Meeting Abstract 52.3  Monday, Jan. 5  Leading edge vortices elevate lift of autorotating plant seeds LENTINK, David*; DICKSON, William B.; VAN LEEUWEN, Johan L.; DICKINSON, Michael H.; Wageningen University; California Institute of Technology; Wageningen University; California Institute of Technology david.lentink@wur.nl As they descend, the autorotating seeds of maples and some other tree species generate exceptionally high lift, […]

Meeting Abstract 52.4  Monday, Jan. 5  Hygromorphs REYSSAT, E*; MAHADEVAN, L; Harvard University; Harvard University ereyssat@seas.harvard.edu Pine cones open and close in response to environmental humidity fluctuations, as can be checked with pine cones picked up from the backyard. This is just one example of how plant organs and tissues from leaves to flowers respond passively to […]

Meeting Abstract 52.6  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Where’s the Glass? Biomarkers, Molecular Clocks and microRNAs suggest a 200 Million Year Missing Precambrian Fossil Record of Siliceous Sponge Spicules SPERLING, Erik A.*; ROBINSON, Jeffrey M.; PISANI, Davide; PETERSON, Kevin J.; Yale University; Dartmouth College; The National University of Ireland, Maynooth; Dartmouth College erik.sperling@yale.edu The earliest evidence for animal life […]

Meeting Abstract 52.5  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Life on the Fly: Evolution and Ecology of the Endangered Helicopter Damselflies (Odonata: Pseudostigmatidae) INGLEY, S.J.*; BYBEE, S.M.; BRANHAM, M.A.; WHITING, M.F.; Univ. of Florida; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of Florida; Brigham Young University sjingley@gmail.com Helicopter damselflies (Odonata: Pseudostigmatidae) form a relatively small, yet dynamic group of endangered odonates (including […]

Meeting Abstract 52.2  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Hybrid sterility limits introgression between invasive and endemic blue mussels BRANNOCK, Pamela M*; HILBISH, Thomas J; University of South Carolina; University of South Carolina pamela.m.brannock@gmail.com The mechanisms of speciation in marine ecosystems have interested scientists for decades. Since many marine species spawn gametes into the water column and fertilization occurs externally, […]

Meeting Abstract 52.3  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Examining genetic variation of the Acanthocephalan Profilicollis altmani parasitizing mole crabs (Emerita spp.) in North America GOULDING, T*; COHEN, S; Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University; Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University tc.goulding@yahoo.com Parasites are often an overlooked component of marine ecosystems despite […]

Meeting Abstract 52.4  Tuesday, Jan. 5  A Semiparametric Method to Test for Correlated Evolution in a Phylogenetic Context HARMON, Luke J.; University of Idaho lukeh@uidaho.edu Here I describe a new nonparametric comparative method, the phylogenetic rank correlation (PRC) test. This test, based on the correlation of ranks of independent contrasts on a phylogenetic tree, is robust under […]

Meeting Abstract 52.1  Tuesday, Jan. 5  A DNA barcoding approach to identifying newly transformed juvenile freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) recovered from naturally infested fishes BOYER, S.L.*; HOWE, A.A.; HOVE, M.C.; Macalester College; Macalester College; Macalester College; University of Minnesota boyer@macalester.edu We have developed a multilocus DNA barcoding approach to identification of newly transformed juvenile unionid mussels collected […]

Meeting Abstract 52.5  Thursday, Jan. 6  Warming up and cooling down after a very large hot drink by blood-sucking bugs (Rhodnius prolixus) LOUDON, C.*; BRADLEY, T.J.; Univ. of California, Irvine; Univ. of California, Irvine cloudon@uci.edu As small ectotherms, insects are subject to rapid changes in body temperature following changes in their thermal environment. Blood-sucking bugs of the […]

Meeting Abstract 52.4  Thursday, Jan. 6  Using sunglasses to find the best burger in town: Polarization vision as a camouflage breaker in pelagic predators JOHNSEN, S*; MARSHALL, N.J.; Duke Univ.; Univ. of Queensland sjohnsen@duke.edu Because light in the pelagic environment is partially polarized, it has been suggested that the polarization sensitivity found in certain pelagic species may […]