ERIKSSON, BJ*; TAIT, NN; AKAM, M; University of Cambridge; Macquarie University, Sydney; University of Cambridge: Early development in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis (Onychophora: Peripatopsidae). While early development in the yolk-free eggs of viviparous onychophorans is reasonably well documented, our knowledge of the equivalent stages in the yolky eggs of ovoviviparous species is sketchy. From […]

VINCIE, M.*; BELDEN, L.K.; Randolph-Macon Woman’s College; Virgnia Tech: Does the distance between intermediate hosts alter parasite transmission? A test using free-swimming trematode cercariae and tadpoles Digenetic trematodes are common parasites in freshwater systems and many species are economically and medically important. These parasites generally require two intermediate hosts to complete their life cycle, with […]

MUSHINSKY, H.; MC COY, E.; LUKANIK, I.*; Univ. of South Florida, Tampa; Univ. of South Florida, Tampa; University of South Florida, Tampa: Do Podomys floridanus exist in metapopulations and do habitat measures have a deterministic effect on their demography? The Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus) is listed as a species of special concern as a result […]

ALEMADI, S.D.*; JENKINS, D.G.; Uinv. of Central Florida, Orlando; Uinv. of Central Florida, Orlando: Dispersal behavior of mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki are native to Florida but invasive elsewhere, and a dominant predator in ecosystems they enter. Information on dispersal behavior will help better understand and predict mosquitofish metapopulation dynamics and invasions. I experimentally […]

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 […]