ARONOWSKY, A; AGNEW, J. G.; LEIGHTON, L. R.; ANDERSON, L. C.; Louisiana State Univ.; Louisiana State Univ.; San Diego State Univ.; Louisiana State Univ.: Inferring predation intensity on heterochelous decapod crustaceans: simulation studies and the handedness metric. Decapod crustaceans are well known as major predators in marine ecosystems but less attention is paid to their […]

TURNBULL, CA; DEARING, MD; ST. JEOR, S; Univ. of Utah; Univ. of Utah; Univ. of Nevada, Reno: Effects of species diversity on dynamics of Sin Nombre Hantavirus in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) Species diversity has been suggested to impact disease prevalence; however, two leading hypotheses predict divergent outcomes. The �Dilution Effect� predicts that higher species […]

JOHNSON, C.H.; WENDT, D.E.; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo: Does dissolved organic matter (DOM) offset the costs of an extended larval swimming phase for the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina? It is well known that dissolved organic matter (DOM), in the form of carbohydrates, lipids, and free amino acids, is an […]

WILSON, P.*; CASTELLANOS, M.C.; THOMSON, J.D.; California State Univ. Northridge: Pollen Presentation by Bee- and Bird-Adapted Flowers Penstemon flowers are pleiomorphically bee-pollinated, but there has been repeated convergence toward hummingbird pollination. Hummingbirds do not groom as much as bees and have flatter pollen carryover curves. This led us to hypothesize that bird-pollinated species ought to […]

MACDOUGALL-SHACKLETON, E.A.; DERRYBERRY, E.P.; FOUFOPOULOS, J.; DOBSON, A.P.; HAHN, T.P.; University of Western Ontario; Duke University; University of Michigan; Princeton University; University of California, Davis: Parasite-mediated heterozygote advantage in an outbred songbird population Coevolution with parasites is thought to maintain genetic diversity in host populations. However, while there are sound theoretical reasons to expect heterozygosity […]

ROWE, A.H.*; ROWE, M.P.; North Carolina State Univ.; Appalachian State Univ.: Coevolution between grasshopper mice (Onychomys spp.) and bark and striped scorpions (Centruroides spp.) Asymmetrical selection has been proposed as the strongest argument for rejecting hypotheses of coevolutionary arms races between predators and prey. While predators exert strong selection against prey, prey exert only weak […]

RICHMOND, Jonathan; Univ. of Connecticut: A case for parallel speciation in North American Scincid Lizards Parallel speciation is a special case of homoplasy where traits determining mating compatibility evolve repeatedly in separate lineages experiencing similar environments. The outcome of such parallel evolution is that ecologically divergent but closely related populations show higher levels of reproductive […]

GURALNICK, Robert P; University of Colorado: A COMPARATIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF MOLLUSC-DIGENEAN SIZE RELATIONSHIPS: A CASE STUDY WITH ALLOCREADIID TREMATODES AND CYCLOCALYX CLAMS Allocreadiid flukes often parasitize and castrate sphaeriid freshwater clams. The effects of parasitic castrators on host population life history can lead to earlier reproductive onset, changes in body […]

KELSO, Erin*; MARTINS, Emilia; Indiana University; Indiana University: The evolution of color pattern morphology within the true chameleons The true chameleons (family Chamaeleonidae) are recognized for their unique adaptations, including the ability to undergo rapid color changes that facilitate social communication. Very little research, however, has addressed the evolution of color pattern morphology or their […]

SPINAR, S.M.; REED, W.L.; CLARK, M.E.; North Dakota State University; North Dakota State University; North Dakota State University: Sex ratios in the American coot (Fulica americana) Several recent studies in avian ecology suggest that females are capable of controlling the sex of their offspring. It has been hypothesized that females increase their reproductive fitness by […]