Ecology and evolutionary biology.Chair: Robert Hamilton, Mississippi College THURSDAY MORNING Chesnut O4.01 9:00 PHYLOGENY, CLASSIFICATION, AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE TROPICAL PLANT FAMILY SAMYDACEAE Mac Alford, Angela Dement University of Southern Mississippi The flowering plant family Samydaceae consists of 14 genera and about 240 species of tropical trees and shrubs. Although closely related to willows, cottonwoods, violets, and passion flowers, the family has received less attention because its species are exclusively tropical and have minute flowers, making collection and identification difficult. In order to facilitate identification, an interactive, electronic key was created for all of the species in the family and will be demonstrated. The key was then used to check identifications of material collected for a study of relationships within the family. A previous study indicated that the largest genus in the family, Casearia, is not monophyletic monophyletic /mono·phy·let·ic/ (mon?o-fi-let´ik) descended from a common ancestor or stem cell. mon·o·phy·let·ic adj. 1. Descended or derived from one original stock or source. , but the support values were generally low. In this study, we sampled the same species for different genetic regions to determine if additional variation would affirm or refute the previous hypothesis. DNA sequences from more variable plastid plas·tid n. 1. Any of several pigmented cytoplasmic organelles found in plant cells and other organisms, having various physiological functions, such as the synthesis and storage of food. Also called trophoplast. 2. regions and from the nucleus proved useful, but DNA sequences from two mitochondrial mitochondrial pertaining to mitochondria. mitochondrial RNAs a unique set of tRNAs, mRNAs, rRNAs, transcribed from mitochondrial DNA by a mitochondrial-specific RNA polymerase, that account for about 4% of the total cell RNA that regions was almost invariable (5 differences / 2000 base-pairs). Phylogenetic analyses of the DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. data affirm the previous hypothesis that Casearia is not monophyletic and that changes in classification are needed. O4.02 9:15 RESPONSES OF LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Heath E. Capello, Clifford Ochs University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1848, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford and three branch campuses located in Booneville, Tupelo, and Southaven. In large rivers like the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), abiotic a·bi·ot·ic adj. Nonliving: The abiotic factors of the environment include light, temperature, and atmospheric gases. a features, such as discharge and light, are usually considered the major factors influencing the biomass and composition of potamoplankton. Because large rivers are often turbid tur·bid adj. Having sediment or foreign particles stirred up or suspended; muddy; cloudy. tur·bid  i·ty n. , nutrient limitation is thought
rarely to be an issue. However, as the light regimes change in rivers
due to human alterations of lotic lo·tic adj. Of, relating to, or living in moving water. [From Latin l systems, nutrients may alter phytoplankton community dynamics. This research seeks to understand how nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica inputs can change LMR phytoplankton. Samples were taken in the main channel of the LMR at two different locations over the course of a year. After being returned to the laboratory, phytoplankton were cultured at in situ temperatures and treated with nutrients in a factorial design. Chlorophyll fluorescence and high-performance liquid chromatography were employed to track changes in biomass and community composition. Regardless of season, phosphorus, or some combination of phosphorus with other nutrients, had the greatest effect compared to the control treatments. O4.03 9:30 MODELING THE MEDIAN TIME TO EXTINCTION IN POPULATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT INBREEDING-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS Joy Liao, David Reed University of Mississippi The persistence time of populations of endangered plants and animals Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal, comprised of guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque, and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woodley.[1] They are signed to Secret City Records. is a central focus in conservation biology and policy decision-making. Besides genetic deterioration (genetic drift and inbreeding inbreeding, mating of closely related organisms. Inbreeding is chiefly used as a means of insuring the preservation of specific desired traits among the offspring of purebred animals (see breeding). ) and environmental stochasticity (catastrophes), mounting evidence suggests that the interactions between inbreeding and stress may also be a critical consideration in esimating extinction probabilities, which has not been taken into account by major conservation organizations. We used computer simulation to determine whether including inbreeding-environment interactions reduces the median time to extinction (MTE), and we examined the relationship between the carrying capacity (K), the frequency of stressful environmental conditions (P), and the number of haploid haploid /hap·loid/ (hap´loid) 1. having half the number of chromosomes characteristically found in the somatic (diploid) cells of an organism; typical of the gametes of a species whose union restores the diploid number. lethal equivalents (B) to the decrease in extinction time. The results demonstrate that inbreeding-environment interactions reduce persistence time by approximately 30% over a wide range of carrying capacities. O4.04 9:45 TRANSFORMATION OF ANTHRACENE anthracene (ăn`thrəsēn), C14H10, solid organic compound derived from coal tar. It melts at 218°C; and boils at 354°C;. BY IMMOBILIZED LACCASE Laccases (EC 1.10.3.2) are copper containing oxidase enzymes that are found in many plants, fungi and microorganisms. The copper can be bound in several sites; Type 1, Type 2, and/or Type 3. When types 2 and 3 are bound together, it is called a trinuclear cluster. FROM TRAMETES VERSICOLOR Xiaoke Hu, Peng Wang, Xueheng Zhao, Huey-min Hwang Jackson State University Jackson State University, often abridged as Jackson State or by its initials JSU is a historically black university located in Jackson, Mississippi founded in 1877. In order to enhance the stability of the free enzyme, the laccase of Trametes versicolor was immobilized on the functionalized nanoparticles SBA-15 with the average diameter less than 10 nm. Laccase mediated oxidation of anthracene (ANT) were investigated in the presence of two mediators, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). Our results indicated that the oxidation of ANT was more efficiently enhanced by adding 1 mM of HBT than that by adding 1 mM ABTS. After 48 h oxidation HBT group significantly oxidized ANT with residue 58% relative to 88% in the ABTS group. According to the HPLC HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography. HPLC high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography Lab instrumentation A highly sensitive analytic method in which analytes are placed and GC/MS analyses, the main product of ANT oxidation is anthraquinone anthraquinone /an·thra·quin·one/ (an?thrah-kwin´on) 1. the 9,10 quinone derivative of anthracene, used in dye manufacture. 2. any of the derivatives of this compound, some of which are dyes. (ANQ). The fluorescein fluorescein /flu·o·res·ce·in/ (fldbobr-res´en) a fluorescing dye; its sodium salt is used as a tracer in retinal angiography and as a diagnostic aid for revealing corneal trauma and fitting contact lenses. diacetate (FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. ) uptake of two human cell lines was used to assess the cytotoxicity of ANT and its oxidation product ANQ. In the HaCaT cells, treatments with ANT and ANQ at the concentration of 5 and 10 [micro]M exhibited significant cytotoxicity compared to the PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, control group containing 4% DMSO DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide. DMSO n. Dimethyl sulfoxide; a colorless hygroscopic liquid obtained from lignin, used as a penetrant to convey medications into the tissues. DMSO, n. (P < 0.05). In the experiment with A3 lymphocytes, significant decreases in cell viability (the percent decreases in viability ranged from 13% to 24%) were detected for treatments with ANT and ANQ at 5 and 10 [micro]M, respectively. The results illustrated that the oxidation product ANQ is less toxic than the parent compound ANT as well. Both ANT and ANQ showed no significant genotoxicity Genotoxic substances are a type of carcinogen, specifically those capable of causing genetic mutation and of contributing to the development of tumors. This includes both certain chemical compounds and certain types of radiation. at 5 and 10 Mm. 10:00 Break O4.05 10:15 A METHOD OF PRODUCING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA MARKERS IN IPOMOEA Ipomoea widespread genus of poisonous vines of the family Convolvulaceae; may contain various toxins including the indole alkaloid lysergic acid, furanoterpenes, indolizidine alkaloids (swainsonine). Includes I. asarifolia (salsa), I. PES CAPRAE Lili Wu, Robert Hamilton Mississippi College Ipomoea pes caprae (Convolvulaceae) is a widely distributed member of the Morning Glory family. Individuals of I. pes caprae are found on cooastlines and along railway lines throughout the tropics. Ip. pes caprae is an excellent example of a plant dispersed by ocean currents. Studies of the population genetics of I. pes caprae could reveal much about the population genetics of such species. Unfortunately, there is very little genetic information for I. pes caprae. In our research, we successfully produced DNA markers for genetic analysis of I. pes caprae. DNA was extracted from leaves and then used in RAPDs PCR PCR polymerase chain reaction. PCR abbr. polymerase chain reaction Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 10bp random primers. We separated RAPDs fragments on a polyacrylamide gel. We removed RAPDs PCR products from the gel and reamplified them with the same primers. Reamplification products were cloned and sequenced. DNA sequence data were then used to design primers specific to that sequence. Primers selected specific to the sequenced RAPDs fragments were then used to reamplify a fragments from genomic DNA specific to the specific primer. This method will be used in the future to develop a number of such fragments to be used as markers for population genetic analysis. O4.06 10:30 ESTABLISHMENT OF MICROSATELLITE BASED PCR ANALYSIS OF SPOTTED SALAMANDER Huihui Huang, Robert Hamilton Mississippi College The Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, is common throughout forests of eastern North America. Destruction and fragmentation of forests in eastern North America have reduced populations of A. maculatum. Road building can fragment local breeding populations, possibly reducing effective population size. Recently the Natchez trace was extended through the range of a breeding population of A. maculatum in Jackson, Mississippi. We will use microsatellite markers to assess population genetic changes over several years as a test of the prediction that such road building reduces effective population size. Initially, we need to develop a method of analysis, which we report here. We used previously developed microsatellite primers in this study. The published protocols resulted in a large number of extra fragments in PCR reactions, requiring us to modify conditions to produce bands specific to the loci specified in the published protocol. Our adjustments included Hot Start PCR, adjustment of annealing temperatures and adjustment of the final concentration of Mg2+, dNTPs, and primers. O4.07 10:45 BACTERIOPLANKTON ABUNDANCE AND PRODUCTION IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER Clifford Ochs, Heath Capello University of Mississippi As central as the Mississippi River is in the history, development, and identity of North America it is remarkable that so little is known of its food web structure or biogeochemical processes. As one component of a sustained investigation of the lower Mississippi, we are conducting studies of spatial and temporal dynamics in nutrient transport, plankton community biomass and composition, and plankton production in the main channel. This presentation focuses on characteristics of the bacterioplankton community. Between June 2006 and August 2007, the abundance of free-living bacteria in the water-column ranged between 3 and 25 billion cells per liter. Rates of bacterioplankton production in river water varied from 17 to 243 micrograms C per liter per day. The pattern in bacterioplankton production is related to water temperature, with maximum rates of production in mid-summer and lowest rates in winter. From laboratory measurements of bacterial production and respiration in size-fractionated samples, we conclude that an average of 82% of whole-water bacterial production and 47% of bacterial respiration occurs by bacteria attached to suspended particles. These results suggest differences in the metabolism and possibly composition and physiology of free-living vs. attached bacteria. The relevance of these findings to the Gulf of Mexico Noun 1. Gulf of Mexico - an arm of the Atlantic to the south of the United States and to the east of Mexico Golfo de Mexico Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean - the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east will be explored. O4.08 11:00 POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SILVER CARP (HYPOPHTHALMICHTHYS MOLITRIX) ON THE PLANKTON COMMUNITY OF FOREST HOME CHUTE, WARREN COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. In 2000, its population was 49,644. Its county seat is Vicksburg6. Warren County is named for American Revolutionary War officer Joseph Warren. Geography According to the U.S. Orathai Pongruktham, Clifford Ochs University of Mississippi A short-term, pilot study of the structure of the plankton community of Forest Home Chute was conducted between October 2006 and July 2007 to assess the potential impact of the invasive fish, silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), on the plankton community of the system. Forest Home Chute is a moderately productive oxbow lake which occasionally connects to the Mississippi River. Plankton and gut contents of silver carp were collected from Forest Home Chute and analyzed by light microscopy for composition of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The most common phytoplankton observed in the water-column were euglenoid Noun 1. euglenoid - marine and freshwater green or colorless flagellate organism euglenid, euglenophyte alga, algae - primitive chlorophyll-containing mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms lacking true stems and roots and leaves algae algae (ăl`jē) [plural of Lat. alga=seaweed], a large and diverse group of primarily aquatic plantlike organisms. These organisms were previously classified as a primitive subkingdom of the plant kingdom, the thallophytes (plants that , cyanobacteria cyanobacteria (sī'ənōbăktĭr`ēə, sī-ăn'ō–) or blue-green algae, photosynthetic bacteria that contain chlorophyll. , and diatoms diatoms a series of unicellular algae, microscopic in size, with cell walls containing silica. Members of the family Diatomaceae. Their remains accumulate as geological deposits and are mined. See diatomaceous earth. . The vast majority of zooplankton were rotifers with densities occasionally exceeding 8,000 per liter. Macrozooplankton (cladocerans and copepods) were uncommon. To evaluate the feeding behavior of the fish, we compared diversity and concentrations of plankton in the water-column with plankton in the fish guts. Our results suggest some degree of selectivity in planktivory by silver carp. For example, in October, euglenoid phytoplankton were a much bigger proportion of phytoplankton in the upper gut of the fish compared to their presence in the water column. In contrast, the relative frequency of cyanobacteria in fish guts was less than their relative frequency in the water-column. Observations revealed that some of the phytoplankton consumed by silver carp, including diatoms and euglenoid algae, are able to survive transit through the fish gut. 11:15 Business Meeting THURSDAY AFTERNOON Grand Ballroom 6:00 Dodgen Reception and Divisional Poster Sessions Please set up between 4:00p and 4:30p P4.01 THE EFFECTS OF LATE 20TH CENTURY LAND USE ON BIRD POPULATIONS AT PLYMOUTH BLUFF ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, NORTHEASTERN MISSISSIPPI Lauren Thead, Kristen Chipley, Paul Mack Mississippi University for Women • • [ Plymouth Bluff, located just southwest of Columbus, MS, is an area of land near the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway managed by the Mississippi University for Women (MUW). Although local bird populations were assessed in the 1930s in an area that is now primarily encompassed by the Plymouth Bluff Center, land use in the area has changed substantially over the last seventy years. To assess the effects of recent land use patterns on local bird populations, we have used circular plots to estimate population densities for a number of resident bird species in lowland hardwood forest, upland pine, and cypress swamp habitats at Plymouth Bluff. Preliminary analyses of data collected on current--primarily wintering resident--bird populations will be presented along with general comparisons of current estimates with those based on specimen collection records from the 1930's. P4.02 RESIDUAL TOXICITY OF SOIL, WATERS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF ACCUMULATED COMPOUNDS ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST The Mississippi Gulf Coast refers to the three Mississippi counties which lie on the Gulf of Mexico: Hancock County, Mississippi, Harrison County, Mississippi, and Jackson County, Mississippi. COMPARED TO THE TOXICITY OF THE NINTH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS The Ninth Ward or 9th Ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the easternmost downriver portion of the city. It is the most famous in name and geographically the largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans. FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA Louis Hall, Mack Felton, Jr., Abigail S. Newsome Mississippi Valley State University Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The university is commonly referred to as MVSU or simply "The Valley." MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. Soil and water samples were taken from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast and compared to soil and water samples from New Orleans to ascertain the difference in toxicity and identify residual compounds. Samples were analyzed using a DeltaTox System which is used to screen and monitor environmental samples using Vibrio fischeri to determine toxicity. Percent light gained indicate less toxicity and light loss indicate increased toxicity. GC/MS was performed to identify any residual, accumulated compounds remaining in the soils and waters of the areas. The toxicity of the water sampled inshore along the Mississippi Gulf Coast ranged from -17% to +102% bioluminescence bioluminescence (bī'ōl  'mĭnĕs`əns), production of light by living organisms. with a pH range of 7.34 to 8.38. The toxicity of the waters of the Gulf
of Mexico ranged from +11% to +242%. The pH ranged from 7.12 to 7.92.
The toxicity of the soil sampled ranged from -37% to +6%. The pH had a
range of 6.06 to 8.10. Propanil, o-aminoacetophenone,
2-aminobenznoitrile, and trans-1,3-pentadiene were identified using
GC/MS in a range of 3.79Mcounst to 0.14 Mcounts. The toxicity of the
soil samples from New Orleans ranged from -26 % to +134 % bioluminescen,
with a pH range of 6.62 to 7.98. The toxicity of the water ranged from
30 % to +68 % with a pH range of 6.93 to 7.48. GC/MS confirmed the
presence ovarious compounds ranging from 4.82Mcounts to 0.20 Mcounts.
P4.03 STEROID HORMONES AND IMMUNE FUNCTION IN NORTHERN CARDINALS (CARDINALIS CARDINALIS): DO THE SEXES DIFFER AND DO HORMONES IMPACT IMMUNE FUNCTION? Jocole Green and Jodie M. Jawor University of Southern Mississippi A strong immune system is important to survival; individuals with strong immune systems can live longer and can produce more progeny because they see more breeding attempts. Differences between the sexes in immune system strength have been reported due to different behaviors/energy inputs during reproduction. Additionally, testosterone (T) can negatively affect the immune system either directly on its own, or indirectly by triggering corticosterone corticosterone (kôr'təkōstĕr`ōn), steroid hormone secreted by the outer layer, or cortex, of the adrenal gland. Classed as a glucocorticoid, corticosterone helps regulate the conversion of amino acids into carbohydrates and , (CORT) production which suppresses the immune system. Both T and CORT can be elevated during reproduction. Here we investigate the activity of the immune system in male and female Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), a strongly bi-parental species, and the influences of hormones on immune actions during breeding. Plasma samples from 107 individuals (51 females, 56 males) were collected during May-August of 2007 at the Eubanks/Lake Thoreau property owned and maintained by USM in Hattiesburg, MS. Samples were analyzed for T with an ELISA-immunoassay, CORT was analyzed with a competitive binding radio-immunoassay, and immune function (complement activity, [CH.sub.50]) was assessed with a hemolytic he·mo·lyt·ic adj. Destructive to red blood cells; hematolytic. Hemolytic Referring to the destruction of the cell membranes of red blood cells, resulting in the release of hemoglobin from the damaged cell. assay. There was a significant different in T between the sexes with males having higher levels than females. CORT and C[H.sub.50] scores were not significantly different between the sexes, although males tended to have higher levels of both measures. Within each sex there was no co-variation between C[H.sub.50] score and levels of T or CORT. We found no differences between the sexes in immune response in this study. A possible reason is the weak sexual selection and the extreme parental behavior observed in this species. We also did not have co-variation between hormones and immune function, and this may be linked to the overall low levels of T and moderate levels of CORT observed in this species. |
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