Download or read book The Role of Digestive Enzyme Activity in Phenotypic Plasticity During Larval Development of the Pacific Sand Dollar written by Alyssa Syverud (Graduate student) and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: Growth and development of planktotrophic larvae are dependent on food availability within nutritionally heterogeneous pelagic ocean habitats. An inability to acquire sufficient food can reduce growth and delay metamorphosis, and thereby decrease survival and recruitment success. Phenotypic plasticity is a broad response mechanism (morphological, physiological, biochemical) that allows an organism of a single genotype the ability to alter its phenotype. Plasticity is considered adaptive when such phenotypic changes positively affect survival and growth in the surrounding environment. Food-induced phenotypic plasticity for feeding structure length is particularly prevalent among planktotrophic echinoid larvae. In low-food environments, larvae will grow longer arms to increase their feeding capacity. In the Pacific sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus, this morphological plasticity is accompanied by critical changes in physiological growth and feeding efficiencies. The purpose of the current research project was to determine whether exposure to algal food during the pre-feeding and early feeding stages influences protein-specific digestive enzyme activity. Enzymes related to protein, lipid, and carbohydrate digestion were investigated throughout the first four days of D. excentricus development. Algal presence during the feeding stages resulted in significant increases in esterase (P = 4.39 x 10-2) and [alpha]-amylase (P = 4.57 x 10-4) activity, demonstrating a strong plasticity response to food environment. Only amylase activities were sensitive to algal exposure during the pre-feeding stage. Pre-feeding and feeding exposure to algal food had an interactive effect on amylase activity (P = 4.48 x 10-2). This finding suggests that embryos acquire environmental information prior to feeding and can change their biochemical phenotype to bolster carbohydrate breakdown in the absence of algae to better prepare for low-food environments. In total, these results demonstrate a multi-dimensional food-induced biochemical plasticity response of larvae to their feeding environment which includes discrete temporal windows of sensitivity and different class-specific enzyme responses. These findings highlight the importance of integrated approaches for understanding the comprehensive nature of phenotypic plasticity responses in developing organisms.
Download or read book Determining the Relationship of Protein Metabolism and Phenotypic Plasticity in Larvae of the Sand Dollar Dendraster Excentricus written by Aimee Ellison and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 55 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: The ability of planktotrophic larvae to find sufficient food in the nutritionally heterogeneous marine environment has marked consequences for subsequent growth, survival and recruitment. The morphological plasticity seen in larvae of the sand dollar, Dendraster excentricus, as a response to varying food conditions represents one of the strategies used by organisms to match their growth and development to the environment. Previous research modeling energetic growth efficiencies found that D. excentricus larvae also exhibit physiological plasticity in response to different food concentrations. This previous study showed clear energetic advantages for low-fed larvae in early development that decreased rapidly and were substantially less than high-fed larvae in later development, especially in relation to protein growth efficiency (PGE) (defined as protein growth/protein ingested). Given the importance of protein metabolism in setting metabolic rates and growth-related efficiencies, my research seeks to further understand the biochemical reason for the large differences in PGE between low- and high-fed larvae (1,000 and 10,000 algal cells ml-1, respectively). In order to determine the differential rates and costs of protein synthesis in differing physiological feeding states, parallel measurements of protein synthesis, metabolic rates, and protein biomass growth were determined throughout larval development. High-fed larvae were found to have higher rates of protein synthesis compared to low-fed larvae while fractional rates of protein synthesis were not significantly different between treatments. Protein-specific rates of amino acid transport were almost 2-times higher in low-fed larvae than in high-fed. No differences were observed in either the energetic cost of protein synthesis (3.8 J (mg protein)-1) or the proportion of aerobic energy that was used to drive protein synthesis (37-42% of metabolism). Major differences, which mirrored changes in PGE with development, were observed in protein depositional efficiency (PDE). Low-fed larvae exhibited a decrease in PDE from 85% to 40% from 4 to 28 days post-fertilization while high-fed larvae increased from 55% to 65%. These differences in PDE provide a physiological explanation for the large differences in PGE between low- and high-fed larvae. Findings from this study support the idea that protein metabolism as a critical element in the developmental plasticity of larvae to differing food environments and aids in understanding, on a biochemical level, how metabolic growth efficiencies change in response to environmental factors.
Download or read book Edible Sea Urchins Biology and Ecology written by John M. Lawrence and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2001-05-21 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sea urchins are a major component of marine environments found throughout the world's oceans. A major model for research in developmental biology, they are also of major economic importance in many regions and interest in their management and aquaculture has increased greatly in recent years. This book provides a synthesis of biological and ecological characteristics of sea urchins that are of basic scientific interest and also essential for effective fisheries management and aquaculture. General chapters consider characteristics of sea urchins as a whole. In addition, specific chapters are devoted to the ecology of 17 species that are of major commercial interest and ecological importance.Features include: • A synthesis of what is known about the basic biological characteristics of the sea urchin, useful for the direction of future research. • Case histories of 17 species that illustrate their ecological role in a variety of environments. • With the catastrophic decline in fisheries resulting primarily from over-fishing, it is essential that the populations be managed effectively and that aquaculture be developed. This book provides knowledge of the biology and ecology of the commercially important sea urchins that will contribute to these goals. • The only book available in present literature devoted to sea urchins.With this new title experts provide a broad synthetic treatment and in depth analysis of the biology and ecology of sea urchins from around the world, designed to provide an understanding of the group and the basis for fisheries management and aquaculture.
Download or read book Mechanisms of Life History Evolution written by Thomas Flatt and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2011-05-12 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Life history theory seeks to explain the evolution of the major features of life cycles by analyzing the ecological factors that shape age-specific schedules of growth, reproduction, and survival and by investigating the trade-offs that constrain the evolution of these traits. Although life history theory has made enormous progress in explaining the diversity of life history strategies among species, it traditionally ignores the underlying proximate mechanisms. This novel book argues that many fundamental problems in life history evolution, including the nature of trade-offs, can only be fully resolved if we begin to integrate information on developmental, physiological, and genetic mechanisms into the classical life history framework. Each chapter is written by an established or up-and-coming leader in their respective field; they not only represent the state of the art but also offer fresh perspectives for future research. The text is divided into 7 sections that cover basic concepts (Part 1), the mechanisms that affect different parts of the life cycle (growth, development, and maturation; reproduction; and aging and somatic maintenance) (Parts 2-4), life history plasticity (Part 5), life history integration and trade-offs (Part 6), and concludes with a synthesis chapter written by a prominent leader in the field and an editorial postscript (Part 7).
Download or read book Coffee Biotechnology and Quality written by T. Sera and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-04-17 with total page 535 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coffee Biotechnology and Quality is a comprehensive volume containing 45 specialised chapters by internationally recognised experts. The book aims to provide a guide for those wishing to learn about recent advances in coffee cultivation and post-harvest technology. It provides a quantitative and rational approach to the major areas of coffee research, including breeding and cloning, tissue culture and genetics, pest control, post-harvest technology and bioconversion of coffee industry residues into commercially valuable products. The chapters review recent experimental work, allowing a conceptual framework for future research to be identified and developed. The book will be of interest to researchers and students involved in any area of coffee research. Consequently, plant breeders, microbiologists, biotechnologists and biochemical engineers will find the book to be a unique and invaluable guide.
Download or read book The Potato Crop written by Hugo Campos and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-12-03 with total page 524 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book provides a fresh, updated and science-based perspective on the current status and prospects of the diverse array of topics related to the potato, and was written by distinguished scientists with hands-on global experience in research aspects related to potato. The potato is the third most important global food crop in terms of consumption. Being the only vegetatively propagated species among the world’s main five staple crops creates both issues and opportunities for the potato: on the one hand, this constrains the speed of its geographic expansion and its options for international commercialization and distribution when compared with commodity crops such as maize, wheat or rice. On the other, it provides an effective insulation against speculation and unforeseen spikes in commodity prices, since the potato does not represent a good traded on global markets. These two factors highlight the underappreciated and underrated role of the potato as a dependable nutrition security crop, one that can mitigate turmoil in world food supply and demand and political instability in some developing countries. Increasingly, the global role of the potato has expanded from a profitable crop in developing countries to a crop providing income and nutrition security in developing ones. This book will appeal to academics and students of crop sciences, but also policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the potato and its contribution to humankind’s food security.
Download or read book Microalgae in Health and Disease Prevention written by Ira A. Levine and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2018-06-29 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microalgae in Health and Disease Prevention is a comprehensive reference that addresses the historical and potential use of microalgae, its extracts, secondary metabolites, and molecular constituents for enhancing human health and preventing diseases. Each chapter features an overview, and the book includes coverage of microalgae biology, harmful algae, the use of microalgae in alcohol and food, and as sources of macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. The historical use of microalgae, in addition to its potential use as a nutraceutical and cosmeceutical, is also addressed. The book provides coverage of relevant, up-to-date research as assembled by a group of contributors who are dedicated to the advancement of microalgae use in health, diet and nutrition. Discusses research findings on the relationship between microalgal diet, nutrition and human health Presents the medicinal, anti-allergic and psychoactive properties of microalgae Identifies toxic and harmful microalgae Addresses microalgal lipids, proteins and carbohydrates
Download or read book Echinoderm Aquaculture written by Nicholas Brown and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-09-28 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sea urchins and sea cucumbers are highly sought after delicacies growing in popularity globally. The demand for these species is rapidly outpacing natural stocks, and researchers and seafood industry personnel are now looking towards aquaculture as a means of providing a sustainable supply of these organism. Echinoderm Aquaculture is a practical reference on the basic biology and current culture practices for a wide range of geographically diverse echinoderm species. Echinoderm Aquaculture begins by examining the basic ecology and biology of sea urchins and sea cucumbers as well as the breadth of uses of these organisms as a source of food and bioactive compound. Subsequent chapters delineate the specific species of interest invarious geographic regions from around the world. Together, chapters provide a comprehensive coverage of culture practices. Echinoderm Aquaculture is a practical reference for researchers and industry personnel, and will serve as an invaluable resource to this rapidly growing segment of the aquaculture industry.
Download or read book Pediatric Hepatology and Liver Transplantation written by Lorenzo D'Antiga and published by Springer. This book was released on 2019-04-29 with total page 829 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first to provide balanced examination of both pediatric liver disease and liver transplantation – two topics that are inherently related, given that most chronic liver disorders eventually require organ replacement. The different forms of liver disease encountered in the pediatric age group are first discussed in a series of disease-specific chapters that have a reader-friendly, uniform structure covering pathophysiology, diagnostic and treatment algorithms, clinical cases, and transition to adult care. Key topics in the field of liver transplantation are then addressed. Examples include indications and contraindications, surgical techniques and complications, immunosuppression, in pediatric liver transplantation, acute and chronic rejection and allograft dysfunction, and CMV and EBV infection in transplant recipients, long-term graft injury and tolerance. A section on pediatric hepatology across the world includes chapters presenting the features and management of pediatric liver disease in South-America, Africa and Asia. A closing section considers what the future holds for pediatric liver disease and its management, including novel genetic testing, cell therapy and gene therapy. Pediatric Hepatology and Liver Transplantation will be of value for a range of practitioners, from residents making their first approach to pediatric liver disease through to specialists working in transplantation centers.
Download or read book Marine Genetics written by Antonio M. Solé-Cava and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Our current knowledge of marine organisms and the factors affecting their ecology, distribution and evolution has been revolutionised by the use, in the last 20 years, of molecular population genetics tools. This book is the result of a meeting of world-leading experts, in Rio de Janeiro, where the state of the art of this field was reviewed. Topics covered include the molecular analysis of bio-invasions, the recent developments in marine biotechnology, the factors affecting levels of genetic variation and population structure in marine organisms and their application to conservation biology, fisheries and aquaculture. This is the first book dedicated to the genetic study of marine organisms. It will be very useful to biology students, scientists and anyone working or simply interested in areas such as marine biology, zoology, ecology, and population and molecular genetics.
Download or read book Ecology written by Charles J. Krebs and published by Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company. This book was released on 2001 with total page 695 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This best-selling majors ecology book continues to present ecology as a series of problems for readers to critically analyze. No other text presents analytical, quantitative, and statistical ecological information in an equally accessible style. Reflecting the way ecologists actually practice, the book emphasizes the role of experiments in testing ecological ideas and discusses many contemporary and controversial problems related to distribution and abundance. Throughout the book, Krebs thoroughly explains the application of mathematical concepts in ecology while reinforcing these concepts with research references, examples, and interesting end-of-chapter review questions. Thoroughly updated with new examples and references, the book now features a new full-color design and is accompanied by an art CD-ROM for instructors. The field package also includes The Ecology Action Guide, a guide that encourages readers to be environmentally responsible citizens, and a subscription to The Ecology Place (www.ecologyplace.com), a web site and CD-ROM that enables users to become virtual field ecologists by performing experiments such as estimating the number of mice on an imaginary island or restoring prairie land in Iowa. For college instructors and students.
Download or read book Biology History and Natural Philosophy written by Allan D. Breck and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a world that peers over the brink of disaster more often than not it is difficult to find specific assignments for the scholarly community. One speaks of peace and brotherhood only to realize that for many the only real hope of making a contribution may seem to be in a field of scientific specialization seemingly irrelevant to social causes and problems. Yet the history of man since the beginnings of science in the days of the Greeks does not support this gloomy thesis. Time and again we have seen science precipitate social trends or changes in the humanistic beliefs that have a significant effect on the scientific community. Not infrequently the theoretical scientist, triggered by society's changing goals and understandings, finds ultimate satisfaction in the work of his colleagues in engineering and the other applied fields. Thus the major debate in mid-nineteenth century in which the evidence of natural history and geology at variance with the Biblical feats provided not only courage to a timid Darwin but the kind of audience that was needed to fit his theories into the broad public dialogue on these topics. The impact of "Darwinism" was felt far beyond the scientific community. It affected social thought, upset religious certainties and greatly affected the teaching of science.
Download or read book Ecology written by Michael Begon and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-11-17 with total page 864 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A definitive guide to the depth and breadth of the ecological sciences, revised and updated The revised and updated fifth edition of Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems – now in full colour – offers students and practitioners a review of the ecological sciences. The previous editions of this book earned the authors the prestigious ‘Exceptional Life-time Achievement Award’ of the British Ecological Society – the aim for the fifth edition is not only to maintain standards but indeed to enhance its coverage of Ecology. In the first edition, 34 years ago, it seemed acceptable for ecologists to hold a comfortable, objective, not to say aloof position, from which the ecological communities around us were simply material for which we sought a scientific understanding. Now, we must accept the immediacy of the many environmental problems that threaten us and the responsibility of ecologists to play their full part in addressing these problems. This fifth edition addresses this challenge, with several chapters devoted entirely to applied topics, and examples of how ecological principles have been applied to problems facing us highlighted throughout the remaining nineteen chapters. Nonetheless, the authors remain wedded to the belief that environmental action can only ever be as sound as the ecological principles on which it is based. Hence, while trying harder than ever to help improve preparedness for addressing the environmental problems of the years ahead, the book remains, in its essence, an exposition of the science of ecology. This new edition incorporates the results from more than a thousand recent studies into a fully up-to-date text. Written for students of ecology, researchers and practitioners, the fifth edition of Ecology: From Individuals to Ecosystems is anessential reference to all aspects of ecology and addresses environmental problems of the future.
Download or read book A Handbook of Global Freshwater Invasive Species written by Robert A. Francis and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-08-11 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Invasive non-native species are a major threat to global biodiversity. Often introduced accidentally through international travel or trade, they invade and colonize new habitats, often with devastating consequences for the local flora and fauna. Their environmental impacts can range from damage to resource production (e.g. agriculture and forestry) and infrastructure (e.g. buildings, road and water supply), to human health. They consequently can have major economic impacts. It is a priority to prevent their introduction and spread, as well as to control them. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly at risk from invasions and are landscape corridors that facilitate the spread of invasives. This book reviews the current state of knowledge of the most notable global invasive freshwater species or groups, based on their severity of economic impact, geographic distribution outside of their native range, extent of research, and recognition of the ecological severity of the impact of the species by the IUCN. As well as some of the very well-known species, the book also covers some invasives that are emerging as serious threats. Examples covered include a range of aquatic and riparian plants, insects, molluscs, crustacea, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals, as well as some major pathogens of aquatic organisms. The book also includes overview chapters synthesizing the ecological impact of invasive species in fresh water and summarizing practical implications for the management of rivers and other freshwater habitats.
Download or read book The Connections Between Ecology and Infectious Disease written by Christon J. Hurst and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-08-30 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book summarizes current advances in our understanding of how infectious disease represents an ecological interaction between a pathogenic microorganism and the host species in which that microbe causes illness. The contributing authors explain that pathogenic microorganisms often also have broader ecological connections, which can include a natural environmental presence; possible transmission by vehicles such as air, water, and food; and interactions with other host species, including vectors for which the microbe either may or may not be pathogenic. This field of science has been dubbed disease ecology, and the chapters that examine it have been grouped into three sections. The first section introduces both the role of biological community interactions and the impact of biodiversity on infectious disease. In turn, the second section considers those diseases directly affecting humans, with a focus on waterborne and foodborne illnesses, while also examining the critical aspect of microbial biofilms. Lastly, the third section presents the ecology of infectious diseases from the perspective of their impact on mammalian livestock and wildlife as well as on humans. Given its breadth of coverage, the volume offers a valuable resource for microbial ecologists and biomedical scientists alike.
Download or read book Forest Pathology and Plant Health written by Matteo Garbelotto and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2018-04-13 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Forest Pathology and Plant Health" that was published in Forests
Download or read book Oceanography and Marine Biology written by S. J. Hawkins and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-09-03 with total page 510 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chapter 3 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 license. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/tandfbis/rt-files/docs/Open+Access+Chapters/9781138318625_oachapter3.pdf Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review remains one of the most cited sources in marine science and oceanography. The ever increasing interest in work in oceanography and marine biology and its relevance to global environmental issues, especially global climate change and its impacts, creates a demand for authoritative reviews summarizing the results of recent research. OMBAR has catered to this demand since its foundation more than 50 years ago. Following the favourable reception and complimentary reviews accorded to all the volumes, Volume 56 continues to regard the marine sciences—with all their various aspects—as a unity. Physical, chemical, and biological aspects of marine science are dealt with by experts actively engaged in these fields, and every chapter is peer-reviewed by other experts working actively in the specific areas of interest. The series is an essential reference text for researchers and students in all fields of marine science and related subjects, and it finds a place in libraries of universities, marine laboratories, research institutes and government departments.
