| 1. |
- Wichrowski, M.W., et al.
(author)
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Activity and movements of reintroduced elk in Southeastern Kentucky
- 2005
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In: Southeastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.). - : Eagle Hill Institute. - 1528-7092 .- 1938-5412. ; 4:2, s. 365-374
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We assessed daily and seasonal activity and movements of reintroduced elk in eastern Kentucky from March 1999 to November 2000. Elk activity was determined by monitoring radio-transmitter pulse rate changes, and movements were calculated using hourly ground locations. A total of 1469 activity bouts and 1441 locations were collected on 38 and 32 radio-collared elk, respectively. Elk exhibited a tri-modal activity pattern with peaks near dawn, dusk, and midnight. Activity did not differ between seasons, although it was influenced by gender and time of day. Peak movements corresponded with peaks in activity at dawn and dusk, and increased from spring to winter. Elk were more gregarious and visible during the fall and winter, which increased their susceptibility to human disturbance and caused longer movements.
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| 2. |
- Carroll, J. M., et al.
(author)
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Scaredy-Oysters: In Situ Documentation of an Oyster Behavioral Response to Predators
- 2019
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In: Southeastern Naturalist. - : Humboldt Field Research Institute. - 1528-7092. ; 18:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Non-consumptive effects of predators on prey populations have received increased interest in recent years. For Crassostrea virginica (Eastern Oyster), much of the focus has been on induced morphological defenses (e.g., shell thickening). Here, we provide in situ documentation of a behavioral response of Eastern Oysters (valve closure) to the threat of predation on a natural reef. This behavioral response, while intuitive, has been largely ignored in the literature despite potential impacts on individual oyster health by affecting feeding and subsequently energy assimilation, reproductive condition, and growth. In situ photographs revealed that, under natural conditions, Eastern Oysters closed during the passive presence of a crab mate-guarding pair and took similar to 5 minutes to reopen to pre-predator gapes. Given that multiple oysters in our photos reacted similarly, this behavioral response may scale up to have effects on the population and the ecosystem services that Eastern Oysters provide. Ultimately, our observations open the door to a number of testable hypotheses regarding a predator's non-consumptive effects on oyster reefs.
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| 3. |
- Mortellaro, Steve, et al.
(author)
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Coefficients of Conservatism Values and the Floristic Quality Index for the vascular plants of south Florida
- 2012
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In: Southeastern naturalist (Steuben, Me.). - : Humboldt Field Research Institute. - 1528-7092 .- 1938-5412. ; 11:mo3, s. 1-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Since pre-European settlement, major alterations to the native landscape have been made, due largely to urban and agricultural developments. In south Florida, these activities have caused extensive degradation to native plant communities leaving remnant native lands. Therefore, the floristic quality of these native lands is changing, and a tool to assess their quality is needed. Assignment of coefficient of conservatism (C) values (ranging from 0 to 10) to each native plant within south Florida allows for the use of the floristic quality index (FQI), a tool to assess the quality of natural or remnant native plant communities. The coefficient of conservatism concept is based on two factors: 1) plants have various degrees of fidelity to specific habitats and their quality, and 2) plants have varying tolerances to disturbances and respond in various degrees. The establishment of C values and the use of the FQI eliminate subjectivity and provide a standardized method to evaluate the floristic condition of a site, which allows for comparisons between different sites and monitoring of sites over time. Non-native plants are not assigned conservatism coefficients values because they did not evolve in the native landscape. In south Florida (Florida Keys excluded), there are approximately 2226 plants, of which 64% (1434) are considered native and 36% (792) are considered non-native. Of the 1434 plants examined, only 94 native plants remained unranked, because the team did not have enough experience with the plant to confidently assign a C value. Approximately 33% of plants ranked fell into the ruderal categories (0–4), whereas 67% fell into obligate to natural areas categories (5–10). Once a thorough inventory of a site has been completed, a mean C value and FQI can be calculated.
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| 4. |
- McVey, Mark J., et al.
(author)
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Platelet extracellular vesicles mediate transfusion-related acute lung injury by imbalancing the sphingolipid rheostat
- 2021
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In: Blood. - : American Society of Hematology. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 137:5, s. 690-701
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a hazardous transfusion complication with an associated mortality of 5% to 15%. We previously showed that stored (5 days) but not fresh platelets (1 day) cause TRALI via ceramide-mediated endothelial barrier dysfunction. As biological ceramides are hydrophobic, extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be required to shuttle these sphingolipids from platelets to endothelial cells. Adding to complexity, EV formation in turn requires ceramide. We hypothesized that ceramide-dependent EV formation from stored platelets and EV-dependent sphingolipid shuttling induces TRALI. EVs formed during storage of murine platelets were enumerated, characterized for sphingolipids, and applied in a murine TRALI model in vivo and for endothelial barrier assessment in vitro. Five-day EVs were more abundant, had higher long-chain ceramide (C16:0, C18:0, C20:0), and lower sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) content than 1-day EVs. Transfusion of 5-day, but not 1-day, EVs induced characteristic signs of lung injury in vivo and endothelial barrier disruption in vitro. Inhibition or supplementation of ceramide-forming sphingomyelinase reduced or enhanced the formation of EVs, respectively, but did not alter the injuriousness per individual EV. Barrier failure was attenuated when EVs were abundant in or supplemented with S1P. Stored human platelet 4-day EVs were more numerous compared with 2-day EVs, contained more long-chain ceramide and less S1P, and caused more endothelial cell barrier leak. Hence, platelet-derived EVs become more numerous and more injurious (more long-chain ceramide, less S1P) during storage. Blockade of sphingomyelinase, EV elimination, or supplementation of S1P during platelet storage may present promising strategies for TRALI prevention. Key Points: • EVs derived from stored platelets cause TRALI as a function of their elevated ceramide and decreased S1P content. • Inhibiting ceramide formation, supplementing S1P, or washing stored platelets could potentially reduce TRALI incidence and severity.
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