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Diatoms as a food source for Sorites dominicensis
Title
Diatoms as a food source for Sorites dominicensis.
Creator
Gaston, Tiffany., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Sorites dominicensis is a common Foraminifera living on Thalassia testudinum seagrass blades in the Indian River Lagoon. This locality is unique because epiphytic diatoms, characteristic of Caribbean and temperate environments, are expected to make up the biofilm community. Diatoms compose a large part of the Foraminiferan diet. It is important to understand the cause and effect relationship of population variation between S. dominicensis and its preferred food source, since both are valuable...
Show moreSorites dominicensis is a common Foraminifera living on Thalassia testudinum seagrass blades in the Indian River Lagoon. This locality is unique because epiphytic diatoms, characteristic of Caribbean and temperate environments, are expected to make up the biofilm community. Diatoms compose a large part of the Foraminiferan diet. It is important to understand the cause and effect relationship of population variation between S. dominicensis and its preferred food source, since both are valuable bioindicators. We examined the selective feeding of S. dominicensis by first, identifying the diatom assemblage. Second, we utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to identifying the remains of diatoms entrapped in pseudopodial nets and in debris piles. We found that Mastogloia and Cocconeis were the most prominent genera in the overall diatom assemblage. The food preference of S. dominicensis included Amphora, Berkeleya rutilans,Cocconeis, Licmophora dalmatica, Mastogloia, Odontella rhombus, Plagiogramma pulchellum var. pygmaeum, and Skeletonema.
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Date Issued
2008
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77667
Subject Headings
Diatoms, Identification, Wetland ecology, Stream ecology, Methodology
Format
Document (PDF)
Diet-based defensive secretions in harvestmen
Title
Diet-based defensive secretions in harvestmen.
Creator
Whitaker, Graham., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Harvestmen are known to secrete a wide range of defensive chemicals in order to protect themselves from predators. An earlier study examined the phylogenetic pattern of defensive secretions produced by 22 species of harvestmen. This research, however, assumed that there is a genetic link between the defensive secretions. I wished to determine whether harvestmen defensive secretions may be diet-based by introducing several irritants into their food and then testing their secretions in the same...
Show moreHarvestmen are known to secrete a wide range of defensive chemicals in order to protect themselves from predators. An earlier study examined the phylogenetic pattern of defensive secretions produced by 22 species of harvestmen. This research, however, assumed that there is a genetic link between the defensive secretions. I wished to determine whether harvestmen defensive secretions may be diet-based by introducing several irritants into their food and then testing their secretions in the same manner. I performed a GC-MS analysis on 13 samples from the Vonones sp. But I found no initial GC-MS readings that showed this species of harvestmen to contain any irritants in their secretions. The absence of irritants does not allow any evaluation of whether harvestmen secretions are genetically or dietarily based.
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Date Issued
2007
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11596
Subject Headings
Opiliones, Identification, Arachnida, Physiology, Predation (Biology)
Format
Document (PDF)
House ants of Karachi, Pakistan
Title
House ants of Karachi, Pakistan.
Creator
Haji, Malik., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Ants are ubiquitous and ecologically important, yet little is known of ants within Pakistan. I studied ants collected from houses and apartments in Karachi, Pakistan to determine which ants are common indoor ants. Ants were attracted by spilling syrups and sodas on the floor which were left overnight. The following morning the ants were collected using an aspirator. A total of eleven species were found. Of these eight were well-known pest ants with worldwide distributions: Paratrechina...
Show moreAnts are ubiquitous and ecologically important, yet little is known of ants within Pakistan. I studied ants collected from houses and apartments in Karachi, Pakistan to determine which ants are common indoor ants. Ants were attracted by spilling syrups and sodas on the floor which were left overnight. The following morning the ants were collected using an aspirator. A total of eleven species were found. Of these eight were well-known pest ants with worldwide distributions: Paratrechina longicornis, Tetramorium simillimum, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium subopacum, Monomorium destructor, Tapinoma melanocephalum, Pheidole megacephala, and Tetramorium bicarinatum. Three others, Camponotus sp., Pheidole sp., and Solenopsis sp., not identified to species were probably native species. Paratrechina longicornis and M. subopacum were the two most dominant species that were found in the highest abundance.
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Date Issued
2008
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77670
Subject Headings
Insects, Identification, Ants, Research, Self-organizing systems
Format
Document (PDF)
Manatee census of the Harbor Branch channel utilizing photo-identification techniques
Title
Manatee census of the Harbor Branch channel utilizing photo-identification techniques.
Creator
Nys, Lauren., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Anecdotal accounts of manatees congregating in the Harbor Branch channel have been reported by staff scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for over three decades. The main goals of this study were to identify individual manatees using photo-identification techniques and collect baseline data on manatee abundance and environmental parameters. During the primary study period (summer 2009), I identified 31 distinct manatees at Harbor Branch. Four manatees were matched with the...
Show moreAnecdotal accounts of manatees congregating in the Harbor Branch channel have been reported by staff scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for over three decades. The main goals of this study were to identify individual manatees using photo-identification techniques and collect baseline data on manatee abundance and environmental parameters. During the primary study period (summer 2009), I identified 31 distinct manatees at Harbor Branch. Four manatees were matched with the statewide Manatee Individual Photo-identification System database. I observed the highest abundance of manatees in the small boats marina, suggesting that this location is preferential manatee habitat. Water temperature at the two deepest depths measured (0.6 m and 1.50 m) were the only two significantly different environmental parameters influencing the number of manatees present. The results of this study provide evidence for the Harbor Branch channel as an important manatee habitat.
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Date Issued
2010
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3335459
Subject Headings
Manatees, Monitoring, Manatees, Habitat, Manatees, Identification
Format
Document (PDF)