidative stress, as well as, enhancing the longevity of organisms from yeast to mammals. Preliminary data, unpublished results, indicate that MsrA protein and transcripts are elevated by anoxia. A recent study on Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated that FOXO is involved in activation of the MsrA promoter. Using the turtle MsrA promoter sequence we worked to determine which regions in the promoter are necessary for activation by anoxia. The results of the present study were 1) to prepare a TAT-FOXO3a fusion protein which could penetrate animal cells and 2) to construct a FOXO3a expression vector for transcription studies on MsrA expression.
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Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342243
Subject Headings: Cellular signal transduction, Cell proliferation, Oxidative stress, Prevention, Adaptation (Physiology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Visual and electrosensory ecology of batoid elasmobranchs.
Creator: Bedore, Christine N., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The electrosensory and visual adaptations of elasmobranchs to the environment have been more studied than most other senses, however, work on these senses is mostly limited to descriptive analyses of sensitivity, morphology, and behavior. The goal of this work was to explore electrosensory and visual capabilities in a more ecological context. To gain an understanding of the content of bioelectric signals, the magnitude and frequency of these stimuli were recorded from a broad survey of...
Show moreThe electrosensory and visual adaptations of elasmobranchs to the environment have been more studied than most other senses, however, work on these senses is mostly limited to descriptive analyses of sensitivity, morphology, and behavior. The goal of this work was to explore electrosensory and visual capabilities in a more ecological context. To gain an understanding of the content of bioelectric signals, the magnitude and frequency of these stimuli were recorded from a broad survey of elasmobranch prey items... Color vision adaptations also correlated to the photic environment of each species; cownose rays inhabit turbid, green-dominated waters and had two cone visual pigments that maximize contrast of objects against the green background... Yellow stingrays were trichromatic and likely possess the ability to discriminate colors in their clear, reef and seagrass habitats, which are spectrally rich. Both species showed evidence of ultraviolet sensitivity, which may aid in predator and conspecific detection as an enhanced communication channel. Future studies should investigate the integration of sensory input and sensory involvement in intraspecific communication to gain more insight into ecological adaptations.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362337
Subject Headings: Visual discrimination, Adaptation (Biology), Animal ecophysiology, Chondrichthyes, Physiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The effect of spatial attention on pupil dynamics.
Creator: Daniels, Lori B., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Although it is well known that the pupil responds dynamically to changes in ambient light levels, the results from this dissertation show for the first time that the pupil also responds dynamically to changes in spatially distributed attention. Using a variety of orientating tasks, subjects alternated between focusing attention on a central stimulus and spreading attention over a larger area. Fourier analysis of the fluctuating pupil diameter indicated that: 1) pupil diameter changed at the...
Show moreAlthough it is well known that the pupil responds dynamically to changes in ambient light levels, the results from this dissertation show for the first time that the pupil also responds dynamically to changes in spatially distributed attention. Using a variety of orientating tasks, subjects alternated between focusing attention on a central stimulus and spreading attention over a larger area. Fourier analysis of the fluctuating pupil diameter indicated that: 1) pupil diameter changed at the rate of attention variation, dilating with broadly spread attention and contracting with narrowly focused attention, and 2) pupillary differences required changes in attentional spread; there were no differences in pupil diameter between sustained broad and sustained spread attention. Given that broadly spread attention increases the relative activation of large receptive fields and narrowly focused attention increases the relative activation of small receptive fields (Balz & Hock, 1997), the results of this study indicate that these attentional effects on receptive field activation can be mediated by changes in pupil diameter. That is, under broad attention, the corresponding pupillary dilation observed would increase spherical aberration, blurring the image thereby reducing high spatial frequency information and decreasing the activation of relatively small cortical receptive fields compared to relatively large receptive fields. This increased perception of low spatial frequencies would be beneficial in cases where attention is spread over a large area. Alternatively, under narrow attention the resulting pupillary constriction reduces spherical aberration sharpening the image and preserving high spatial frequency information resulting in a relatively increased response of small receptive fields.
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Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1870692
Subject Headings: Visual perception, Eye, Physiology, Optics, Adaptive, Visual pathways
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Hydrodynamic functions of the wing-shaped heads of hammerhead sharks.
Creator: Barousse, Julien., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: The hydrodynamics of three different shark heads: Eusphyra blochii (Winghead shark), Carcharhinus acronotus (Blacknose shark) and Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead shark) were investigated. Force transducer measurement was used to explore how the cephalofoil (wing-shaped head) affects maneuverability and efficiency. As the dynamic behavior of maneuvering wings differs from that of the steady state motion, experiments have been conducted to simulate: 1) steady-state (no yaw motion) constant velocity...
Show moreThe hydrodynamics of three different shark heads: Eusphyra blochii (Winghead shark), Carcharhinus acronotus (Blacknose shark) and Sphyrna tiburo (Bonnethead shark) were investigated. Force transducer measurement was used to explore how the cephalofoil (wing-shaped head) affects maneuverability and efficiency. As the dynamic behavior of maneuvering wings differs from that of the steady state motion, experiments have been conducted to simulate: 1) steady-state (no yaw motion) constant velocity swimming, 2) constant forward velocity with yawing motion of the head and 3) turning maneuvers. Different range of velocities, angle of attack, yaw frequency and yaw amplitude were tested. Drag and lift coefficients were calculated and compared. The lift coefficient of Winghead shark is much higher compared to the other sharks. The lift-to-drag ratio showed that the Winghead shark has a hydrodynamic advantage compared to Blacknose shark and Bonnethead shark.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2795459
Subject Headings: Aquatic animals (Physiology), Adaptation (Biology), Sharks, Locomotion, Predation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Ecomorphology of Shark Electroreceptors.
Creator: Cornett, Anthony D., Kajiura, Stephen M., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description: Sharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water...
Show moreSharks possess an electrosensory system which allows the detection of electric fields . How this system varies among related taxa and among species inhabiting different environments remains unexplored. Electroreceptor number was quantified for representative species of related taxa (genera, families, orders) from different environments (pelagic, coastal, deepwater) and taxa from similar environments to determine potential phylogenetic constraint or evolutionary convergence. Coastal open water sharks possess the greatest number of electroreceptors; deepwater sharks the least. Pelagic and coastal benthic sharks retain comparable electrosensory pore numbers despite inhabiting vastly different environments. Electrosensory pores were primarily located in ventral distributions, except among coastal open water sharks which possess roughly even distributions around the head. Among related species and genera, pore numbers and distribution are comparable, with greater variation among higher taxa. Results implicate evolutionary convergence as the primary influence in electroreceptor development, while phylogenetic constraint establishes similar base values for number and distribution.
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Date Issued: 2006
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000737
Subject Headings: Sharks--Ecology, Sharks--Morphology, Echolocation (Physiology), Aquatic animals--Physiology, Senses and sensation, Adaptation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Novel Interaction: The thin stripe hermit Crab, Clibanarius vittatus, kills the Florida crown conch, Melongena corona, for its shell.
Creator: Cutter, Jennifer, Devlin, Donna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be...
Show moreThe hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be classified as competition because there is no opportunity for Melongena to gain from the interaction. Therefore the term “lethal eviction” is hereby proposed for this interaction. The ability to kill a gastropod to obtain a superior shell gives Clibanarius vittatus an evolutionary advantage over other hermit crab species. It is not known if the outcome of this interaction is widespread where both species occur or if it is confined to the study area.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925
Subject Headings: Crabs--Behavior., Crab culture., Predation (Biology), Adaptation (Physiology), Aquatic ecology., Intertidal ecology., Conservation biology.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Cognitive and magnetosensory ecology of the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis.
Creator: Newton, Kyle C., Kajiura, Stephen M., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) migrate across a wide range of spatiotemporal scales, display philopatry, seasonal residency, and maintain home ranges. Many animals use the Earth’s magnetic field to orient and navigate between habitats. The geomagnetic field provides a variety of sensory cues to magnetically sensitive species, which could potentially use the polarity, or intensity and inclination angle of the field, to derive a sense of direction, or location, during migration....
Show moreElasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) migrate across a wide range of spatiotemporal scales, display philopatry, seasonal residency, and maintain home ranges. Many animals use the Earth’s magnetic field to orient and navigate between habitats. The geomagnetic field provides a variety of sensory cues to magnetically sensitive species, which could potentially use the polarity, or intensity and inclination angle of the field, to derive a sense of direction, or location, during migration. Magnetoreception has never been unequivocally demonstrated in any elasmobranch species and the cognitive abilities of these fishes are poorly studied. This project used behavioral conditioning assays that paired magnetic and reinforcement stimuli in order to elicit behavioral responses. The specific goals were to determine if the yellow stingray, Urobatis jamaicensis, could detect magnetic fields, to quantify the nature of the magnetic stimuli it could detect, and to quantify the learning and memory capabilities of this species. The results supported the original hypotheses and demonstrated that the yellow stingray could: discriminate between magnetic and non-magnetic objects; detect and discriminate between changes in geomagnetic field strength and inclination angle; and use geomagnetic field polarity to solve a navigational task. The yellow stingray learned behavioral tasks faster and retained the memories of learned associations longer than any batoid (skate or ray) to date. The data also suggest that this species can classify magnetic field stimuli into categories and learn similar behavioral tasks with increased efficiency, which indicate behavioral flexibility. These data support the idea that cartilaginous fishes use the geomagnetic field as an environmental cue to derive a sense of location and direction during migrations. Future studies should investigate the mechanism, physiological threshold, and sensitivity range of the elasmobranch magnetic sense in order to understand the effects of anthropogenic activities and environmental change on the migratory ability of these fishes.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004883, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004883
Subject Headings: Animal behavior., Animal migration., Magnetic fields--Physiological effect., Senses and sensation., Adaptation (Biology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Effects of stressors on differential gene expression and secondary metabolites by Axinella corrugata.
Creator: Grima, Jennifer., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Sponges are an important source of bioactive marine natural products, or secondary metabolites. The common Caribbean reef sponge, Axinella corrugata, produces an antitumor and antibacterial chemical, stevensine. This study determined whether environmental stressors, such as elevated temperature and exposure to Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae, affect the production of stevensine by A.corrugata and if the stressors caused A.corrugata to exhibit differential gene expression. Temperature stress...
Show moreSponges are an important source of bioactive marine natural products, or secondary metabolites. The common Caribbean reef sponge, Axinella corrugata, produces an antitumor and antibacterial chemical, stevensine. This study determined whether environmental stressors, such as elevated temperature and exposure to Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae, affect the production of stevensine by A.corrugata and if the stressors caused A.corrugata to exhibit differential gene expression. Temperature stress resulted in no significant change in the production of stevensine; only two genes were significantly differentially expressed, including hsp70. Larval stressed resulted in increased production of stevensine and significant differential gene expression (more than seventy genes). This study suggests that A.corrugata may be resilient to elevations in temperature and that one of stevensine's roles in nature is as an antifoulant.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360781
Subject Headings: Axinellida, Sponges, Marine pharmacology, Adaptation (Biology), Gene expression, Genetic regulation, Stress (Physiology), Ecophysiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Visual adaptations in sharks, skates and rays.
Creator: McComb, Dawn Michelle, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: The central importance of vision to an organism is evident in the anatomical and physiological adaptations within the eye that can be correlated to the organism's behavior and ecology. The goal of this study was to perform a functional analysis of adaptations within the elasmobranch visual system. An integrative approach was used to examine morphological and physiological adaptations in several species and link these adaptations to phylogeny, locomotion, habitat, behavior and ecology....
Show moreThe central importance of vision to an organism is evident in the anatomical and physiological adaptations within the eye that can be correlated to the organism's behavior and ecology. The goal of this study was to perform a functional analysis of adaptations within the elasmobranch visual system. An integrative approach was used to examine morphological and physiological adaptations in several species and link these adaptations to phylogeny, locomotion, habitat, behavior and ecology. Functional aspects investigated were eye position, pupil shape, spectral sensitivity, temporal resolution, the extent of the visual field and ultimately the integration of the visual and electrosensory systems. The elasmobranch eye adapts to the light environment of its habitat. Sharks from similar habitats had similar spectral sensitivities such as the bonnethead and blacknose sharks, both maximally sensitive to blue light of 480 nm. The spectral sensitivity of the scalloped hammerhead, which lives in a different environment, was maximally sensitive to green light (530 nm). The temporal characteristics of the eye also matched habitat and lifestyle. Species experiencing variable light conditions exhibited increased critical flicker-fusion frequencies, such as the bonnethead (31 Hz) and scalloped hammerhead (27 Hz), in contrast to deeper or more nocturnal species such as the blacknose shark (18 Hz). Elasmobranch visual fields correlated to each species' lifestyle, habitat and foraging strategy. Expansive monocular views, including a 360° panoramic view in the yellow stingray, were measured in species that rely on vision for vigilance against predators., The Atlantic stingray possessed large binocular overlaps (72°), which provided depth perception useful for tracking prey. By comparison, the frontal binocular overlaps of hammerhead species were larger than sharks with a more conventional head shape.This study quantified the range of the electrosensory system and the exte the visual field of several shark species, confirming both systems overlap around the head facilitating near seamless visual and electrosensory sensory function relevant to prey detection. The findings of this study indicate that ambient environmental light strongly influenced the function of the elasmobranch eye and that the extent of species' visual fields correlated with aspects of their morphology, locomotion and ecology.
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Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/216410
Subject Headings: Visual discrimination, Chondrichthyes, Embryology, Form perception, Adaptation (Biology), Aquatic animals, Physiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Pelvic fin locomotion in batoids.
Creator: Macesic, Laura Jane., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Although most batoids (skates and rays) are benthic, only the skates (Rajidae) have been described as performing benthic locomotion, termed 'punting'. While keeping the rest of the body motionless, the skate's specialized pelvic fins are planted into the substrate and then retracted caudally, which thrusts the body forward. This may be advantageous for locating and feeding on prey, avoiding predators, and reducing energetic costs. By integrating kinematic, musculoskeletal, material properties...
Show moreAlthough most batoids (skates and rays) are benthic, only the skates (Rajidae) have been described as performing benthic locomotion, termed 'punting'. While keeping the rest of the body motionless, the skate's specialized pelvic fins are planted into the substrate and then retracted caudally, which thrusts the body forward. This may be advantageous for locating and feeding on prey, avoiding predators, and reducing energetic costs. By integrating kinematic, musculoskeletal, material properties, and compositional analyses across a range of morphologically and phylogenetically diverse batoids, this dissertation (i) demonstrates that punting is not confined to the skates, and (ii) provides reliable anatomical and mechanical predictors of punting ability. Batoids in this study performed true punting (employing only pelvic fins), or augmented punting (employing pectoral and pelvic fins). Despite the additional thrust from the pectoral fins, augmented punters failed to exceed the punting c apabilities of the true punters. True punters' pelvic fins had greater surface area and more specialized and robust musculature compared to the augmented punters' fins. The flexural stiffness of the main skeletal element used in punting, the propterygium, correlated with punting ability (3.37 x 10-5 - 1.80 x 10-4 Nm2). Variation was due to differences in mineral content (24.4-48-9% dry mass), and thus, material stiffness (140-2533 MPa), and second moment of area. The propterygium's radius-to-thickness ratio (mean = 5.52 +-0.441 SE) indicated that the propterygium would support true and augmented punters, but not non-punters, in an aquatic environment. All propterygia would fail on land. Geometric and linear morphometric analyses of 61 batoid pelvic girdles demonstrated that pelvic girdle shape can predict punting and swimming ability and taxonomic attribution to Order., Characteristics of true punters' pelvic girdles, such as laterally facing fin articulations, large surface area formuscle attachment, and tall lateral pelvic processes are similar to characteristics of early sprawled-gait tetrapods' pelvic girdles. This dissertation demonstrates that punting is common in batoids, illustrates the convergent evolution of true punter and early tetrapod pelvic anatomy, and gives possible explanations for the restriction of elasmobranchs to aquatic habitats.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3171678
Subject Headings: Sharks, Ecology, Fins, Anatomy, Adaptation (Biology), Aquatic animals, Physiology, Fishes, Locomotion
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Specific dynamic action in hatchling and post-hatchling green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta ) sea turtles.
Creator: Kowalski, Amy, Florida Atlantic University, Milton, Sarah L., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Specific dynamic action (SDA) describes a post-feeding increase in oxygen consumption where most energy derived from food is allocated to post-absorptive processes, including growth and maintenance. SDA and growth in hatchling sea turtles is of special interest because they experience drastic changes in diet, oxygen availability and habitat during the first several months of life. This study investigated SDA variation between species and among age groups. SDA was quantified in two species of...
Show moreSpecific dynamic action (SDA) describes a post-feeding increase in oxygen consumption where most energy derived from food is allocated to post-absorptive processes, including growth and maintenance. SDA and growth in hatchling sea turtles is of special interest because they experience drastic changes in diet, oxygen availability and habitat during the first several months of life. This study investigated SDA variation between species and among age groups. SDA was quantified in two species of sea turtle (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta) at 7, 30, 60, & 90 days post-hatching. Turtles were fed a known amount of food, and oxygen consumption was monitored using a metabolic chamber. SDA percentage of total energy did not increase with age (species pooled), although magnitude of SDA was higher in C. mydas when compared to C. caretta (ages pooled). These results imply that SDA does not increase proportionally with age, and that hatchling C. mydas use more absolute energy for SDA than C. caretta .
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Date Issued: 2005
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13283
Subject Headings: Adaptation (Biology), Sea turtles--Feeding and feeds, Physiology, Comparative, Sea turtles--Ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A comparison of the ontogeny of energy consumption in leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea and olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea sea turtle hatchlings.
Creator: Jones, T. Todd, Florida Atlantic University, Lutz, Peter L., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Changes in activity related oxygen consumption and energy partitioning were measured in leatherback and olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings over their first month after nest emergence. Leatherbacks emerge with about 75--90 KJ of energy in the residual yolk at their disposal for growth and movement. In comparison, the residual yolk energy reserves for the olive ridley are estimated to be much less (45 KJ). In leatherbacks resting specific oxygen consumption rates decreased by 53% over the first...
Show moreChanges in activity related oxygen consumption and energy partitioning were measured in leatherback and olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings over their first month after nest emergence. Leatherbacks emerge with about 75--90 KJ of energy in the residual yolk at their disposal for growth and movement. In comparison, the residual yolk energy reserves for the olive ridley are estimated to be much less (45 KJ). In leatherbacks resting specific oxygen consumption rates decreased by 53% over the first post-hatching month (0.0065 ml O2 min-1 g-1--0.0031 ml O2 min-1 g-1), while for ridleys the fall was 32% (0.0038 ml O2 min-1 g-1--0.0026 ml O2 min-1 g-1). Greater differences were seen in aerobic scope. For olive ridleys the factorial aerobic scope doubled over the first month but there was no significant increase in the leatherback's factorial aerobic scope. Leatherback hatchlings gained on average 33% body mass (10 g) over the first week however 70 to 80% of this increase was due to water accumulation. The differences in aerobic scope and energy reserves are related to differences in early life ecological stratagems of these species.
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Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13139
Subject Headings: Sea turtles--Ecology, Animal behavior, Ontogeny, Developmental biology, Adaptation (Physiology), Ecophysiology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Effect of Deepwater Horizon Crude Oil on Olfaction and Electroreception in the Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina.
Creator: Cave, Eloise, Kajiura, Stephen M., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Crude oil causes both lethal and sublethal effects on marine organisms, but the impact upon sensory function remains unexplored. Elasmobranchs rely upon the effective functioning of their sensory systems for use in feeding, mating, and predator avoidance. The objective of this study was to test the effect of crude oil upon the olfactory and electroreceptive sensitivity of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. The magnitudes of the electro-olfactogram (EOG) responses were significantly...
Show moreCrude oil causes both lethal and sublethal effects on marine organisms, but the impact upon sensory function remains unexplored. Elasmobranchs rely upon the effective functioning of their sensory systems for use in feeding, mating, and predator avoidance. The objective of this study was to test the effect of crude oil upon the olfactory and electroreceptive sensitivity of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. The magnitudes of the electro-olfactogram (EOG) responses were significantly depressed by 26% (Glutamic Acid) to 157% (Cysteine) for all amino acids when stingrays were exposed to crude oil. The shapes of the EOG responses when exposed to oil were also significantly different, exhibiting a more protracted response compared to un-exposed stingrays. Oil exposed stingrays exhibited a significant decrease in orientation distance to prey-simulating electric fields. This study is the first to quantify the effects of crude oil on olfactory and electrosensory sensitivity of marine predators.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004776, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004776
Subject Headings: BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010., Stingrays--Physiology., Deep-sea biology., Adaptation (Biology), Electroreceptors., Oil spills--Environmental aspects., Olfactometry.
Format: Document (PDF)

Adaptation (Biology) (10)	+ -
Physiology (5)	+ -
Adaptation (Physiology) (3)	+ -
Aquatic animals (3)	+ -
Sharks (3)	+ -

Chondrichthyes (2)	+ -
Ecophysiology (2)	+ -
Locomotion (2)	+ -
Predation (Biology) (2)	+ -
Sea turtles--Ecology (2)	+ -
Visual discrimination (2)	+ -
Anatomy (1)	+ -
Animal behavior (1)	+ -
Animal behavior. (1)	+ -
Animal ecophysiology (1)	+ -
Animal migration. (1)	+ -
Aquatic animals (Physiology) (1)	+ -
Aquatic animals--Physiology (1)	+ -
Aquatic ecology. (1)	+ -
Axinellida (1)	+ -
BP Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill, 2010. (1)	+ -
Cell proliferation (1)	+ -
Cellular signal transduction (1)	+ -
Condrichthyes (1)	+ -
Conservation biology. (1)	+ -
Crab culture. (1)	+ -
Crabs--Behavior. (1)	+ -
Deep-sea biology. (1)	+ -
Developmental biology (1)	+ -
Echolocation (Physiology) (1)	+ -

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (11)	+ -
Department of Biological Sciences (10)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (6)	+ -
Kajiura, Stephen M. (3)	+ -
Barousse, Julien. (1)	+ -

Bedore, Christine N. (1)	+ -
Cave, Eloise (1)	+ -
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (1)	+ -
College of Engineering and Computer Science (1)	+ -
Cornett, Anthony D. (1)	+ -
Cutter, Jennifer (1)	+ -
Daniels, Lori B. (1)	+ -
Department of Biomedical Science (1)	+ -
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering (1)	+ -
Department of Psychology (1)	+ -
Devlin, Donna (1)	+ -
Grima, Jennifer. (1)	+ -
Jones, T. Todd (1)	+ -
Kowalski, Amy (1)	+ -
Lutz, Peter L. (1)	+ -
Macesic, Laura Jane. (1)	+ -
McComb, Dawn Michelle (1)	+ -
Meredith, Tricia L. (1)	+ -
Milton, Sarah L. (1)	+ -
Navarro, Diana. (1)	+ -
Newton, Kyle C. (1)	+ -

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