Date of Award
4-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
Program
Biology (MS)
First Advisor/Chairperson
Dr. Alan Rebertus
Abstract
Bdelloid rotifers are well documented as inhabitants within lobules of the widely distributed epiphytic liverwort, Frullania eboracensis. This research provides a detailed description of rotifer occupancy within lobules of F. eboracensis and tests the hypothesis that rotifer excrement might be a source of nutrients for F. eboracensis. My goals were to 1) investigate how rotifers are distributed among F. eboracensis, 2) how rotifer abundance is impacted by seasonality, and 3) use quantum dot (QD) labeled Escherichia coli as a food source for rotifers and track the QDs from bacteria to rotifer to F. eboracensis. Frullania eboracensis samples were collected in fall 2014 to fall 2016. QD experiments were conducted in fall 2023. The results showed rotifers had a much higher probability of occupancy for the first 5-6 lobules, slowly declining thereafter. Rotifer abundance was stable across the 1.5-year period, but there was a slight increase in density during the late fall and early winter. QD fluorescence was observed within the stomach cavity and intestine of rotifers and F. eboracensis showed evidence of rotifer-derived QD uptake from rotifer feces. The findings in this study support the hypothesis that F. eboracensis utilizes nutrients from rotifer feces and is the first study to document transfer of QDs from bacteria to animal to liverwort.
Recommended Citation
Mydlowski, Emily A., "SEASONAL VARIATION IN ROTIFER OCCUPANCY WITHIN FRULLANIA EBORACENSIS LOBULES: ILLUMINATING A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO OVERLOOKED SPECIES" (2024). All NMU Master's Theses. 842.
https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/842
Access Type
Open Access
Justification for Restricting Access
I am requesting an embargo for my thesis because I am working on submitting the manuscripts for publication.