Browsing Biological Sciences Masters Theses by Issue Date
Now showing items 1-20 of 50
-
Growth and Development of Native Range Plants in the Mixed Grass Prairie of Western North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 1963)This study was initiated to secure quantitative data on growth characteristics of the major species in the mixed grass prairie of western North Dakota; to determine the extent and range in yearly variations in growth ... -
Effects of nest site environment and timing of breeding on reproductive success in Franklin's gulls (Larus pipixcan)
(North Dakota State University, 2009)Offspring performance and phenotype are affected by genotype and environment, which in birds includes yolk resources (part of the embryonic environment). Female colony nesting birds may influence offspring competitive ... -
Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression Varies Throughout Development and During the Innate Immune Response of Tobacco Hornworm. Manduca sexta
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Matrix metalloproteinases (MI'v1Ps) are a family of conserved, proteolytic enzymes. MMPs can degrade most extracellular matrix proteins. As such, they are key enzymes in tissue remodeling processes. such as molting and ... -
Effects of Processing on Health-Promoting Attributes of Soymilk Phenolics
(North Dakota State University, 2010)This study was designed to investigate the effects of different processing methods on the antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of soymilk crude phenolic extract (CPE) using the human prostate cancer cell line DU 145 ... -
Investigation of the Nature of Science Views of Undergraduate Natural Science and Nonscience Majors in Biology Courses
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Science educators have the common goal of helping students develop scientific literacy, including understanding of the nature of science (NOS). University faculties are challenged with the need to develop informed NOS ... -
Plant Phenological Responses to Climate Change in the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Climate change has been associated with shifts in phenological events which could be disrupting evolved species relationships. The current first flowering times of plants were compared to historical data in the Red River ... -
Influence of Adjacent Uplands and Groundwater on the Hydrology and Invertebrate Community Composition of Seasonal Forest Ponds in North Central Minnesota
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Seasonal ponds are common throughout northern Minnesota's forested areas. Seasonal ponds typically flood due to snow-melt and high precipitation rates in early spring, then dry by mid-late summer. The dynamic hydroperiods ... -
Quantifying Seasonal Variation in Physiological Condition of Adult Franklin's Gull (Luecophaeus Pipixcan) during Nesting
(North Dakota State University, 2011)Understanding seasonal variation in adult physiological condition is important for developing hypotheses on how nest initiation, adult condition, chick development and recruitment are related in Franklin's gull and other ... -
The Evaluation of Christmas Bird Counts as an Indicator of Population Trends and Habitat Selection in Blackbirds and Starlings
(North Dakota State University, 2011)Agelaius phoeniceus (red-winged blackbird), Quiscalus quiscula (common grackle), and Sturnus vulgaris (European starling) are three of the most abundant bird species found in North America, and along with Euphagus carolinus ... -
Assessment of Blackbird Damage to Sunflower and Corn Fields in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2011)North Dakota is the top sunflower producing state in the United States, annually harvesting about 405,000 ha (1 million acres). Up to 63% of this crop is grown in central North Dakota in an area known as the Prairie Pothole ... -
Development of the Stress Response in Fast (Coturnix Japonica) Versus Slow (Callipepla Gambelii) Growing Species
(North Dakota State University, 2012)In this study, we evaluated the development of stress response in (1) two different species of quail, one species that is relatively fast-growing (Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica) and one that is relatively slow-growing ... -
Characterization of Variation in Growth Performance in Inbred Strains of Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)
(North Dakota State University, 2012)Although zebrafish have been a widely utilized model organism for several decades, there is little information available on physiological variation underlying genetic variation among the commonly used inbred strains. This ... -
Stereotype Threat in the Introductory Science Classroom: Investigating Its Existence and Triggers
(North Dakota State University, 2013)Research in undergraduate education has documented achievement gaps between men and women in math and physics that may reflect, in part, a response to perceived stereotype threat. My research efforts aimed to reduce ... -
Student Interpretations of Phylogenetic Trees in an Introductory Biology Course
(North Dakota State University, 2013)Phylogenetic trees are a common visual representation in biology, and the most important visual representation used in evolutionary biology. Thus, phylogenetic trees have also become an important component of biology ... -
Online Student Resource Use and the Effect on Student Course Performance
(North Dakota State University, 2013)The purpose of this study was to identify potential factors of student resource use that could indicate student success in an online course. This would allow instructors to look for in patterns of use to identify students ... -
Evolution of the Growth Hormone Receptor: Insights Into the Molecular Basis of the Physiologically Pleiotropic Nature of the Growth Hormone Receptor
(North Dakota State University, 2014)One of the oldest, extant, lineages of vertebrates, the sea lamprey, was used to clarify the evolutionary origin and divergence of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) family. A single, full-length, cDNA, and a second, partial, ... -
The Effectiveness of 9, 10 Anthraquinone as a Repellent to Protect Oilseed Sunflower from Blackbird Depredation
(North Dakota State University, 2014)Across the Prairie Pothole Region of North America, blackbirds (Icteridae) cause millions of dollars in damage to sunflower crops annually, but effective methods to prevent or limit blackbird damage to sunflower crops are ... -
Diet and Effects of Environmental Stressors on the Altricial Nestlings of Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Auritus)
(North Dakota State University, 2014)Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are a common species of altricial waterbird found across much of North America. As a piscivorous colonial waterbird, cormorants are often persecuted due to perceived impacts ... -
Drawing on Student Knowledge in Human Anatomy and Physiology
(North Dakota State University, 2014)Prior to instruction, students may have developed alternative conceptions about the mechanics behind human physiology. To help students re-shape these ideas into correct reasoning, the faulty characteristics reinforcing ... -
Growth Hormone Mediated Regulation of Osmoregulation in Euryhaline Teleosts
(North Dakota State University, 2014)Within the multitude of fish species that exist on our planet, there are a certain number that possess the unique ability to live in both freshwater (FW) and seawater (SW) environments. This ability, known as euryhalinity, ...