MCCAULEY, D.W.; BRONNER-FRASER, M.; California Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology: Sox9 expression in neural crest cells of the branchial arches affects cartilage development in the lamprey, Petromyzon marinus Cranial neural crest cells form numerous vertebrate structures, including craniofacial cartilage. In the lamprey, the basal-most extant vertebrate, ablation experiments provide indirect evidence that neural […]

TOKITA, M; Kyoto Univ.: Morphogenesis of unique jaw muscles in parrots Parrots have developed novel head structures in their evolutionary history. The appearance of two new muscles for strong jaw adduction is especially fascinating in developmental and evolutionary contexts. However, the jaw muscle development of parrots has not been described, despite its uniqueness. To better […]

HERNANDEZ, L.P.; George Washington University: Hedgehog signaling affects growth and differentiation of pharyngeal cartilages. Hedgehog (Hh) is expressed in the pharyngeal endoderm during the time that pharyngeal cartilages are developing. Given that the Hh pathway has been implicated in chondrocyte proliferation in long bones this pathway may play a role in pharyngeal cartilage development. I […]

FRANSSEN, RA; Univ. of Chicago: Chondrogenesis in the developing limbs of urodeles Ambystoma and Desmognathus Salamanders are infrequently mentioned in models of tetrapod limb formation as their development varies considerably from that of amniotes. However, urodeles provide an opportunity to study two modes of limb formation within a single lineage – development through a larval […]

HANDRIGAN, Gregory R.*; WASSERSUG, Richard J.; Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada: A role for Gdf11 in patterning the anuran vertebral column The hallmark of vertebrates is their vertebral column. This string of skeletal elements protects the spinal cord and provides a rigid core against which axial muscles work. Terrestrial vertebrates […]

WARD, C.K.*; MENDONCA, M.T.; Auburn University; Auburn University: The Effect of Coal Fly Ash on Corticosterone, Testosterone and Metabolism in the Southern Toads, Bufo terrestris At the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, Southern toads ( Bufo terrestris) bred in coal fly ash basins, which contain elevated levels of heavy metals in sediments. Toads in ash […]

HOPKINS, W.A.*; WINNE, C.T.; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Swimming performance of neonate black swamp snakes (Seminatrix pygaea) exposed to an acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting pesticide Environmental contaminants have direct effects on organisms at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, but the net result of these sub-organismal effects are only consequential to exposed populations if […]

FORD, D.K.; Ohio University: Sublethal physiological effects of multiple stressors on energy allocation patterns of Malaclemys terrapin Stress is an environmental condition or external constraint that restricts the rate of resource acquisition and energy allocation that may ultimately reduce survivorship or fecundity. An organism incurs an energetic cost, such as an increase in metabolic rate, […]

COLOMBO, M.; RAMESWARAN, M.; WEAVER, F.; BRODKIN, M.; VATNICK, I.*; Widener University, Chester, PA; Widener University, Chester, PA; Widener University, Chester, PA ; Widener University, Chester, PA; Widener University, Chester, PA: Molecular Characterization of the Acid-induced Stress Response of Adult Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) populations in the Northeast United States […]

PHILLIPS, J. D.; * SCOTT, * N. A.; * POWELL, * L.D.; * PROPPER, * C. R.; Northern Arizona University: J.D. Phillips, N. A. Scott, L. D. Powell, and C.R. Propper. Exposure to Rural Metropolitan Reclaimed Wastewater Reduces the Number of Days to Undergo Metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis jdp24@dana.ucc.nau.edu As the demand for water in […]