Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Texas at Arlington, 2009.

Ganoderma lucidum and G. tsugae are two members of the G. lucidum complex. The authenticity of the two wood-rotting species was demonstrated by comparative studies. Ganoderma lucidum is restricted to hardwoods. Its "smooth" walled basidiospores were characterized by narrow, numerous inter-wall pillars. Isolates of G. lucidum produced chlamydospores in culture and had an average growth of 7.8 mm/da at their optimum temperature range of 30-34 C. Ganoderma tsugae is restricted to conifers. Its basidiospores were "rough" walled and had broad inter-wall pillars. Isolates of G. tsugae did not produce chlamydospores in culture and had an average growth of 2.1 mm/da at the optimum temperature range of 20-25 C. Mating systems were determined for both species as heterothallic and tetrapolar. Interspecific matings of homokaryons were incompatible. Homokaryons of a European G. resinaceum isolate were interfertile with homokaryons from North American collections of G. lucidum. The ability of G. lucidum and G. tsugae to decay wood in vitro was studied using the following woods in agar block decay chambers: grape, oak, mesquite, white fir, and Douglas-fir. Grape wood lost the most weight while mesquite the least. G. lucidum isolates generally caused greater weight loss of all woods than did G. tsugae isolates. Both Ganoderma species caused simultaneous decay in all woods. However, chemical analyses of the decayed blocks indicated that selective delignification by both species also occurred in grape and white fir blocks but not in oak or Douglas-fir blocks. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated various stages of selective delignification and simultaneous decay of all woods tested. Isolates of Ganoderma lucidum infected Dog Ridge variety grape plants, grown in the greenhouse, from below-ground wood block inoculations. Twenty-four plants were inoculated: one plant died and 4 other plants declined. After 24 months reisolations yielded only G. lucidum from the five declining plants, demonstrating pathogenicity. The fungus developed in the heartwood and, in later stages, invaded the sapwood. Infected plants developed water stress symptoms with leaves wilting, yellowing, and dying. Field grape plants inoculated with the fungus developed decay columns as large as 42 cm in 17 mons. Decay was limited to the heartwood; no foliar symptoms occurred.

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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The object of Master‘s graduation work is the morphology of M. Akelaitis‘ primer „Lementorius, arba pradžia moksło, sudėto mažiems wajkeliems“. Since M. Akelaitis‘ primer has not been studied from the viewpoint of linguistic, therefore the objective of this work is to register all parts of speech of in work, to reconstruct paradigms of declension and conjugation and compare them with the paradigms of common language. Thereby the morphology of „Lementorius, arba pradžia moksło, sudėto mažiems wajkeliems“ (1860) is discussed in this work. It is attempted in this work to refer to the usage of common language, all parts of speech, found in the collection of M. Akelaitis, are discussed basing on the morphological categories. The work consists of the introduction, where the topic of this work, the object and objectives are introduced, the research part, where life and works of M. Akelaitis, morphology of the work, i.e. each part of the speech (noun, adjective, numeral, pronoun, verb, participle, half-participle, verbal adverb, infinitive, adverb, particle, preposition, conjunction, interjections and onomatopoeic interjections) are discussed. The work finalized by the conclusions and table of authorities. The Master’s graduation work consists of 90 pages; there are 2 tables and 19 diagrams in this work. At the end of each section there are the conclusions of that section provided, which are illustrated using various informative charts and are summarized in the final conclusions... [to full text]

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A three year study on Daphne Major island, Galapagos, describes the ecology and morphology of a simple Geospiza community. The four part thesis discusses the breeding and feeding ecology of two Daphne finches; G. fortis is a generalist adapted to a variable environment, and G. scandens is an ecological specialist experiencing a more stable environment. The measurement, growth, allometry, and multivariate properties of seven external morphological characters are described. The repeatabilities and heritabilities of the seven characters and principal component scores are large. Relations between the unusual intermediate-sized Daphne G. fortis phenotype and the Daphne environment are examined. Four hypotheses for the intermediacy, including genetic drift, hybridization, local adaptation, and competition are suggested, with evidence found to support parts of each except genetic drift. An episode of intense directional natural selection is documented, and Lack's character release explanation of the Daphne G. fortis phenotype is revised.