DENGER, B.C.*; TANKERSLEY, R.A.; Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne; Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne: Rhythmic activity of adult fiddler crabs Uca pugilator from areas with different tidal regimes Intertidal species, such as the fiddler crab Uca pugilator, have long served as models for studying endogenous tidal rhythms in marine organisms. Previous studies indicate that U. […]

BARBER, A.L.*; WALTERS, L.; BIRCH, A.; University of Central Florida; University of Central Florida; The Nature Conservancy: Restoration of Intertidal Oyster Reefs Affected by Intense Boating Activity in Shallow Florida Waterways In recent years, intertidal reefs of the oyster Crassostrea virginica in central Florida�s coastal areas have suffered extensive losses due to wakes from recreational […]

SMITH,, J.V.**; KIMBALL,, R.T.; BRAUN,, E.L.; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville: Resolving the Phylogeny of Paleognathes: A Novel Genomic Approach The phylogenetic relationship among paleognath birds is an ongoing debate. Traditional classification places ratites (flightless paleognathes such as the ostrich and rhea) sister to the tinamous (flighted paleognathes). Recent molecular data suggest tinamous may nest within […]

KIMBALL, R.T.*; MARKS, B.D.; HAN, K.-L.; University of Florida; Louisiana State University; University of Maryland: Relationship between evolution of the visual pigment rhodopsin and transitions to a nocturnal lifestyle in birds Similar adaptations may sometimes arise independently in response to similar ecological conditions. Such convergence has been observed in visual pigments (opsins) in a variety […]

MODRELL, M.S.*; PRICE, A.L; HANNIBAL, R.L.; PATEL, N.H.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of Chicago; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of California, Berkeley: Regulation of early cell fates in the amphipod crustacean, Parhyale hawaiensis Parhyale hawaiensis, an amphipod crustacean, displays total (holoblastic) cleavage during early embryogenesis, and we hope to determine how tightly cell lineage […]

SANDERS, E.M.*; TERWILLIGER, N.B.; University of Oregon: Regulation of Hemocyanin and Cryptocyanin in adult Cancer magister Several proteins in the hemocyanin gene family are involved in the crustacean molt cycle. Hemocyanin is a copper-containing respiratory pigment that reversibly binds oxygen. Structurally similar to hemocyanin, cryptocyanin lacks several copper-binding histidines. It likely originated from a hemocyanin […]

ROGERS, S.A.*; CORBIN, C.E.; WASSMER, G.T.; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania: Prevalence of nest ectoparasites is independent of group size and nest density in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) Coloniality has been suggested to have both costs and benefits. A potential cost of living in a group is high […]

FOX, Samuel *; VON KALM , Laurence; University of Central Florida, Orlando: Preliminary characterization of three genes with potential roles linking the RhoA signaling pathway to the ecdysone response in Drosophila epithelia Holometabolous insects undergo metamorphosis involving the destruction of existing larval tissues and the reformation of new cell populations to create adult organs and […]

GLARDON, Christian/G.*; WALTERS, Linda/J.; QUINTANA-ASCENCIO, Pedro; WEISHAMPEL, John/F.; MCCAULEY, Lisa; Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando; Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando; Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando; Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando; Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando: Predicting Risks of Invasion of Caulerpa Species in Florida The introduction of non-native animals and plants is a major threat […]

DRAUGHON, Lisa D.*; SCARPA, John; HARTMANN, James X.; KEATING, Patricia; Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton; Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, FL; Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton; Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton: Potential bioremediation of bacterial contamination in marine waters by the tunicate Styela plicata: filtration rate. The tunicate Styela plicata, as with other ascidians, […]