Illinois Wesleyan: Biology

Biology Research at the John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference

2013

Isolation and Characterization of Novel Mycobacteriophages From the Central Illinois Region
Authors: Rachel Aron '16, Blake Beehler '16, Rachel Ende '16, Logan Garthe '16, Netherland Joiner '16, Tess Kelley '16, Lauren Killough '16, Michal Kozdronkiewicz '16, Jessica Kraut '16, Jennifer Lang '16, Matthew Piotrowiak '16 and Prartana Ramachandran '16

A new species of frog of the genus Pristimantis(Strabomantidae) from a cloud forest in southern Peru
Author: Anton Baltuska '13

Cranial neural crest proliferation and incorporation into the developing jaw of redeye tetra (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae)
Authors: Navika Chhabra '14 and Kieran Meyer '14

Genome Annotation of a Bacteriophage ofRhodobacter Capsulatus Isolated from Central Illinois Water
Authors: Madeline Cross '13 and Marlena Szewczyk '13

Feeding Modes of Larvae of Nematostella vectensis (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)
Author: Amanda Kehr Smith '13

Kinetic Characterization of Porphobilinogen Synthase from Clostridium perfringens
Author: Michelle Larson '13

Isolation of Three New Bacteriophages for Rhodobacter capsulatus
Author: Brenda Miller '14

Corrosion Casting: A Novel Method for Determining Avian Eggshell Pore Morphology
Authors: Mark Swanson '14 and Jason Murphy, '14

The Effect of Burning On Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Rates of Sullivant's Milkweed (Asclepias Sullivantii) and Common Milkweed (Asclepias Syriaca)
Author: Mary Nafziger '14

Variability in Eggshell Pore Area in Relation to Brood Hatching Patterns in House Wrens (Troglodytes Aedon)
Authors: Abbey White '14 and Lauren Podgorski '13

An Adapted Method for Measuring Gas Exchange Across Avian Eggshells
Author: Sarah Takushi '13

2012

Genome Annotation of a C1 Mycobacteriophage Isolated from Central Illinois Soil
Authors: Catlin Arrington '15, Elyse Borchik '15, Ethan Gelke '15, Ryan Holden '15, Sam Soreson '15, et al.

Maternal Investment in Physa acuta
Authors: Lauren Awdziejczyk '12, William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor

Isolation of Rhodobacter capsulatus Bacteriophages and development of Optimal Infection Conditions
Authors: Brooke Bernardoni '12, Matthew R. Bockman '12, David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor

The Isolation and Characterization of Novel Bacteriophages from Central Illinois
Authors: Anthony Bohner '15, Juie Ann Canter '15, Drew Cullet, Crystal Diaz '15, Kati Forman '15, et al.

A New Species of Frog (Strabomantidae: Pristimantis) From Peru With Comments on its Ectoparasites (Acari: Trombiculidae)
Authors: Alan Brus '12, Edgar Lehr, Faculty Advisor

Comparison of Regional Eggshell Porosity Between the Brood Parasitic Brown-Headed Cowbird (Moluthrus ater) and its Hosts: the Dickcissel (Spiza americana), and Two Non-Parasitic Relatives, the Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) and the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).
Authors: Brittany Childs '12, W. B. Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, R. G. Harper, Faculty Advisor, M. Kiefer, J. W. Rivers, et al.

Metabolic Contribution of Particulate Matter (<μm) for Larvae of Lytechinus variegatus
Authors: Matthew McShane '13, William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Limit Hypoxia Induced Loss of Gap Junctions via NFK-B Pathway
Authors: Jarod Pope '12, William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor

Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Brain and Mechanisms of Reducing Tissue Damage
Authors: Victoria Simmons '12, Susan Vannucci, Faculty Advisor, Edgar Lehr, Faculty Advisor

An Adapted Method for Measuring Gas Exchange Across Avian Eggshells
Authors: Sarah Takushi '13, Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor

Bacteriophage Genomes Annotation
Authors: Da Wang '15, David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor

2011

Experimental Manipulation of Maternal Investment and Effects on Juvenile Viability and Size in Physa acuta

Lauren Awdziejcyk, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

A New Species of the Pristimantis orestes Group (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from Northern Peru (Río Abiseo National Park)

Alan Brus, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
Edgar Lehr, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Comparison of Eggshell Porosity and Estimated Gas Flux Between the Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) and its Hosts: the Dickcissel (Spiza americana) and the Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Brittany Childs, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
Miranda Kiefer, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

A New Species of Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from the Río Abiseo National Park, Peru

Cindy Gregory, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
Edgar Lehr, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

An Enzyme Assay of the bchC-Encoded Enzyme 2-Desacetyl-2-Hydroxyethyl Bacteriochlorophyllide A Dehydrogenase

Ronald Grider, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Winter Abundance of Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) in Human-Altered Landscapes in Northeastern and Central Illinois

Anna Groves, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Vic Berardi, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Beach State Park Hawk Watch
Paul Sweet, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Beach State Park Hawk Watch
Angelo Capparella, Faculty Advisor, Illinois State University
Gretchen Knapp, Faculty Advisor, Illinois State University
Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Incidence of Larval Cloning in the Sea Urchins Arbacia punctulata and Lytechinus variegatus

Lauren Knaack, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Uptake of Dissolved Macromolecules by Larvae of Lytechinus variagatus

Andrew McDonald, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Determining the Composition of the Colony Tubes of Pterobranchs

Andrew McDonald, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
Tyler Saunders, '12, Illinois Wesleyan University
Elizabeth Balser, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University
Lukasz Sewera, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University

Evaluation of DOM Uptake by Spionid Polychaete Larvae from Antarctica

Travis Rosenkranz, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

The Light/Lymphotoxin Costimulatory Family and Lipid Metabolism

Lukasz Sewera, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Catherine A. Reardon, Faculty Advisor, University of Chicago

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation Education Incorporated in an Animal Exhibit at the Indianapolis Zoo

Vanessa Snyder, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

pH-Dependent 15-Lipoxygenase Catalyzed Peroxidation of Linoleic Acid: HPLC/ESR/MS Study

Shuting Zhong, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Yan Gu, North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Preeti Purwaha, North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Benidict Law, Faculty Advisor, North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Steven Y. Qian, Faculty Advisor, North Dakota State University - Main Campus

2010

Expression of Porphobilinogen Synthase in Synechocystis 6803

Linda Agyapong, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Variable Absorption of Dissolved Organic Material by Pilidium Larvae

Kristina Bennett, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Cadmium, Copper, Iron, and Zinc Concentrations in the Kidneys of Grey Wolves (Canis lupus) from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and the Northwest Territories

Susan Blunck, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
Emily Jones, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Kelly Petersen, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
Given Harper, Facutly Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University
Jeffrey Frick, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

The Potential Effects of Eggshell Porosity on Brown-Headed Cowbird and Dickcissel Incubation Periods

Expression, Purification, and Characterization of Porphobilinogen Synthase in Clostridium perfringens

Kristina Dakis, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Use of Slide In-Situ Hybridization to Determine PAX9 Gene Expression in Moenkhausia Sanctaefilomenae

Golibe Eze-Echesi, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Brian Walter, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Winter Abundance and Habitat Preference of Red-Tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) in Northeastern and Central Illinois

Anna Groves, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Given Harper, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University
Angelo Capparella, Faculty Advisor, Illinois State University

Determination of Optimal Conditions for BCHF Enzymatic Activity

Casey Hamm, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Comparative Analysis of the Subunit Interfaces of a Morpheein for Different Species of Organisms

Kyleigh Kirbach, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Trevor Selwood, Illinois Wesleyan University
Eileen K. Jaffe, Illinois Wesleyan University
David Bollivar, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Using Polystyrene Beads to Estimate Feeding Selectivity and Potential Energetic Consequences in the Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

Stephen Little, 10, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Expression of Cranial Neural Crest Genes in Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Harirajan Mani, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
Brian Walter, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Bacteria not an Energetically Favorable Food Source for Larvae of Artemia salina

Kenny Moore, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Uptake and Assimilation of Dissolved Organic Matter by Bosmina longirostris (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Nikki Preston, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Effects of Temperature on the Intracapsular Embryonic Development of the Freshwater Gastropod Physa Acuta

Alyssa Ray, '11, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

The Uptake of Dissolved Molecules by the Freshwater Rotifer, Asplanchna Priodonta

Stephanie R. Ross, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
William Jaeckle, Faculty Advisor, Illinois Wesleyan University

Screening Staphylococcus aureus Transposon Mutants for Altered Nuclease Activity

Jennifer Sanderson, '10, Illinois Wesleyan University
Matthew Thoendel, Faculty Advisor, University of Iowa
Jeffrey Kavanaugh, Faculty Advisor, University of Iowa
Alexander R. Horswill, Faculty Advisor, University of Iowa