Longleaf pine forests rely on the disturbance of fire in order to maintain a balanced ecosystem. To understand the importance of fire, this study examined the effects of fire suppression on aquatic invertebrates in ephemeral wetlands embedded in longleaf pine forests, an important habitat that links aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Prior studies have indicated that the transmembrane cell surface protein Integrin Alpha-6 may be upregulated in many types of cancers and promote the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Through in-vitro experimentation I tested the varying migration rates of pancreatic cancer cells expressing different forms of Integrin Alpha-6.

We measured the ammonium, nitrate, potassium, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity parameters of two aquaponics systems that mainly differed in the settling chamber. This was done in an attempt to find which system yielded more optimal conditions for plant and fish growth.

Simultaneous C-C and C-N bond formation reactions were investigated from our novel organonickel(II) N-C-N pincer complex (LNiBr). Characterization of our complex and its reaction kinetics were completed by combining LNiBr with electrophilic halogenated solvents and monitored by ³¹P NMR to determine the presence of intermediates and the reaction order.

Predator prey interactions are a major driver of morphological evolution. The mole skink uses decoy coloration to draw predatory attacks to less lethal parts of their bodies. We wanted to know if red or blue was the more beneficial autonomous tail color in open or closed habitat

A novel, synthesized tris-indolyl compound (GS02) was tested for anti-cancer properties. Experimental methods included MTS and apoptosis assays. Current results show a decrease in PC3 cell viability through apoptosis. Interestingly, GS02 was shown to be toxic within a specific concentration range which may be beneficial for a new chemotherapy agent.

Amphitropical disjunct plants are species that occur in both North and South America but not in the intermediate equatorial region. How amphitropical species dispersed across the Americas to their current distribution still remains uncertain. To explain amphitropical distributions, three hypotheses were developed to test that (1) species dispersed successively through island hopping across the tropical zone in temperate microhabitats (= stepping stones), (2) species came to their current distribution through vicariance, or (3) species dispersed by a single long distance dispersal event. Twenty five amphitropical species were studied to infer their historical distributions with species distribution models in MaxEnt. Distribution models for each amphitropical species were estimated under three different timelines: the current climate, the last glacial maximum (22,000 years ago), and the last interglacial maximum (120,000–140,000 years ago). Ecological niche models were generated in MaxEnt with 19 bioclimate variables from the WorldClim database. Across the three time slices, the vicariance hypothesis was rejected in all but one species for one of its time slice. In 13 experiments, the long distance dispersal and vicariance hypotheses were rejected in favor of the stepping stone hypothesis. In 37 experiments, the stepping stone and vicariance hypotheses were rejected in favor of long distance dispersal. There were three species that could have dispersed by shorter-distance-dispersal events via intermediate dispersal from Mexico. Although our results suggest that long distance dispersal was the most dominant mechanism of dispersal among amphitropical species, they also convey that that numerous shorter-distance-dispersal events via intermediate, favorable populations are an underappreciated mode of dispersal in amphitropical species.

While studying in vivo toxicity of this molecule in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, we observed that it has a unique biological activity that causes a sudden inactivity in embryo movement. Continued investigation revealed that this molecule blocks sodium channels in neurons causing a temporary anesthesia in Danio rerio embryo.

Esters are common and widely used in industry. Traditional methods of ester synthesis involve a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in the presence of a Bronsted acid catalyst. This research project focused on carrying out the ester synthesis using the electrochemical coupling of aldehydes with alcohols.