ADDISON, BA*; KITAYSKY, AS; HIPFNER, JM; Simon Fraser University; University of Alaska – Fairbanks; Simon Fraser University and Canadian Wildlife Service: Is parental investment by rhinoceros auklets (Cerorhinca monocerata) fixed or flexible? Parental investment strategies lie on a continuum between two extreme strategies of fixed versus flexible effort. In a fixed effort strategy, a parent […]

GOMEZ, Andrea M.*; LEE, K.J.; CHANG, E.S.; MYKLES, D.L.; Colorado State University, Fort Collins; Colorado State University, Fort Collins; Bodega Bay Marine Lab, Bodega Bay: Investigating the Role of Nitric Oxide in the Signaling Pathway Regulating Ecdysteroid Secretion in the Crustacean Molting Gland Crustacean growth and development is regulated by the fundamental process, ecdysis. Ecdysteroids, […]

HUBER, A.S.*; YAGER, D. D.; University of Maryland, College Park: Inhibition Shapes the Responses of an Auditory Interneuron of the Praying Mantis The mantis auditory interneuron, 501-T3, responds to the ultrasonic echolocation cries of bats. It has a distinctive firing pattern that changes during a bat attack sequence. Behavioral and physiological data suggest that 501-T3 […]

HOCHBERG, R; Univ. of Massachusetts, Lowell: Immunohistochemistry and 3-D reconstruction of the cerebral ganglion in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwelli The basic organization of the rotifer nervous system has been known for over a century, while recent ultrastructural and behavioral observations have provided valuable insights into its fine structure and function. The freshwater carnivorous rotifer, Asplanchna […]

TSIE, M*; LINDSAY, S; University of Maine, Orono: Immuno-localization of a putative chemosensory G-protein alpha-subunit in a spionid polychaete Chemoreception controls feeding behavior in many animals. In most organisms, binding of external cues to odorant receptors activates guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins), initiating signal transduction cascades that result in a behavioral response. G proteins […]

MEYERS, R.A.**; SCHMUTZ, D.; GOLLER, F.; Weber State University; Weber State University; University of Utah: Histochemical Analysis of Songbird Syringeal Muscles Song production in birds results from the combined activity of respiratory and syringeal muscles, which regulate airflow and acoustical patterns. EMG studies of songbird syringeal muscles indicate that they contract faster than normal fast […]

SEGRE, P.S.*; DIAL, K.P.; Univ. of Montana; Univ. of Montana: �Half a Wing� in Motion: the ontogeny and wing kinematics of WAIR in chukars Before attaining full flight capabilities, most juvenile precocial birds proficiently negotiate their three-dimensional terrestrial environments in order to survive. These juveniles are in a dynamic transitional morphological state as they develop […]

SEPULVEDA, C. A.*; WEGNER, N. C.; AALBERS, S. A.; BERNAL, D.; Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Scripps Institution of Oceanography; University of Massachusets, Dartmouth: Gut evacuation rates in free-swimming juvenile mako sharks Isurus oxyrinchus The mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus belongs to the Family Lamnidae, a highly specialized group that is capable […]

DRABEK,, C.M.; Whitman College: Getting to the heart of the matter: Morphological aspects of the heart and aorta of northern elephant seal weanlings An investigation of the heart and aorta morphology of northern elephant seal weaned pups (Mirounga angustirostris) revealed adaptations to diving. The elephant seal’s heart is broader and the right ventricle is longer, […]

SITVARIN, Michael I*; IYENGAR, Erika V; CATALDO, Marianne; Muhlenberg College; Muhlenberg College; Muhlenberg College: Functional morphology of flexible periostracal hairs in the marine snail Trichotropis cancellata Many mollusk shells possess prominent calcified spines that deter predators and assist in stabilization, and a proteinaceous periostracum that inhibits the settlement of boring and encrusting organisms, provides camouflage, […]