Walnut (Juglans) and wingnut (Pterocarya) trees have been declining in response to Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD). The TCD pathogen, Geosmithia morbida, is vectored by a phloeophagous bark beetle, the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis Blackm . . .

Recent human infections with avian influenza viruses (AIV) highlight the need for continued surveillance of AIV in waterfowl. California’s Sacramento Valley is an important wintering site for waterfowl from which avian influenza viruses may be isolate . . .

This study examined the diets of two predatory fish species, the native Sacramento Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus grandis) and the introduced Striped Bass (Morone saxitilis), within the Sacramento River, CA, USA. Sampling occurred between March and Decembe . . .

Flammulated owls (Psiloscops flammeolus) are small nocturnal owls that are thought to migrate long distances every year from summer breeding grounds in the western United States and southern Canada to winter habitat in Mexico. They are cryptic and elu . . .

95% of the cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are caused by a chromosomal translocation linking the breakpoint cluster region (BCR) gene to the Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene-1 (ABL1). Downstream of BCR-ABL is growth receptor bound protei . . .

Hematopoiesis is a highly regulated biological process that begins with a singular adult stem cell called the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). HSCs are responsible for generation of trillions of cells a day, yet the pathways that instruct an HSC to self . . .

Diabetes is a disease in which patients exhibit deficiencies in their ability to secrete or respond to insulin and is affecting both national and worldwide populations. There are two types of diabetes, type I and type II. In type II diabetes patients, . . .

Macrophages are important for protection against infection with influenza viruses, they may also contribute to disease severity during H5N1 influenza virus infection through the virus induced alteration of important antiviral functions. One reason for . . .

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a disease which affects a large percentage of the United States and the risk of developing T2D is increasing according to recent CDC estimates. T2D can be fatal, and although patients are living longer with it, the costs of ca . . .

Panamint alligator lizards (Elgaria panamintina) are a rare lizard species endemic to Inyo County, California. Little is known about the species and it is thought to be of conservation concern. Monitoring efforts for rare species requires conservative . . .

I studied fall and winter habitat utilization of Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope), and American Wigeon (Anas americana) using time budgets in the Sacramento Valley, California. Habitat utilization by American and Eurasian Wigeon differed only in the pr . . .

Cooperative or eusocial behavior is not unknown among gall-inducing insects, but the ecological and evolutionary contexts which produce such behaviors vary in their details. In Northern California, the manzanita leaf-gall aphid Tamalia coweni has show . . .

My study aimed to quantify nesting habitat availability for cavity-nesting birds in restored and remnant patches of riparian forest on the Sacramento River. I explored three hypotheses: 1) that older restored forests will attract more cavity-nesting b . . .

Kelp forest ecosystems are sensitive to changing global environmental conditions and unsustainable fishing practices (Tegner and Dayton 2000). Natural resource managers have implemented marine protected areas (MPAs) to mitigate ecosystem collapse and . . .

Meadows in the Sierra Nevada are characterized as wet, heterogeneous habitats with diverse plant communities, often being biodiversity hot spots. These meadows not only provide resources for wildlife but also filter and store snowmelt, providing susta . . .

Tamalia coweni is unusual among gall-forming aphids in that it will often share its gall space with other members of its species, even as this has been shown to lower its fitness. Previous research utilizing manipulated densities of T. coweni on inflo . . .

The western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) is a small fossorial owl found in the western United States, Canada and northern Mexico (Shuford and Gardali 2008). Populations in northern California have suffered recent declines, and a better . . .

Vocalizations are the main form of communication between anurans, and each species can have an array of calls that can range from simple to complex. Local dialects from different populations of the same species can inhibit intraspecific communication, . . .

Early detection of invasive species and evaluation of their impact on native ecosystems is key to conservation efforts. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a useful tool to complement traditional field surveys in studying both the range . . .

Phosphite (Pt), a traditional fungicide and novel fertilizer alternative used for P sourcing in agricultural soils, offers a potential for the conservation of phosphate (Pi), an essential and non-renewable limited resource. This potential has relied o . . .

Iron-rich coastal wetlands may act as sinks for heavy metal contaminants such as mercury, but may also remobilize this biotoxin, as well as mediate chemical changes that affect bioavailablity and toxicity. Walker Marsh is an iron-rich intertidal salt . . .

The characterization of bacterial metabolic pathways oxidizing phosphite have been characterized. However, bacterial oxidation of phosphite in the environment and its impact on the biogeochemistry has been largely ignored. In this study I attempted to . . .

Ammophila arenaria was introduced to North America in 1868 for sand stabilization, and since its introduction it has invaded most of the dune ecosystems of the Pacific coast of North America. The 222 ha dune ecosystem at Gold Bluffs Beach within Prair . . .

Perennial grain crops are presently offered as a solution to current agricultural problems such as soil erosion, excessive water use, and water quality degradation while supporting ecosystem services. A longer growing season allows for a substantial r . . .

Deviations from symmetrical growth in bilateral characters of an organism are referred to as bilateral asymmetries and can be found in three forms: 1) anti-symmetry (AS), 2) fluctuating asymmetry (FA), and 3) directional asymmetry (DA). In this study . . .

Glutamate (Glu) is an important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. It binds to ionotropic Glu receptors located in the postsynaptic membrane and allows calcium into the cell. Abnormally high levels of Glu can induce excitotoxicity (seizure), wh . . .

Northern Saw-Whet Owls (NSWO, Aegolius acadicus), one of the smallest owls in North America, migrate in large numbers every fall from higher latitudes and elevation to overwinter at both lower latitude and elevation. While extensive efforts have been . . .

Emiliania huxleyi is a marine haptophyte alga known for its ability to generate large volumes of calcite coccoliths. It also synthesizes a unique suite of neutral lipid (PolyUnsaturated Long Chain Alkenes, Alkenones and Alkenoates, or PULCA), whose bi . . .

Microorganisms can live in environments where macroscopic organisms cannot survive, such as in the extremely acidic geothermal Boiling Spring Lake (BSL) in Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA. BSL is an oligotrophic lake with thriving microbial populati . . .

Diabetes is one of the United States’ worst epidemics; the dangers associated with the disease can be both fatal and varied. The constant presence of high concentrations of glucose and free fatty acids (FFA) becomes a source of stress for cells, which . . .

Hydrophobic polymer lignin provides water proofing and structural integrity to cell wall which help plants adapt to terrestrial environment. Secretory peroxidases are thought to generate monolignol radicals that polymerize to form lignin. In Arabidops . . .

Class III plant peroxidases are found in all land plants and lignification, suberization, and pathogen defense are three of the many functions served by these enzymes. The numerous peroxidase functions and the large multigenic families peroxidases are . . .

Indirect biotic interactions can change seasonally with changes in the abundance of other community members. In this way, pollinator sharing between plant species may range from competition to facilitation depending on the seasonal pollinator communit . . .

The mechanisms by which species are formed is a central question in evolutionary biology. The Biological Species Concept has provided a framework for quantifying, via reproductive isolation, the extent of divergence between populations. The relative s . . .

MicroRNAs are important regulators of eukaryotic cellular processes and their misregulation is associated with many human diseases. MicroRNA-375, a regulator of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells, is misregulated in human type 2 diabetes. The . . .

Body shape of juvenile fall-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared in a perennial stream environment were compared to juveniles reared in an ephemeral stream environment. In the Central Valley of California, habitat characteristics diffe . . .

ABSTRACT DIVERSITY AND ACTIVITIES OF PHAGOTROPHIC MICRO-EUKARYOTES IN BOILING SPRINGS LAKE, LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK by William Henry Harrison Reeder IV Master of Science in Biological Science California State University, Chico Fall 2011 The biol . . .

Wild-land fires are a dynamic and destructive force in natural ecosystems. In recent decades, fire disturbances have increased concerns and awareness over significant economic loss and landscape change. The focus of this research allowed for the utili . . .

ABSTRACT THE HEALTH OF BLUE ELDERBERRY (Sambucus mexicana) AND COLONIZATION BY THE VALLEY ELDERBERRY LONGHORN BEETLE (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) IN RESTORED RIPARIAN HABITAT by Meghan Gilbart Master of Science in Biological Sciences California . . .

ABSTRACT EMPLOYING STABLE ISOTOPES TO INVESTIGATE THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON HAWAIIAN STREAM FOOD WEBS by Megan Layhee Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Anthropogenic disturbance around the . . .

ABSTRACT ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BACTERIA CAPABLE OF UTILIZING REDUCED PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS by Brandee L. Stone Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Summer 2011 Although bacterial metabolic pathways to oxidize . . .

ABSTRACT PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE INDUCED STRESS ON VEGETATION UNDER NATURAL CONDITIONS by Michael W. Jenkins Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Spring 2011 This research incorporated a series o . . .

ABSTRACT INVERTEBRATE DRIFT IN NEIGHBORING PERENNIAL AND SEASONAL TRIBUTARIES OF THE SACRAMENTO RIVER by Gina Marie Benigno Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Summer 2011 While seasonal floodplains are known to . . .

Rare species can play important roles in the maintenance of ecosystem processes and the associated ecosystem goods and services on which humans rely for their well-being. Conservation of a rare species requires a thorough understanding of how it funct . . .

ABSTRACT BEETLE RESPONSE TO SEASONAL PRESCRIBED FIRE IN BLUE OAK (Quercus douglasii) WOODLANDS OF BIG CHICO CREEK ECOLOGICAL RESERVE by Mark Louis Lynch Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Spring 2011 Fire is an . . .

P has long been considered a biologically inert yet essential element to all living organisms. However, our understanding of how P compounds are converted and made available for growth in the environment is greatly lacking. This deficit in our knowled . . .

ABSTRACT HABITAT USE OF JUVENILE CALIFORNIA SPOTTED OWLS (STRIX OCCIDENTALIS OCCIDENTALIS) DURING THE POST-FLEDGING DEPENDENCY PERIOD IN NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA by Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Spring 2009 . . .

ABSTRACT ESTABLISHING UNDERSTORY PLANTS INTO RESTORED RIPARIAN FOREST ON THE MIDDLE SACRAMENTO RIVER by Prairie L. Johnston Master of Science in Botany California State University, Chico Spring 2009 Restorationists commonly plant overstory and underst . . .

ABSTRACT HABITAT, SEED DORMANCY, AND ALLOZYME VARIATION OF THE RARE ENDEMIC Phacelia cookei (BORAGINACEAE) by Melissa E. Patterson Master of Science in Botany California State University, Chico Fall 2010 Experimental studies of rare species are the mo . . .

ABSTRACT MICROSATELLITE DEVELOPMENT IN PLATANUS FOR DOCUMENTING GENE FLOW AMONG SPECIES by Kylene R. Lang Master of Science in Biological Sciences California State University, Chico Fall 2010 Hybridization is a primary source of invasive genotypes and . . .