Anthropology - Butler University

of NEP and PEP in Pelargonium. In order to study RNAPs independently, PEP-deficient plants
were generated by means of antibiotics treatment. The most effective treatment appears to be
topical treatment of antibiotics to growing leaf shoots. Initial gene expression profiles for the two
RNAPs are presented.
A Baseline Study of Population Levels of Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) at Selected Patch
Reefs of the Androsian (Bahamas) Barrier Reef Complex
Aaron Brattain & Lauren Oberley, Faculty Sponsor: Larry Wiedman, University of St. Francis
The population of the Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) has grown along the western Atlantic sea
board in the US and nearby Caribbean countries over the past 13 years, since they were first
found off the coast of Florida in 1999. The first documentation of them in the Bahamas came in
January, 2005. Within these years this invasive, predatory fish has become increasingly
problematic. Lionfish expansion has more or less followed the Atlantic Current, which spans
from the eastern coast of the United States down to the Caribbean and they have also recently
started showing up in the Gulf of Mexico. This colorful species has been an aquarist favorite and
is known for the poisonous dorsal spines and unusual reproductive cycle. Lionfish release their
young into the open water of the Atlantic Current, doing so allows for the young to relocate to
other areas that thrive with food resources. The rapid expansions of their geographic boundaries
are placing new pressures on local and community fish that are indigenous to the coral heads and
reefs throughout the Caribbean. Preys do not know to fear these ambush predators and larger
predator have not developed methods or a taste for these invaders. This research is phase one of
a baseline study of population counts of multiple locations off the eastern coast of the Andros
Island, Bahamas. Anecdotal data has been gleaned from class journals of students to these
locations during field studies classes at the University of Saint Francis since lionfish were first
noted. These population counts will be continued in future years at the same locations. This will
allow for the determination of whether the population of lionfish are increasing, decreasing, and
at what rates, or are remaining constant. Other concurrent studies at some of the locations will
assist in determining relationships between the lionfish densities and that of other indigenous
fishes at these sites.
Does Leaf and Flower Damage Induce Anti-Herbivore Defenses in Raphanus sativus Petals
and Have an Effect on Female Fitness?
Samantha Case, Faculty Sponsor: Andrew McCall, Denison University
As plants continually interact with herbivores, adaptations of constitutive or inducible defenses
are necessary to maintain fitness. Although chemical defenses have been found in the petals of
Raphanus sativus it is still unknown if they are induced or if they have any effect on female
fitness. In this study, we investigated whether previous damage to leaves by Spodoptera exigua
larvae induced defenses in later flowers. We also looked to see if there was an overall effect of
damage on female fitness. Our results showed that S. exigua larvae that fed on the petals of
previously damaged plants weighed significantly less then those that fed on petals from the
untouched control plants, demonstrating that induction of defense occurs in these flowers. Our
results also showed that experimentally damaged plants did not produce significantly fewer
flower stems than the untouched control plants, suggesting little cost of induced defenses.