Bowman Creek is one of the most ecologically impaired tributaries of the St. Joseph River, a larg... more Bowman Creek is one of the most ecologically impaired tributaries of the St. Joseph River, a large river in the Lake Michigan drainage system. It has been rerouted underground through pipes and culverts for more than half of its downstream length. The City of South Bend is planning to restore portions of the stream to a more natural aboveground condition, with goals of improving hydrological, ecological, education and aesthetic values.
In this study, I investigated the effects of culverts on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the stream ecosystem. Deployable dataloggers were used to characterize diel respiration curves. Water samples were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Biofilm samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a concentration and ash-free dry mass. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were used to calculate indices of biotic integrity. The effect of culverts on stream ecosystem function could not be determined from this study. However, collected baseline data can be used to assess the progress of restoration efforts. Further research and continued long-term monitoring is needed to characterize the dynamics of underground urban streams and evaluate the restoration of Bowman Creek.
ABSTRACT
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high c... more ABSTRACT
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high contrast makes the setae more visible and could facilitate earthworm identification and structural studies using fluorescence microscopy. Because the setae are composed of sclerotized proteins similar to those found in arthropod cuticles, the mechanism of fluorescence is probably similar to that of other invertebrates such as scorpions and spiders. However, further research is needed to determine the specific proteins responsible for earthworm setae autofluorescence.
Key words: Fluorescence, earthworms, setae.
RESUMEN
Cuando se observan las lombrices con luz ultravioleta, sus cerdas se ven amarillo-verde fluorescente. El claro contraste permite que las setas sean más visibles y se facilita identificar los diferentes tipos de lombrices así como estudiar su estructura con un microscopio de fluorescencia. Debido a que estas cerdas están compuestas de proteínas esclerotizadas como las encontradas en las cutículas de los artrópodos, el mecanismo de la fluorescencia es probablemente similar al de otros invertebrados como los escorpiones y las arañas. Sin embargo, se necesita seguir investigando para saber cuáles son las proteínas responsables de la autofluorescencia en las cerdas de las lombrices.
The development of an agent-based GIS model was attempted to fully understand the expansion of th... more The development of an agent-based GIS model was attempted to fully understand the expansion of the python population. Relevant ethnological and physiological data on the pythons was evaluated and used to develop a model. As a small, undergraduate institution without large ...
Bowman Creek is one of the most ecologically impaired tributaries of the St. Joseph River, a larg... more Bowman Creek is one of the most ecologically impaired tributaries of the St. Joseph River, a large river in the Lake Michigan drainage system. It has been rerouted underground through pipes and culverts for more than half of its downstream length. The City of South Bend is planning to restore portions of the stream to a more natural aboveground condition, with goals of improving hydrological, ecological, education and aesthetic values.
In this study, I investigated the effects of culverts on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the stream ecosystem. Deployable dataloggers were used to characterize diel respiration curves. Water samples were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Biofilm samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a concentration and ash-free dry mass. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were used to calculate indices of biotic integrity. The effect of culverts on stream ecosystem function could not be determined from this study. However, collected baseline data can be used to assess the progress of restoration efforts. Further research and continued long-term monitoring is needed to characterize the dynamics of underground urban streams and evaluate the restoration of Bowman Creek.
ABSTRACT
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high c... more ABSTRACT
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high contrast makes the setae more visible and could facilitate earthworm identification and structural studies using fluorescence microscopy. Because the setae are composed of sclerotized proteins similar to those found in arthropod cuticles, the mechanism of fluorescence is probably similar to that of other invertebrates such as scorpions and spiders. However, further research is needed to determine the specific proteins responsible for earthworm setae autofluorescence.
Key words: Fluorescence, earthworms, setae.
RESUMEN
Cuando se observan las lombrices con luz ultravioleta, sus cerdas se ven amarillo-verde fluorescente. El claro contraste permite que las setas sean más visibles y se facilita identificar los diferentes tipos de lombrices así como estudiar su estructura con un microscopio de fluorescencia. Debido a que estas cerdas están compuestas de proteínas esclerotizadas como las encontradas en las cutículas de los artrópodos, el mecanismo de la fluorescencia es probablemente similar al de otros invertebrados como los escorpiones y las arañas. Sin embargo, se necesita seguir investigando para saber cuáles son las proteínas responsables de la autofluorescencia en las cerdas de las lombrices.
The development of an agent-based GIS model was attempted to fully understand the expansion of th... more The development of an agent-based GIS model was attempted to fully understand the expansion of the python population. Relevant ethnological and physiological data on the pythons was evaluated and used to develop a model. As a small, undergraduate institution without large ...
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Papers by Sarah McManus
In this study, I investigated the effects of culverts on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the stream ecosystem. Deployable dataloggers were used to characterize diel respiration curves. Water samples were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Biofilm samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a concentration and ash-free dry mass. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were used to calculate indices of biotic integrity. The effect of culverts on stream ecosystem function could not be determined from this study. However, collected baseline data can be used to assess the progress of restoration efforts. Further research and continued long-term monitoring is needed to characterize the dynamics of underground urban streams and evaluate the restoration of Bowman Creek.
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high contrast makes the setae more visible and could facilitate earthworm identification and structural studies using fluorescence microscopy. Because the setae are composed of sclerotized proteins similar to those found in arthropod cuticles, the mechanism of fluorescence is probably similar to that of other invertebrates such as scorpions and spiders. However, further research is needed to
determine the specific proteins responsible for earthworm setae autofluorescence.
Key words: Fluorescence, earthworms, setae.
RESUMEN
Cuando se observan las lombrices con luz ultravioleta, sus cerdas se ven amarillo-verde fluorescente. El claro contraste permite que las setas sean más visibles y se facilita identificar los diferentes tipos de lombrices así como estudiar su estructura con un microscopio de fluorescencia. Debido a que estas cerdas están compuestas de proteínas esclerotizadas como las encontradas en las cutículas de los artrópodos, el mecanismo de la fluorescencia es probablemente similar al de otros invertebrados como los escorpiones y las arañas. Sin embargo, se necesita seguir investigando para saber cuáles son las proteínas responsables de la autofluorescencia en las cerdas de las lombrices.
Palabras clave: Fluorescencia, fluorescente, lombrices, cerdas, setas, sedas, Oligoqueta.
In this study, I investigated the effects of culverts on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the stream ecosystem. Deployable dataloggers were used to characterize diel respiration curves. Water samples were analyzed for ammonium, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Biofilm samples were analyzed for chlorophyll a concentration and ash-free dry mass. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were used to calculate indices of biotic integrity. The effect of culverts on stream ecosystem function could not be determined from this study. However, collected baseline data can be used to assess the progress of restoration efforts. Further research and continued long-term monitoring is needed to characterize the dynamics of underground urban streams and evaluate the restoration of Bowman Creek.
When viewed under ultraviolet light, earthworm setae fluoresce yellow-green. The high contrast makes the setae more visible and could facilitate earthworm identification and structural studies using fluorescence microscopy. Because the setae are composed of sclerotized proteins similar to those found in arthropod cuticles, the mechanism of fluorescence is probably similar to that of other invertebrates such as scorpions and spiders. However, further research is needed to
determine the specific proteins responsible for earthworm setae autofluorescence.
Key words: Fluorescence, earthworms, setae.
RESUMEN
Cuando se observan las lombrices con luz ultravioleta, sus cerdas se ven amarillo-verde fluorescente. El claro contraste permite que las setas sean más visibles y se facilita identificar los diferentes tipos de lombrices así como estudiar su estructura con un microscopio de fluorescencia. Debido a que estas cerdas están compuestas de proteínas esclerotizadas como las encontradas en las cutículas de los artrópodos, el mecanismo de la fluorescencia es probablemente similar al de otros invertebrados como los escorpiones y las arañas. Sin embargo, se necesita seguir investigando para saber cuáles son las proteínas responsables de la autofluorescencia en las cerdas de las lombrices.
Palabras clave: Fluorescencia, fluorescente, lombrices, cerdas, setas, sedas, Oligoqueta.