Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.

Morphological, biochemical and minisatellite DNA variation was investigated at the colour ringed Brackenhurst House Sparrow population. Measurements and blood samples were collected from 584 nestlings and 692 other birds between 1985 and 1989. Six loci (6PGD, IDH, PEPD2, PEPD3, PEPT and transferrin) which had been the subject of a previous report (Burke, 1984) were investigated by starch gel electrophoresis. All followed Mendelian inheritance patterns, were in Hardy Weinberg equilibria and displayed temporal stability in allele frequencies. No evidence was found of the previously reported segregation distortion at PEPD3 and transferrin but artefact bands were encountered when scoring the latter. Family groups identified by observing colour ringed adults during feeding visits were examined using both enzyme and minisatellite DNA markers. Z chromosome linkage of several fingerprint bands was implicated, though most segregate independently. The probability of detecting an extra-pair fertilization was estimated as 0.5454 using starch gels and 0.9998 by fingerprinting. 51 out of 420 nestlings from 144 broods possessed several bands absent from the attendants' fingerprints. All nestlings with multiple mismatches shared many bands with the attendant female but a number consistent with band sharing between unrelateds with the male, i.e. nonparentage, was the result of cuckoldry. 24% of broods and 37% of males were affected. A correlation between the presence of extra-pair offspring and poor hatching success was noted. Cuckoldry was twice as successful in broods which contained infertile eggs. Metric variation was examined in the confirmed families. Significant heritabilities were demonstrated for weight, tarsus and tail length but environmentally induced variance was considerable. Yearlings were smaller than full adults in plumage length. This may be due to levels of protein reserves at critical growth periods. Some evidence of assortative mating for tail length was found which was unrelated to age associated changes.

Genetic variation in natural populations of four species of swans (Cygnus bewickii, Cygnus olor, Cygnus buccinator and Cygnus cygnus) has been investigated by examining minisatellite loci using human DNA fingerprinting probes pSPT19.6 and pSPT18.15. It has been found that swan minisatellites are highly variable. However, the degree of variation depends on the population structure and species. Bewick's Swans at Slimbridge have the highest degree of minisatellite variation, Whooper Swans at Caerlaverock come second, and then Mute Swans, and Trumpeter Swans in Montana. Comparative study of DNA fingerprints among populations and among species suggested that swan minisatellites are subject to specific as well as population differentiation, although the function of minisatellites remains an unsolved mystery. Hypervariable minisatellites of swans that are detected by DNA fingerprinting are stably inherited as codominant markers. DNA fingerprinting has been used to study mating behaviour of Mute and Whooper Swans in the wild The results showed that the Whooper swans were almost strictly monogamous and Mute Swans exhibited an adaptable reproductive system. A genomic library from Cygnus olor was constructed and dozens of minisatellites were isolated. Most of the cloned swan minisatellites were variable, some showed specific variation, and one (pcoMS6.1) detected RFLPs in PstI digests of Trumpeter Swans.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State College, 1956. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-169). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis--Columbia University. / Bibliography: p. 559-562.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago. / "Reprinted from Journal of morphology, vol. XI, no. 3," Dec., 1895. "Literature": p. 580-583.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago. / "Reprinted from Journal of morphology, vol. XI, no. 3," Dec., 1895. "Literature": p. 580-583.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "August, 2008." Includes bibliographical references. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1939. / Cover-title. "Awarded an A. Cressy Morrison prize in natural science in 1938 by the New York Academy of Sciences." "Reprinted from the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. XXXIX, art. 2 ... July 13, 1939." "Literature cited": p. 98-102.