Browsing FAS Theses and Dissertations by FAS Department "Biology, Organismic and Evolutionary"
Now showing items 21-36 of 36
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The Genetic Basis of Behavior: Burrow Construction in Deer Mice (Genus Peromyscus)
(2015-05-20)Understanding how complex, adaptive behavior evolves is a major goal of biological research. Phenotypic differences between closely-related species often arise due to evolution by natural selection and can be a powerful ... -
The Genetics of Life History Traits in the Fungus Neurospora crassa
(2016-05-13)The study of life histories is fundamental to understanding why some organisms live for a very short time while others live for a long time, why some produce thousands of offspring while others produce one, or why some ... -
The Genetics of Sexually Selected Male Reproductive Traits in Mice (Mus and Peromyscus Species)
(2015-05-16)Sexual selection is rampant in Nature, and has produced some of the most beautiful and bizarre traits on Earth. Because females are often promiscuous, sexual selection can continue even after mating, as the sperm of multiple ... -
An Integrative Investigation of Convergent Bipedal Locomotion in Desert Rodents
(2016-05-18)Bipedalism is commonly assumed to be an adaptive convergence because it has evolved independently three times in small desert rodents. However, the functional benefits of bipedality in this ecosystem have long been unclear. ... -
Mode and Fidelity of Bacterial Symbiont Transmission and Its Impact on Symbiont Genome Evolution
(2016-05-18)Mutualistic symbioses have enabled the colonization of novel habitats and niches in a large array of eukaryotic and bacterial taxa. Reliable mechanisms of symbiont transmission between host generations are necessary to ... -
Molecular phylogeny of the wood-boring beetle family Buprestidae and insights into the evolution of host use
(2018-05-13)The family Buprestidae, also known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles, contains nearly 15,000 species in 522 genera. Together with the small family Schizopodidae (7 species, 3 genera), they form the superfamily ... -
Neural Mechanisms of a Hyperosmotic Behavioral Response in Caenorhabditis elegans
(2017-04-12)Maintaining water balance is essential for biological systems to retain normal molecular and cellular functions. Hyperosmotic conditions cause water loss that can be detrimental to organisms’ survival. Behavior plays an ... -
Patterns of Genome Evolution and Habitat Adaptation in Tetraploid Arabidopsis Arenosa
(2016-12-08)Polyploidy occurs throughout eukaryotes, and is particularly prevalent among plants. Nearly 40% of all vascular plant species are thought to be recent polyploids, including a number of invasive species and familiar crops. ... -
Perspectives on Plant Phenology in Deciduous Forest Ecosystems at Multiple Spatial Scales
(2018-01-17)Deciduous forest phenology is a sensitive indicator of the ecological effects of global climate change, and in particular of changes in temperature. Phenology may also affect climate change through the changing length of ... -
Phenotypic Variation and the Behavioral Ecology of Lizards
(2017-04-28)Behavioral ecology is the study of how animal behavior evolves in the context of ecology, thus melding, by definition, investigations of how social, ecological, and evolutionary forces shape phenotypic variation within and ... -
Phylogeographic History and Temperature-Mediated Evolution of the Green Anole, Anolis Carolinensis
(2015-05-18)Temperature plays an important role in shaping the form and function of every species. Ectothermic organisms are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in their thermal environment. Their inability to produce appreciable ... -
The Role of the Basal Ganglia in Executing and Learning Complex Motor Sequences
(2016-05-17)We learn and perform precise motor sequences to interact with the environment. This ability underlies much of what we do, from playing musical instruments and using new tools to producing fluent speech. Understanding the ... -
Statistics and dynamics of adaptation from de novo mutations
(2017-03-03)All living organisms are shaped by natural selection. Therefore, by studying natural selection as a generic process, we may gain insights into broad questions regarding the diversity of life, the fit of organisms to their ... -
Studies of the Laboulbeniomycetes: Diversity, Evolution, and Patterns of Speciation
(2018-05-16)CHAPTER 1: Laboulbeniales is one of the most morphologically and ecologically distinct orders of Ascomycota. These microscopic fungi are characterized by an ectoparasitic lifestyle on arthropods, determinate growth, lack ... -
The Systematics and Evolution of Neotropical Bellflowers (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae)
(2015-09-23)The Andean mountain chains of South America are home to exceptionally high levels of biodiversity, including one-sixth of all plant species. Among them, the 550 species in the Neotropical bellflower clade (Campanulaceae: ... -
What’s Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gosling? Evolutionary Theory, Parent-Offspring Conflict and Genetic Disorders
(2018-04-24)Conflict is ever present in nature, serving as an essential driver of adaptation. In this dissertation I examine both intra- and interpersonal conflicts as they occur at the genetic level. Specifically, what happens when, ...