Thesis (M.S.)--Kutztown University. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 3039. Typescript. Abstract precedes thesis as preliminary leaves [1-4]. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [51-52]).

Orientador: Orlando Necchi Junior / Banca: Luis Henrique Zanini Branco / Banca: Inessa Lacativa Bagatini / Banca: Mariana Cabral de Oliveira / Banca: Valéria Cassano / Resumo: A seção Virescentia do gênero Batrachospermum corresponde a espécies com aparência esverdeada e verticilos bem desenvolvidos, carposporófitos grandes produzidos isoladamente ou em pares e inseridos no eixo principal, ramos carpogoniais retos e curtos originados das células pericentrais ou células fasciculares proximais, e carpogônio com tricogínios alongados e pedicelados. O presente estudo teve como objetivo inferir as relações filogenéticas, bem como os limites de variação intra e interespecífico das espécies da seção Virescentia com base na análise morfológica e molecular, utilizando caracteres diagnósticos atualmente aceitos e dois marcadores moleculares: gene plastidial que codifica a subunidade grande da RUBISCO (rbcL - 1.282 pares de base, pb) e as regiões de "barcode" (664 pb) e "mini-barcode" (246 pb) do gene mitocondrial que codifica a subunidade 1 da citocromo c oxidase (cox1). Foram analisadas amostras provenientes das regiões biogeográficas neotropical, neártica e paleártica, além de exsicatas dos espécimes-tipo da seção provenientes do Herbário PC (Paris, França) e exsicatas de espécimes do Brasil e Japão. Análises baseadas nas sequências de rbcL, cox1 e "mini-barcode" foram congruentes, indicando níveis de divergência suficientes para distinguir espécies dentro da seção. Análises moleculares revelaram a seção Virescentia como monofilética e evidenciaram clados bem definidos, com nítida repartição biogeográfica e associados a uma divergência relativamente alta... / Abstract: Section Virescentia of genre Batrachospermum comprises species with a greenish appearance and well-developed whorls, carposporophytes are produced singly or in pairs along the main axis, carpogonial branches are straight and short, arise from pericentral cells or proximal fascicle cells and carpogonia are elongate with cylindrical and pedicellate trichogynes. The goals of this study were to infer the phylogenetic relationships, as well as the limits of intra and interspecific variation among the species of Virescentia section, based on morphological and molecular analyses, using the diagnostic characters currently accepted and two molecular markers: the plastidial gene that encodes the RUBISCO large subunit (rbcL - 1282 bp) and the "barcode" (664 bp) and "mini-barcode" (246 bp) regions of the mitochondrial gene cox1 that encodes the cytochrome c oxidase sub-unity 1. We analyzed samples from the neotropical, neartic and paleartic biogeographic realms and dried archival samples (type specimens) from PC Herbarium (Paris, France) and dried archival samples from Brazil and Japan. Analyses based on rbcL, cox1 and mini-barcode sequences were congruent and showed section Virescentia as a clear monophyletic group, with enough divergence to distinguish species among the section. Molecular analyses revealed the Virescentia section as monophyletic and showed well-defined clades, with distinct biogeographical distribution and associated with a relatively high divergence in sequences between these groups, suggesting that the samples of the different parts of the world correspond to at least five distinct species: B. viride-brasiliense, B. vogesiacum, B. helminthosum, Batrachospermum sp.1 and Batrachospermum sp.2. The examination of types, as well as critical samples in the history of the group, allowed to recognize ten species for the Virescentia section based on diagnostics ... / Doutor

Dissolved oxygen at four times normal saturation inhibited growth and metabolism of summer planktobacteria in surface waters of alpine oligotrophic Mountain Lake (Giles County, Virginia). Data included viable colony counts, D-[U-¹⁴C]glucose incorporation into extractable lipid of colonies, and respiration-assimilation of D-[U-¹⁴C]glucose by lake water samples. Significant (P<0.05) differences were not detected in either colony counts or ¹⁴C-lipid when superoxide dismutase (30 U ml⁻¹) or catalase (130 U ml⁻¹) were added to the medium. The upper waters of Lake Hoare, Antarctica, contain dissolved oxygen at ≥42 mg liter⁻¹ (=HDO). HDO did inhibit D-[U-¹⁴C]glucose assimilation-respiration compared with normal atmospheric dissolved oxygen (=ADO) in Lake Hoare water. D-[U-¹⁴C]glucose was assimilated and respired optimally at 12°C in Lake Hoare. Colony formation was inhibited in both lakes. Colonies represented <1% of the fluorochrome-stained direct counts in Lake Hoare. Lake Hoare planktobacteria were smaller than the planktobacteria in Mountain Lake. ATP size fractionation revealed that 39% of ATP biomass was <0.5 Hm in Lake Hoare. Five microbial isolates were selected from Lake Hoare by growth under very high oxygen (=VHO, 4.6x in situ HDO, 55 lb in⁻² of added oxygen). One isolate was selected under ADO from shallow benthic mat underlying HDO waters. Isolates were examined for physiological characteristics which might enhance their survival in the HDO environment. While HDO incubation produced <36% of ADO incubated CFU, VHO was more selective producing <1%. Bacterial isolates were motile Gram negative rods, catalase and oxidase positive, differing in their growth response to temperature and nutrient concentration. One VHO isolate was a yeast. HDO reduced the maximal cell density in three isolates tested at higher nutrient concentrations, however, all three exhibited less repression as nutrients were lowered from 1000-10 mg liter⁻¹ in comparison to ADO grown controls. One isolate actually produced a cell density 3x that of the ADO control. Four of five bacterial isolates demonstrated HDO inducible superoxide dismutase (SOD). The inducible and constitutive SOD were the manganese type and had the same electrophoretic mobilities in respective isolates. All VHO isolates contained carotenoids. Pigmentation of the bacterial isolates differed due to the types and relative proportions of the constituent carotenoids. A carotenoid-negative mutant of one isolate grown under HDO exhibited a lengthened lag phase, decreased growth rate, maximal cell density and thereafter increased lysis compared to the same ADO grown strain and the carotenoid containing parent strain. The mutant and parent strain produced catalase and indistinguishable specific activities of SOD. Microorganisms in the high oxygen Lake Hoare waters may be protected from oxygen toxicity by the lake’s oligotrophic nature as well as a combination of cellular defenses. / Ph. D.

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Indirect effects of human population growth on stream ecosystem function : sediment respiration and nutrient uptake response to nonprescription pharmaceuticals -- Frequency and distribution of nonprescription pharmaceuticals in central Indiana streams. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Biology

This study examined temporal variation of pharmaceutical concentrations in two streams with differing land uses: 1) a suburban stream with combined sewer overflow point sources; and, 2) a rural stream influenced by septic systems and agricultural runoff. Sites were sampled monthly for pharmaceutical concentrations and stream physiochemical parameters. Pharmaceuticals were frequently detected in both the urban and agricultural stream with the highest concentrations measured during winter. Across sites, water column dissolved oxygen concentrations positively correlated with several pharmaceuticals suggesting microbial activity is important in pharmaceutical persistence. Potential for degradation of pharmaceuticals as a carbon or nitrogen source by stream sediment microbial communities was also estimated using pharmaceutical-amended basal salt media incubated under different temperature and ultraviolet (UV) light treatments. Under 4°C incubation, caffeine and acetaminophen were the most recalcitrant compounds whereas cotinine was the most labile. Under UV-B exposure, cotinine and sulfamethoxazole were the most recalcitrant compounds whereas ibuprofen was the most labile. / Temporal variation of pharmaceuticals in an urban and agriculturally influenced stream -- Degradation potential of six pharmaceuticals by sediment microbial communities. / Department of Biology