TSUIHIJI, T.*; KEARNEY, M.; RIEPPEL, O.; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago: Differentiation of axial muscles in the anterior precloacal region of snakes and implications for the cervico-dorsal boundary Because of the complete lack of the pectoral girdle, it is unclear whether a […]

RAY, Julie M.*; PIKE, David A.; Old Dominion University; Glatting-Jackson Inc.: Defensive behaviors in neotropical snakes: an interspecific comparison Snakes, like many organisms, are prone to high rates of predation, and many species have behavioral or morphological adaptations to reduce predation pressures. These include crypsis, aggressiveness, flight behavior, and many others. Interspecific comparisons of defensive […]

GRIGGS, JL*; BELDEN, LK; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Decreased survival of trematode cercariae Echinostoma trivolvis following atrazine and metolachlor exposure Atrazine and metolachlor are two widely used agricultural herbicides that inhibit the growth of pre-emergent vegetation. Residues of these pesticides are commonly found in bodies of water near agricultural areas. While extensive studies […]

MARKWELL, Poppy*; GOYRET, Joaquin; RAGUSO, Robert A.; Oberlin College; Univ. of S. Carolina, Columbia; Univ. of S. Carolina, Columbia: Decoupling odor from visual cues in nectar feeding by Manduca sexta Nocturnal hawkmoths (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are innately attracted to flowers that provide a combination of visual and olfactory cues. One species, Manduca sexta, approaches flowers when […]

CHUNG, J. Sook*; ZMORA, N.; COMB, UMBI, Baltimore; COMB, UMBI, Baltimore: Crustacean cardioactive peptide: cDNA structures and expression patterns in crustaceans. In arthropods, crustacean cardioactive peptide (CCAP) is conserved both in structure as a cyclized nonapeptide and in physiological functions: cardiac output and ecdysis. We employed a combined strategy of degenerate PCR and 3�-and 5�- […]

FRANCESCHINI, M.D.**; CUSTER, C.M.; CUSTER, T.W.; ROMERO, L.M.; Tufts University, Medford, MA; U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI; U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI; Tufts University, Medford, MA: Corticosterone Stress Response in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) Nesting Near a PCB-Contaminated River Adult female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and 11-14 day old nestlings were sampled along […]

BONILLA, A.J.*; KIMBALL, R.T.; BRAUN, E.L.; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville: Conservation and Molecular Evolution of 3� Untranslated Regions in Birds A limited amount is known regarding the function of 3� untranslated regions (UTRs) of vertebrate messenger RNAs (mRNAs), though roles in the regulation of both mRNA stability […]

VOLTZOW, J.*; AHMADZADEH, B.; BROWN, R.; Univ. of Scranton, PA: Collagen-wrapped bundles of smooth muscle: A synapomorphy for the Mollusca? Each phylum of animals can be distinguished by features that are unique to that group. For example, each member of the Chordata has a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal gill slits, and a post-anal […]

HUSSAIN, Sofia M*; LIVINGSTON, Brian T; University of South Florida; University of South Florida: Codon usage frequencies are influenced by concerted evolution and selection in a gene encoding a protein containing imperfect repeats Codon usage in a protein coding gene is limited by the amino acids required to produce a functional product. Within this constraint, […]

LARDY, C.H.*; PARR, L.A.; San Jose State Univ.; San Jose State Univ.: Clinal and Biogeographical Genetic Variation of the Dungeness Crab (Cancer magister): Implications for Marine Reserve Design The Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is a large crustacean that is found along the western coast of North America, from Alaska to Baja California. This species has […]