Bachelor of Science, Wittenberg University, 2020, Biology

In utilizing native plant species, communities can maintain a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity, as well as formulating a cost effective method of landscaping that, over time, can be relatively self-sufficient. College campuses, allowing for small, condensed garden areas, are prime locations for native plant populations to form and grow. While forming such populations can be costly at first, this study aims to analyze the best methods for minimizing cost by utilizing already present resources on campuses. Taking place at Wittenberg University, the study explores germination techniques on varied plant species to determine best practices for growing native plants from preexisting generations.

Committee: Amber Burgett (Advisor); Sheryl Cunningham (Committee Member); Richard Phillips (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Botany; Ecology; Environmental Science; Landscaping; Plant Biology; Plant Propagation; Plant Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1954, Environment and Natural Resources

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Committee: C.J. Willard (Advisor) Subjects: Agriculture; Plant Propagation

Master of Science in Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, 2010, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry

A biological community can become invaded by non-resident species when the resources necessary for establishment and growth coincide with invader propagules. There are many ecological factors that affect below- and aboveground resource availability in a community and this research integrates both spatially and temporally varying components. In a managed grassland, we measured the interactive effects of disturbance patch size (DPS), grazing intensity (GI), and soil resource availability (SRA) on the invasion success of smooth pigweed Amaranthus hybridus (L.) and velvetleaf Abutilon theophrasti (L.). Importantly, we considered two life history stages of each focal invader (i.e., emerged and established seedlings) because invasion success may depend on when resource shifts coincide with particular life history stages. Our empirical data generally support the following predictions: 1) thresholds in ISP exist across DPS, the magnitude of which increases with higher SRA levels, 2) the life history stage of the invader strongly affects ISP in smaller sized patches containing high SRA, 3) regardless of invader size, grazing effects are large in small DPSs in high SRA area 4), in the absence of grazing, SRA within a given DPS can have opposing effects on ISP. Integrating disturbance type and intensity across other ecological dimensions is important in elucidating the mechanisms of community invasibility as well as offering sound recommendations to managers of native grassland communities.

Committee: Ian Renne PhD (Advisor); Thomas Diggins PhD (Committee Member); Felicia Armstrong PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Biology; Ecology; Plant Propagation

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, 2009, Biology (Cell-Molecular Biology)

Boron (B) is essential in plants but commercial growers usually depend on visualsymptoms to detect boron deficiency. In order to provide non-visual biomarkers for early detection of B limitation, global gene expression profiling of Arabidopsis roots was performed using long-oligonucleotide array hybridization. Candidate biomarker gene expression was evaluated in hydroponically grown Arabidopsis roots 27 hours after exposing them to boron-deficient conditions. The Boron Deficiency Response (Bdr1) gene was identified as a novel gene expressed in leaves and roots but is unregulated in B-deficient roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. To determine the subcellular location of the AtBDR1 protein in vivo, a GFP reporter assay was employed. Expression of an AtBDR1::GFP protein fusion in onion epidermal cells suggests that the protein is localized to mitochondria. A bioinformatics survey of Bor and Bdr related genes from 12 complete plant genomes reveals that these proteins are highly conserved amongst land plants. The Bor gene family has evolved from a single bicarbonate type transporter in algae and through genome polyploidy and duplication events amplified to between 3 (Sorghum) and 12 (soybean) copies in extant genomes. BOR proteins can be divided into two distinct clades that differ in their C-termini and the conservation of unique amino acids residues in their transmembrane domains. Bdr related genes are unique to land plants, not present in algae, and exhibit a conserved uORF that hints at translational level of gene regulation. In addition, we have begun to establish an experimental basis for translational work in Pelargonium as a model for boron monitoring in non-model commercial plant species. Homologs of two boron transporter genes (Bor1 and Nip5) and a Bdr1 homolog were isolated from Pelargonium using a degenerate PCR strategy. The expression of these genes was validated and found to exhibit similar expression patterns as in Arabidopsis, under sh (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: John Gray PhD (Committee Chair); Scott Heckathorn PhD (Committee Member); Jonathan Frantz PhD (Committee Member); Scott Leisner PhD (Committee Member); John Plenefisch PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Botany; Horticulture; Molecular Biology; Nutrition; Plant Propagation

Master of Science (MS), Wright State University, 2012, Biological Sciences

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has been previously found to be significantly affected negatively by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cruciferarum). While we could not significantly corroborate those findings we did find evidence that E. cruciferarum does inhibit A. petiolata's allelopathic and competitive effects which benefits some target neighbor species such as Impatiens capensis and Elymus canadensis. We also found that the inhibition of A. petiolata by E. cruciferarum had negative consequences on another neighboring invasive species (Lonicera maackii) compared to those grown next to uninfected A. petiolata. Acer saccharum, a slow-growing species had no effect between neighbors. Sterilization treatments had variable effects on target plants, many of which mirror the effects which allelopathic plants (A. petiolata) that disrupt soil microbes seem to have. Sterilization inhibited growth of E. canadensis through the destruction of beneficial effects from microbes, while increasing the growth of L. maackii by inhibiting the pathogenic effects of microbes.

Committee: Don Cipollini Ph.D. (Advisor); James Amon Ph.D. (Committee Member); Thomas Rooney Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Botany; Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Management; Forestry; Plant Biology; Plant Pathology; Plant Propagation; Plant Sciences; Wildlife Conservation