Meeting Abstract P3.59  Jan. 6  Testing the Adaptive Value of Vertebrate Tail Stiffness, II: Computer Simulation CUMMINS, M.A.*; ROOT, R.G.; LONG, J.H.; LIEW, C.W.; Lafayette College; Lafayette College; Vassar College; Lafayette College liew@cs.lafayette.edu To test the hypothesis that tail stiffness was a locomotor adaptation in early vertebrates, we use genetic algorithms to evolve a virtual fish-like swimmer. […]

Meeting Abstract P3.58  Jan. 6  Testing the Adaptive Value of Vertebrate Tail Stiffness, I: Robotic Simulation IRVING, K*; ENGEL, V; COMBIE, K; MCARTHUR, G; DOORLY, N; BANTILAN, K; ROOT, R; LIEW, C., Koob T., Long J.; Vassar College; Lafayette College, Mount Desert Island Biological Lab, Vassar College kiirving@vassar.edu A long-standing hypothesis is that vertebrae evolved as a […]

Meeting Abstract P3.123  Jan. 6  Temporal Dynamics of Asilids in a Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem LEASE, H.M.*; WOLF, B.O.; Univ. of New Mexico; Univ. of New Mexico hlease@unm.edu Robber flies (Family Asilidae) were sampled from Chihuahuan Desert grasslands and shrublands at the Sevilleta LTER site, in central New Mexico, to investigate temporal patterns in species composition and isotopic […]

Meeting Abstract P3.13  Jan. 6  Teleplanic Larvae in Culture: 4.5 Years from Hatching to Metamorphosis STRATHMANN, M F; STRATHMANN, R R*; Univ. of Washington, Friday Harbor Labs; Univ. of Washington, Friday Harbor Labs rrstrath@u.washington.edu Larvae of the NE Pacific snail Fusitriton oregonensis from field collected egg capsules were reared in the lab for 4.5 years from hatching […]

Meeting Abstract P3.99  Jan. 6  Teaching students to recognize interpretation and criticism in research articles GILLEN, C.M.; Kenyon College, Gambier, OH gillenc@kenyon.edu Beginning readers of research articles are challenged in two different ways. Primarily, they struggle with the challenging subject material, but they also find the rhetorical complexity of papers to be a hurdle. Research articles contain […]

Meeting Abstract P3.144  Jan. 6  Steroid Sulfatase in Xenopus laevis: Characterization and inhibition. SELCER, KW*; FINNEGAN, D; Duquesne University; Duquesne University selcer@duq.edu Steroid hormones are often conjugated to a sulfate moiety in the 3-position. The addition of a sulfate group to the steroid backbone is catalyzed by an enzyme called steroid sulfotransferase. In contrast, the enzyme steroid […]

Meeting Abstract P3.145  Jan. 6  Steroid Levels in the Bivalve Oyster Crassostrea virginica and the Mussel Mytilus edulis WILMOT, Lambert*; NDUKA, Ebere; Medgar Evers College; Medgar Evers College ebere@mec.cuny.edu Classical hormones have long been associated mainly with vertebrates. In vertebrates these hormones are known to be chemical messengers and active signal transmitters. In previous studies we measured […]

Meeting Abstract P3.71  Jan. 6  Spinal cord protein expression is conserved among gymnotiform fishes during adult regeneration. ALBERT, Sara/H*; KATIRA, Kristopher; ALBERT, James/S; UNGUEZ, Graciela/A; Univ. of Louisiana, Lafayette; Univ. of Louisiana, Lafayette; Univ. of Louisiana, Lafayette; New Mexico State University, Las Cruces salbert@louisiana.edu Gymnotiforms and urodeles are unique among vertebrates in their capacity to regenerate most […]

Meeting Abstract P3.82  Jan. 6  Serotonin-immunoreactivity in the head-foot complex of an interstitial acochlidean reveals the conservative distribution of 5-HT in the opisthobranch nervous system HOCHBERG, Rick; Univ. of Massachusetts, Lowell rick_hochberg@uml.edu Species of Acochlidea (Mollusca) are common members of the marine interstitial environment and defined in part by their minuscule size and highly divergent morphology relative […]

Meeting Abstract P3.107  Jan. 6  Seasonal Changes in Immunity: Immune responses track energetics in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) ZYSLING, D.A. *; HALL, L.A.; DEMAS, G.E.; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN ; Albright College, Reading, PA ; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN dzysling@indiana.edu Non-tropical animals display marked seasonal fluctuations in their environments. Photoperiod is the primary environmental signal organisms use […]