thesis

Coral reefs harbor ~1-9 million species, including 30% of all marine fish species. Reef health worldwide is declining due to many factors: e.g. pollution, sedimentation, dynamite fishing, and global warming. Working with the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and the crew aboard the R/V Heraclitus, I examined coral health and fish diversity in the Solomon Islands, Melanesia. In 2006, I surveyed coral and fish on Sagharughombe reef, Solomon Islands using SCUBA and compared the results with surveys done in 2000 and 2002. Coral surveys indicated a significant decline in health over the six-year period. Fish surveys found no clear trend in species abundances and species richness, but a significant decline in species diversity over the years. The decline in coral health we observed may have contributed to diminished fish diversity. To protect marine biodiversity, coral reefs must be better protected and declines in coral health must be halted.

Fermat's assertion that "every prime number which surpasses by one a multiple of three [sic] is composed of a square and the triple of another square" raises further questions about primes and other quadratic forms. The interest over primes does not stop at x² + 3y², although this form by itself is a complex way of analyzing simple primes. We present an algorithm for solving p= x² + 3y², first discovered by Lagrange, and show that this algorithm does not work for other representations of numbers by quadratic forms.

Dynactin is a multi-subunit protein complex that is the required cofactor for the cytoplasmic motor protein, dynein. Dynactin is critical for cytoplasmic activities such as vesicle transport, cytoskeletal organization, membrane organization and mitotic progression as it serves to increase processivity of dynein. The main subunit in focus for this study is the sidearm extension p150Glued. On the exposed end (N-terminus) lie two different microtubule binding motifs: CAP-Gly and Basic. CAP-Gly has a high binding affinity for microtubules, while Basic binds the microtubules quite weakly. It is at this location that dynactin is proposed to assist in the processivity of transporting cargo long distances in the cell, by providing additional support for the dynein molecule as it progresses along the microtubule. Analysis of the effects of overexpression of these motifs, alone or in tandem, suggested that there was no disruption of the dynein/dynactin interaction, but its ability to act in a processive manner had been perturbed. Effects on non-dynamic processes, such as Golgi localization and microtubule organization were generally weak, but effects were greater on y-tubulin organization. While this could suggest a defect in centrosome organization, we propose that it instead shows that cargo motility in the affected cells is defective, and that transport of centrosomal proteins to the centrosome is interrupted, suggesting a broader cargo-transport defect may be evident in these cells.

Gold is a highly prized metal whose ore deposits are continually being mined and depleted. With the increasing scarcity of continental gold ores, gold miners and scientist are turning to the sea as one alternate source of this precious metal. But the problem arises in determining which parts of the ocean to mine. Ideally the area with the greatest concentration of gold would be the best place to start but determining an accurate concentration of gold in a sample of seawater is difficult for various reasons. The main reason being gold's extremely low concentration in seawater, averaging at about13 [sic] parts per trillion. This study deals with detecting trace amounts of gold in seawater. The first step in the analysis involves pre-concentrating gold in seawater using an ion exchange resin, Chelexª -100, and optimizing the experimental conditions. Then the chromatographic fractions are analyzed using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. The results from several trials are presented in this study.

Florida's pine flatwoods are pyrogenic ecosystems that require frequent fires to regenerate the herbaceous layer and suppress crowding vegetation. Human development has hindered these natural fires and consequently affected the herpetofauna (amphibian and reptile) species. Anthropogenic encroachment, in addition to fire suppression, has also provided ideal habitats for invasive species within native environments. Exotic species are often found in developed areas around buildings and roads, and it is likely this pattern continues into the park. This eight-month coverboard survey focuses on the effects various fires may have on herpetofauna in the area and explores the level of intrusion exotic species exhibit within the communities. Minimal differences among herpetofauna composition between transects were found. However, a convincing percentage of exotic species were found only within the first ten meters of the transects while all native species were at least 25 meters into a transect.

The effects of the recently introduced species, the curlytail lizard, on the Florida ecosystems are relatively unknown. Previous research conducted in the Bahamas showed that brown anole lizards, once introduced to curlytail lizards, became arboreal to evade the threat of the curlytail lizards. To attempt to see if such a niche shift in the brown anole population is occurring in Florida, data were collected using two areas located on the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of FAU. One area was inhabited by only brown anoles whereas the other area was inhabited by brown anoles and curlytail lizards, the latter which newly invaded this site in 2006. Observations were made by walking through the selected area, and counting and recording all lizards that were visible. Data were collected at specific times during the day, four times a day. After comparing the two locations, it was found that the brown anoles have become arboreal when sharing an environment with curlytail lizards.

Many species considered exotic, by both biological definition and social construction, have been introduced into South Florida. These species compete for resources with native species and with each other. In this study, I surveyed the John D. MacArthur Campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter Florida during spring and fall of 2005 to determine the assemblage dynamics of several exotic herpetofauna species, primarily the nocturnal Wood Slave gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia), the Indo- Pacific gecko (H. garnotii), and the diurnal Cuban brown anole (Anolis sagrei). I found that the more recently established (H. mabouia) was out-competing (H. garnotii) on most of the buildings being surveyed. The study also showed that the Cuban treefrog, (Osteopilus septentrionalis) population affected the gecko populations significantly. (A. sagrei) was the primary anole found on campus, with sightings of (A. carolinensis) the native Florida green anole, being rare.

Every day, business owners make important decisions trying to increase productivity. Smaller, family-owned companies, however, have a financial disadvantage over larger corporations. Through the analysis of one small business, Gardens Pool Supply, we provide the owners with answers to questions on how to reduce costs and increase profits.

Bioprospecting, the search for useful compounds in nature, has led to the discovery of many important pharmaceuticals. Most current bioprospecting efforts work with chemicals derived from marine invertebrates and terrestrial plants. I looked for useful compounds in a relatively unstudied source, the venom of Crematogaster ants, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). Further studies can more accurately identify these chemicals using High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

Difficulty in communicating internal states may interfere with medical assessment of pain conditions. Individuals who score high on an assessment measure of a construct called alexithymia have difficulty in describing and/or identifying emotions. Both diffuse and low verbal communication styles have been related to alexithymia in chronic pain patients. Alexithymia has also been linked with pain intensity and various chronic pain conditions. As yet, research has not examined whether alexithymia and acute pain are related. The current research examined high-functioning individuals with chronic, acute, or no pain. No difference in alexithymia levels was found between the groups. However, pain intensity was related to difficulty in identifying feelings, and participants who scored high in alexithymia produced a low number of words per sentence in pain descriptions.