Undergraduate Honors Theses in Biology
Theses/Dissertations from 2018
Determination of the Chromosomal Position of Three Mutations Using Recombination Mapping in Drosophila Melanogaster, Zane Bryant Coleman
The Effects Of Acidic Conditions And Tannins On The Survival, Development, And Behavior Of Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla Chrysoscelis), Caleb E. Dodd
Theory, practice, and conservation in the age of genomics: The Galápagos giant tortoise as a case study., Stephen Gaughran, Maud C. Quinzin, Joshua M. Miller, Ryan C. Garrick, Danielle L. Edwards, Michael A. Russello, Nikos Poulakakis, Claudio Ciofi, Luciano B. Beheregaray, and Adalgisa Caccone
Development of a Novel Salivary Cortisol Laboratory Experiment for Undergraduate Physiology Students, Charmin C. Guy
Effects of texting on neck muscle activity and neck flexion in college students., Matalgah Haneen
Effects of Hydrological Connectivity on the Benthos of a Large River (Lower Mississippi River, USA), Audrey B. Harrison
Purkinje Cell Morphology and Display Complexity in Manakins (Pipridae), Mary Harvey
Genome-scale fitness profile of Caulobacter crescentus grown in natural freshwater, Kristy Hentchel, Leila M. Reyes Ruiz, Patrick D. Curtis, Aretha Fiebig, Maureen L. Coleman, and Sean Crosson
Impact of Human Disturbance on the Behavior and Physiology of the Endangered Ringed Sawback Turtle (Graptemys oculifera), Jessica Mary Heppard
Author Correction: Evolutionary history of plant hosts and fungal symbionts predicts the strength of mycorrhizal mutualism, Jason Hoeksema, James D. Bever, Sounak Chakraborty, V. Bala Chaudhary, Monique Gardes, Catherine A. Gehring, Miranda M. Hart, Elizabeth A. Housworth, Wittaya Kaonongbua, John N. Klironomos, Marc J. Lajeunesse, James Meadow, Brook G. Milligan, Bridget J. Piculell, Anne Pringle, Megan A. Rúa, James Umbanhowar, Wolfgang Viechtbauer, Yen‐Wen Wang, and Gail W. T. Wilson
Population genomics through time provides insights into the consequences of decline and rapid demographic recovery through head‐starting in a Galapagos giant tortoise, Evelyn Jensen, Danielle L. Edwards, Ryan C. Garrick, Joshua M. Miller, James P. Gibbs, Linda J. Cayot, Washington Tapia, Adalgisa Caccone, and Michael A. Russello
A novel gene’s role in an ancient mechanism: secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 is a critical component in the anterior–posterior Wnt signaling network that governs the establishment of the anterior neuroectoderm in sea urchin embryos, Anita Khadka, Marina Martínez-Bartolomé, Stephanie D. Burr, and Ryan Range
To what extent do mesophotic coral ecosystems and shallow reefs share species of conservation interest? A systematic review, Jack Laverick, Shanice Piango, Dominic A. Andradi‐Brown, Dan A. Exton, Pim Bongaerts, Tom C. L. Bridge, Michael P. Lesser, Richard L. Pyle, Marc Slattery, Daniel Wagner, and Alex D. Rogers
Differential responses of avian and mammalian predators to phenotypic variation in Australian Brood Frogs, J. Lawrence, Michael Mahony, and Brice P. Noonan
Avian learning favors colorful, not bright, signals, J. Lawrence and Brice P. Noonan
Impacts And Implications Of Polytypism On The Evolution Of Aposematic Coloration, Justin Philip Lawrence
Assessing the links among environmental contaminants, endocrinology, and parasites to understand amphibian declines in montane regions of Costa Rica, Christopher Leary, Hannah Ralicki, David Laurencio, Sarah Crocker‐Buta, and John H. Malone
Characterizing the Effects of stm and ath1 Mutations on Floral Organ Development in Arabidopsis thaliana, James Luke Leary
Sponge density increases with depth throughout the Caribbean, Michael Lesser and Marc Slattery
Characterizing the Effects of Mutations in STM and ATH1 on Floral Organ Development in Arabidopsis thaliana, Hayden Malone
Upside-Down but Headed in the Right Direction: Review of the Highly Versatile Cassiopea xamachana System, Aki Ohdera, Michael J. Abrams, Cheryl Lewis Ames, David M. Baker, Luis Parmenio Suescún-Bolívar, Allen G. Collins, Christopher Freeman, Edgar Gamero‐Mora, Tamar L. Goulet, Dietrich K. Hofmann, Adrian Jaimes‐Becerra, Paul F. Long, Antonio C. Marques, Laura Miller, Laura D. Mydlarz, André C. Morandini, Casandra R. Newkirk, Sastia Prama Putri, Julia E. Samson, and Sérgio N. Stampar
A cytochrome P450 CYP71 enzyme expressed in Sorghum bicolor root hair cells participates in the biosynthesis of the benzoquinone allelochemical sorgoleone, Zhiqiang Pan, Scott R. Baerson, Mei Wang, Joanna Bajsa‐Hirschel, Agnes M. Rimando, Xiaoqiang Wang, N. P. Dhammika Nanayakkara, Brice P. Noonan, Michael Fromm, Franck E. Dayan, Ikhlas A. Khan, and Stephen O. Duke
Population Genetics of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Lee Ann Passarella
Genetically determined fungal pathogen tolerance and soil variation influence ectomycorrhizal traits of loblolly pine, Bridget Piculell, Lori G. Eckhardt, and Jason D. Hoeksema
LIDAR-based characterization and conservation of the first theropod dinosaur trackways from Arkansas, USA, Brian Platt, Celina A. Suarez, Stephen K. Boss, Malcolm Williamson, Jackson Cothren, and Jo Ann Kvamme
Giant tortoise genomes provide insights into longevity and age-related disease, Vı́ctor Quesada, Sandra Freitas‐Rodríguez, Joshua M. Miller, José G. Pérez-Silva, Zi-Feng Jiang, Washington Tapia, Olaya Santiago‐Fernández, Diana Campos-Iglesias, Lukas F. K. Kuderna, Maud C. Quinzin, M. Alvarez, Dido Carrero, Luciano B. Beheregaray, James P. Gibbs, Ylenia Chiari, Scott Glaberman, Claúdio Ciofi, Miguel Araujo‐Voces, Pablo Mayoral, and Javier R. Arango
Tree thinning and fire affect ectomycorrhizal fungal communities and enzyme activities, Ann Rasmussen, J. Stephen Brewer, Colin R. Jackson, and Jason D. Hoeksema
The Effects of Mutations in the ATH1 and STM Genes on Sepal, Petal, and Stamen Abscission in Arabidopsis thaliana Plants, Hunter L. Roth
A spatial genetics approach to inform vector control of tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in Northern Uganda, Norah Saarman, Mary K. Burak, Robert Opiro, Chaz Hyseni, Richard Echodu, Kirstin Dion, Elizabeth A. Opiyo, William A. Dunn, Giuseppe Amatulli, Serap Aksoy, and Adalgisa Caccone
Biodiversity And Evolution In The Guiana Shield, South America, Andrew Michael Snyder
The Effect of Environmental Perturbations on the Plant Phyllosphere Microbiome, Bram W. Stone
Weed Management in 2050: Perspectives on the Future of Weed Science, James Westwood, R. Charudattan, Stephen O. Duke, Steven A. Fennimore, Pam Marrone, David C. Slaughter, Clarence J. Swanton, and Richard K. Zollinger
A Review of the Serica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) of Mexico, Canada, and the western United States, Reese John Worthington
lncRNA Gene Signatures for Prediction of Breast Cancer Intrinsic Subtypes and Prognosis, Silu Zhang, Junqing Wang, Torumoy Ghoshal, Dawn Wilkins, Yin-Yuan Mo, Yixin Chen, and Yunyun Zhou
Theses/Dissertations from 2017
Conditions Responsible For The Success Of Carnivorous Plants In Nutrient-Poor Wetlands, Matthew John Abbott
The effect of road crossings on stream-associated salamanders within Holly Springs National Forest, Caleb Ashton Aldridge
Historical refuges and recolonization routes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, inferred through phylogeographic analysis of the spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), John Daniel Banusiewicz
Effects of Mutating CtrA-Binding Sites within the pile Promoter of Caulobacter Crescentus, Sarah Chong
The Reptile Gut Microbiome: Its Role In Host Evolution And Community Assembly, Timothy John Colston
Bring Your Own Device Initiative to Improve Engagement and Performance in Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II Laboratories, Kelsey Hillhouse
Egg Laying Bird with Male Plumage Demonstrates the Puzzling Nature of Sexual Differentiation and Selective Mate Preferences in Zebra Finches, John Aaron Howell
Population Genetics of the Giant Red Centipede Along the Appalachian Mountains, Kayla Elayne Ladner
The Impact Of Simulated Microgravity On The Growth Of The Model Legume Plant Medicago Truncatula, Gemma Elizabeth Lionheart
Responses of the Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) to Human Disturbance, Thomas Hughes Martin
Culture-Independent Analysis of Microbial Communities Associated with Hydroponically Grown Living Lettuce, Abby Matthews
Spatial Variation of Bacterial Communities on the Leaves of a Southern Magnolia Tree, Emily Q. Nguyen
Towards a Better Understanding of Secondary Metabolite Production in Toxic Marine Algae, Thuy My Nguyen
Risk, Reward, And The Role Of Habitat Selection On Community Dynamics In Temporary Ponds, Matthew Robert Pintar
The Effects of Microstegium Vimineum on the Soil Microbial Community, Holly Kate Raymond
Autoregulation of the Glial Gene Reversed Polarity in Drosophila Melanogaster, Chase Suiter
Theses/Dissertations from 2016
Methods of Quantification and Characterization of Coccidian Oocysts, Mariam Abunemeh
Elevated Corticosterone Levels Decrease Vocal Attractiveness and Elicit Non-Calling Mating Tactics in Male Green Tree Frogs, Hyla cinerea, Hannah Burroff
Stress, sexual signaling, and alternative mating tactics in male green treefrogs, Hyla cinerea, Sarah Crocker-Buta
Females Influence Brain Evolution: Dance Complexity Related to Volume of a Sensorimotor Region in Manakins, Wilson Helmhout
Optimizing RNA Extraction from Fungal-Algal Tissues for Transcriptomic Gene Expression Analysis, Michael J. Hohl
Nemo no more? Spatial demographic and population genetic analyses of the two-band anemonefish, Amphiprion bicinctus, in the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea, Jacob Seth Howell
The Effects of Oral Probiotic Supplements on the Human Gut Microbiome, Erin Hudnall
Vegetation Effects on Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Coastal Wetlands of South Mississippi, Sean Woo Kang
Influence of plant species, location, and seasonality on rhizosphere bacterial communities in freshwater wetlands, Hakchul Lee
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Mediating the Expression of Alternative Mating Tactics in Male Green Treefrogs, Hyla Cinerea, Aleah R. Liddell
Seasonal Changes in Biomass of Two ComFreshwater Wetland plants: storage of nutrients, Emily Kathryn McCann
Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Comparison of Three Different Plants and Their Processes, Facilities, and Challenges They Face, Jon Abigail McDonald
Genetic And Temporal Variation In Resource Exchange Between An Ectomycorrhizal Fungus, Rhizopogon Occidentalis, And Seedlings Of Pinus Radiata, Mariah Meachum
The Application of RNA Interference to Knock Out Groucho Expression in Drosophila S2 Cells, Savannah Mitchell
The Effects of Red Light on Blue-Light Phototropism in Arabidopsis Thaliana, Alison Michelle Neel
The biotic effects of tertiary geoclimatic change in the southern hemisphere, Stuart Val Nielsen
The Effects of Tillage, Glyphosate, and Genetic Modification on Bacterial Root Endophyte Composition in Zea Mays, Breena Lori Nolan
Analysis of Joint Dysfunction During an Aging- Simulation, Laboratory Exercise for Allied Health Students, Anna E. O'Connor
Loblolly Pine Genetics Structure Its Mycorrhizal Community, Bridget Joan Piculell
Hormonal and Social Factors Influencing Alternative Mating Tactic Decisions in Male Green Treefrogs, Hyla cinerea, Brooks Pratt
Community Ecology Of Soil Microbes In Southeast Usa Oak-Pine Woodlands, Ann L. Rasmussen
Biochemical Composition of Caribbean Gorgonian Corals and Their Symbiosis Under Ambeint and Stressful Conditions, Kartick Prakash Shirur
Courtship lateralization and its effect on mating success of male wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), Mara E. Vernier
Christian Faith and Evolution: One Person's Journey in Science and in Faith, Logan Wilson
Theses/Dissertations from 2015
Negative Effects Of ComMycorrhizal Networks And Roots On Upland Oak Seedlings In Open-Canopy Woodlands And Closed-Canopy Forests, William Chase Bailey
Soil bacterial structure and function associated with the invasive grass Microsteguim vimineum and two native grasses, Jennifer Kay Bell
The Effects of Testosterone on Calling Behavior in Green Treefrogs, Hyla cinerea, Brandon Bunol
Behavior, Energetics, And Swimming Performance Of The American Paddlefish, Polyodon Spathula, In A Lower Mississippi River Oxbow, Bryan Andrew Cage
An Examination of Microbial Populations in Different Brands and Flavors of Ice Cream, Madeline Campbell
Sandy Symbionts: How Tree Identity Shapes Ectomycorrhizal Fungus in Sand Pine, John Culbertson
A Translational Study of the Correlation Between Low Birth Weight, Hypertension, and Kidney Function Using a Rat Model, Marcus Daniels
The Effects Of Clinorotation In The Host Plant, Medicago Truncatula, And Its Microbial Symbionts, Ariel Dauzart
The Effects of Acoustic Signals on the Endocrine Physiology of Female Green Treefrogs, Hyla Cinerea, Melissa Paige Dent
Oviposition Site Selection By Mosquitoes: Predator-Released Kairomones And Responses To Different Taxa, Lauren Larea Eveland
Feasibility of Incorporating Electrogastrography into an Undergraduate Physiology Laboratory Curriculum, Lauren A. Foropoulos
Systems biology approach to understanding the control of glucose metabolism in healthy and apoptotic neurons, Hoda Gebril
Androgen Mediation of Elaborate Male Traits: The Effects of Dihydrotestosterone Administration on Vocal Quality in Male Green Treefrogs, Hyla Cinerea, Thor M. Goodfellow
Does This Have Gluten? Comparison of Gluten-Free and Unrestricted Diets in Intestinal Bacterial Populations and Diversity, Bradshaw Hammond
Adaptive Movements And Thermoregulation In Big-Eared Bats, Cody Jordan
Differences in Bacterial Communities on Decaying Leaf Litter of Different Tress in Response to Burning as a Forest Restoration Technique, Allison Marcum
The influence of current year fire on leaf litter decomposition rates and microbial enzyme activity in forests undergoing ecological restoration, Megan E. Overlander