Meeting Abstract 52.1  Jan. 6  Increased variation in extreme environmental conditions: Adaptive response or sampling artifact? WANG, G*; FRAZIER, MR; Univ of Washington, Seattle; Univ of Washington, Seattle gw0@u.washington.edu Trait variation is greater in stressful environments than in non-stressful environments. For example, the confidence interval of fitness in C. elegans is greatest at high temperatures. Several authors […]

Meeting Abstract 52.4  Jan. 6  Geographic variation and temperature-induced phenotypic plasticity of cell size in the lizard Anolis carolinensis GOODMAN, R.M.; Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville rmgoodman@utk.edu Phenotypic plasticity at the cellular level has been suggested to relate to plasticity of body size and geographic variation in body size associated with latitude and environmental temperature in ectotherms. The current […]

Meeting Abstract 52.2  Jan. 6  GENETIC VARIATION AND PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY OF THE GORGONIAN Plexaura flexuosa IN PUERTO RICO PRADA, Carlos*; SCHIZAS, Nikolaos; YOSHIOKA, Paul; University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez cprada@cima.uprm.edu Caribbean octocorals are relatively abundant and visually dominant in low relief hard ground habitats with preference for high water motion areas. As other Anthozoans, octocorals display a […]

Meeting Abstract 52.3  Jan. 6  Effects of Voluntary Activity and Genetic Selection on Muscle Metabolic Capacities and Organ Masses in House Mice KELLY, SA*; GOMES, FR; KOLB, EM; MALISCH, JL; GARLAND, T, JR.; Univ. of California, Riverside skell005@student.ucr.edu Studies of rodents have generally found that chronic voluntary exercise causes elevations in total daily energy expenditure (DEE) that […]

Meeting Abstract 51.2  Jan. 6  Microbial Experimental Evolution in the Bobtail Squid-Vibrio Model System SOTO, W.*; NISHIGUCHI, M.K.; New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces; New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces wisoto@nmsu.edu The mutualism between sepiolid squids (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) and their bioluminescent symbionts (Genus Vibrio) has become an experimentally tractable system for physiological, evolutionary, molecular, and ecological studies […]

Meeting Abstract 51.1  Jan. 6  Life in a fly: Exploring a variable endosymbiont environment ESTES, Anne M. *; BRONSTEIN, Judith L.; PIERSON, Elizabeth A.; Univ. of Arizona; Univ. of Arizona; Univ. of Arizona amestes@u.arizona.edu Our understanding of insect-bacterial symbioses stems from systems in which the endosymbiont experiences low variability in morphological and nutritional host environment. Holometabolous insect […]

Meeting Abstract 51.4  Jan. 6  Functional algal nuclear genes are present in a sea slug genome–horizontal gene transfer demonstrated. PIERCE, S. K. **; CURTIS, N. E.; SCHWARTZ, J. A; MASSEY, S. E.; University of South Florida, Tampa pierce@cas.usf.edu The digestive cells of the sacoglossan sea slug, Elysia chlorotica (Gould), harbor intracellular, symbiotic chloroplasts captured from the alga, […]

Meeting Abstract 50.4  Jan. 6  The spatial distribution of venom spat by cobras WESTHOFF, Guido*; BOETIG, Melissa; YOUNG, Bruce/A.; University of Bonn; Washburn University; Washburn University bruce.young@washburn.edu Venom spitting has evolved independently in multiple lineages of cobras. Within the spitting cobras this defensive behavior spans a considerable range; some species expulse strong streams of venom capable of […]

Meeting Abstract 50.2  Jan. 6  The erectile cheek-spine apparatus in the bristlenose catfish Ancistrus (Loricariidae, Siluriformes), and its relation to the formation of a secondary skull roof GEERINCKX, T.*; GENBRUGGE, A.; ADRIAENS, D.; Ghent University tom.geerinckx@ugent.be In the neotropical catfish family Loricariidae the opercle has been decoupled from the lower jaw, and has also lost its function […]

Meeting Abstract 50.9  Jan. 6  The Mechanics of Slithering HU, DL*; BUSH, JWM; SHELLEY, MJ; The Courant Institute, New York University dhu@cims.nyu.edu Snakes propel themselves over land using a variety of techniques, including a unidirectional accordion-like mode, lateral sinuous slithering and sidewinding. We explore these friction-based propulsion mechanisms through a combined experimental and theoretical investigation. Particular attention […]