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10th ANNUAL

BIOLOGY GRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM

PRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY FRIDAY OCTOBER 18TH, 2019

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

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BIOLOGY GRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM 2019 AGENDA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18th

8:00-9:00 AM Registration: Poster Setup, Load All Talks

PAB Atrium, coffee and refreshments 9:00-10:15 AM Concurrent Talks I BGS 1053 & PAB 34 10:15-12:00 PM Poster Session: Viewing and Judging

PAB Atrium, coffee served 11:45:12:30 PM Lunch PAB Atrium 12:30-1:30 PM Laudenbach Memorial Lecture – Dr. Roman Krawetz BGS 0165, coffee and cookies 1:30-3:30 PM Concurrent Talks II PAB 148 & PAB 106 3:30-4:30 PM Awards and Closing Remarks PAB Atrium

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Concurrent Talks I: Session A BGS 1053

9:00-9:15 AM Brad Bork - Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-

MMP) cytoplasmic domain alters TGFβ signalling in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

9:15-9:30 AM Hanna Varonina - Establishment of the pesticide resistance

monitoring tool for the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae 9:30-9:40 AM David Letwin - An analysis of the xenobiotic responses of the two

spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae 9:40-9:55 AM Adam Chin-Fatt - A Rationally Designed Plant-Produced IgA Has

Improved Yield And Exhibits Cross Serotype Protection Against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

9:55-10:05 AM Soren Coulson - PDH activation and GLUT4 translocation in

exercising high altitude deer mice

Concurrent Talks I: Session B PAB 34

9:00-9:15 AM Haylee Begin-Dyck - Habitat Complexity, Season, and Vocal

Behaviour of Nocturnal Birds in a Neotropical Dry Forest 9:15-9:30 AM Jeff Martin - Cache site selection of Canada jays (Perisoreus

canadensis) 9:30-9:40 AM Rosie Savage – Exploring the diversity and specificity of

zooplankton parasites in coastal marine ecosystems 9:40-9:55 AM Matt Meehan - Metabolic demands on soil predators and prey

selection under warm conditions 9:55-10:10 AM Emma Churchman - Perceived paternity affects parental care

behaviour in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

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Concurrent Talks II: Session A PAB 148

1:30-1:45 PM Danielle Spice - Modulating a negative regulator of the Sonic

Hedgehog signaling pathway alters neural cell fate specification 1:45-2:00 PM Josh Isaaccson - Determining the effect of mistranslation on

development, fitness, and disease. 2:00-2:10 PM Hailie Pavanel - Available mouse models of basal cell carcinoma

provide a means to analyze and explore the mystery of one of the highest mutation burdens within a benign human cancer

2:10-2:25 PM Wes Robinsion - Assessing the role of neuroligin 3 in Drosophila

melanogaster social spacing behaviour 2:25-2:40 PM Muhammad Tahir - Investigating the relationship of HD2 family

histone deacetylases in response to drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

2:40-2:50 PM Daniel Olteanu - Supervised machine learning for sample

classification based on genotyping array data 2:50-3:05 PM Mo Gatie - A XEN STORY: The interplay between metabolism and

differentiation 3:05-3:15 PM Renee Resendes - The Effects of PFAS on the Development and

Mitochondrial Function of Zebrafish Ova 3:15-3:25 PM Adam McTague - Galectins and differentiation of Promyelocytic

HL-60 Cells

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Concurrent Talks II: Session B PAB 106

1:30-1:45 PM Dong Lee - Metschnikowia Mitochondria 1:45-2:00 PM Vonica Flear - On the genetical evolution of altruism: the

importance of genetic responsiveness to changing social environments

2:00-2:10 PM Scott Walters - The Importance of Biofilm to Migrating Shorebirds

in the Salish Sea 2:10-2:25 PM Lucas Khodaei - Happy or Hangry Families: Kinship as a mediator

of co-operation and Cannibalism in Drosophila melanogaster larvae.

2:25-2:40 PM Brynne Duffy - Reactive oxygen species damage and functional

consequences in different hibernation states of the thirteen lined ground squirrel

2:40-2:55 PM Jackie Lebenzon - Reversible mitophagy drives metabolic

suppression during diapause in the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

2:55-3:05 PM Rachel Wise - The effect of elevated rearing temperature on gill

morphology in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) 3:05-3:20 PM Amalie Saab - Characterization of a Yeast DNA Repair Protein:

The Shu Complex

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POSTER SESSION: PAB ATRIUM 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM

P1. Mythili Ravishankar - Understanding the Role of Polyamine N-Acetyltransferase in the Fission Yeast Response to Perturbation of the Cytokinetic Machinery

P2. Jordan VanderBurgt - Production of self-assembling protein nanocages and VLPs

displaying PRRSV epitopes in Nicotiana benthamiana P3. Sarah McDonald - How will climate change affect nectar production and floral

displays in Cucumis sativus? P4. Brendon Samuels - Quantifying and mitigating bird window collisions on a

university campus P5. Liam Brown - Do benzalkonium chloride biocides promote antimicrobial resistance

in environmental bacteria? P6. Nikita Frizzelle – Dispersal ability and flight morphology in Parnassius smintheus P7. Jackson Kusack - Origins of harvested American Black Ducks: a stable isotope

approach

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Oral Presentations – Concurrent Talks I Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) cytoplasmic domain alters TGFβ signalling in MCF-7 breast cancer cells Brad Bork, MSc Student Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is a multifunctional, transmembrane protease involved in cell movement. Because it can degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and activate secreted matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), unregulated expression of MT1-MMP has been implicated with increased cellular migration and invasion in cancerous tissue. Apart from its proteolytic activity, recent studies have shown that signalling pathways facilitated by MT1-MMP may have an equally important role in regulating cell migration, invasion, and viability. However, little is known about which proteins MT1-MMP binds to trigger such signalling pathways, especially in terms of cytoplasmic interactions. This research investigates both the proteolytic, but more specifically the non-proteolytic functions of MT1-MMP as regulated by its binding to other proteins. Stable MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines have been created that overexpress MT1-MMP or express MT1-MMP with a mutated cytoplasmic domain. Using a combination of co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, binding partners have been determined. Binding partners that typically function in the nucleus, Golgi, cytoplasm, and ECM have been identified, highlighting the functional versatility of MT1-MMP. Of particular interest is TRIM33, a ubiquitin-protein ligase, that may explain the differences in TGFβ signalling between cell lines. Cells that express MT1-MMP lacking its cytoplasmic domain have reduced expression of TGFβ1, but not its receptor TGFβ1R. These differences in TGFβ signalling correspond to changes in survival and migration between the stable cell lines. This research highlights that MT1-MMP is involved in important signalling cascades apart from its well-studied proteolytic function. Establishment of the pesticide resistance monitoring tool for the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Hanna Varonina, MSc Student Spider mites are known for their rapid development of resistance to pesticides. We are establishing TSSM pesticide resistance monitoring tool for detection of pesticide resistance patterns in TSSM based on genetic markers. Identified genetic patterns will then be used to provide recommendations on pesticide use to growers. Our research focuses on the establishment of the TSSM pesticide resistance monitoring tool. It consists of several components: a) pesticide resistance markers, b) TSSM resistance status determined by bioassays, and c) the correlation between the genetic markers and resistance status. We will initially establish pesticide resistance monitoring tool using known pesticide resistance markers, but will also be searching for new ones. In the Fall of 2018, 19 TSSM populations from different greenhouses and different crops (tomato, eggplant, cucumber, pepper) were collected. These populations were genotyped for the presence of known SNPs associated with pesticide resistance. Various target site mutations were found in all 19 greenhouse collected populations. We

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are also conducting a genome-wide screen for novel SNPs and patterns of metabolic resistance by means of RNA-seq on the same populations. Currently, we are conducting bioassays testing 14 pesticides registered for TSSM control in Canada. We are specifically focusing on bifenazate, cyflumetofen, and spiromesifen used on greenhouse tomatoes. Based on these data, a model that will convert the genotyping information into an IPM decision support will be developed. An analysis of the xenobiotic responses of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae David Letwin, MSc Student The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is a globally distributed agricultural pest that feeds upon over 100 agriculturally important crops and has many reported cases of pesticide resistance. The T. urticae genome sequence contains novel mite specific clades and duplications of cytochrome P450, esterase and GST genes. The P450, esterase and GST gene/enzyme families are known to be involved in responsiveness and detoxification of xenobiotics within arthropods, suggesting the expansion of these gene families is related to T. urticae host range. The objective of my research is to determine the xenobiotic responsiveness and detoxification abilities of T. urticae. I hypothesize that xenobiotic responsiveness and detoxification is a mechanism of coping with xenobiotics in T. urticae. I will be testing my hypothesis using bioassays to score mortality and fecundity of mites when treated with xenobiotic. I will also collect enzyme and metabolite samples to assess the mite responses and putative detoxification abilities. A Rationally Designed Plant-Produced IgA Has Improved Yield And Exhibits Cross Serotype Protection Against Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Adam Chin-Fatt, PhD Student The seven most prevalent strains of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) collectively comprise more than 95% of the disease burden globally, affecting an estimated 2.8 million people annually. Although a plant production system is well established as a useful platform for enabling the post-translational modifications necessary for IgA folding, yield continues to be the most significant hurdle preventing transitioning of these therapeutics to market. We identified a series of single domain antibodies that can enable cross-serotype protection against EHEC. Considering the modular nature of the IgA, we hypothesized that we could engineer the Fc component for improved yield of Fc fusions with these single domain antibodies without impacting the folding of these binders. We have successfully engineered a more stable Fc, by supercharging and introducing de novo disulfide bonds, that shows higher yield in planta by three to four fold. Using immunofluorescent labelling, we also have demonstrated that the VHH is still able to exhibit cross-serotype binding and neutralization across four of the seven strains. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that the rationally designed mutations have also not impacted the Fc’s ability to structurally assemble with other subunits into its secretory form. Overall, this study provides a proof of concept that stability engineering of plant-produced IgA biologics is a

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viable strategy for overcoming the yield hurdle of plant-produced antibodies and related therapeutics. PDH activation and GLUT4 translocation in exercising high altitude deer mice Soren Coulson, PhD Student Hypoxia encountered at high altitude (HA) can limit energy production in animals. HA-native deer mice show an increased reliance on carbohydrate oxidation (CHO) during submaximal exercise after hypoxia acclimation as an O2-saving strategy. However, hypoxia acclimation does not increase glycolytic capacity in muscle. We therefore tested the hypothesis that altered metabolic regulation of the CHO pathway allows HA mice to achieve higher CHO rates during submaximal exercise. Using first generation (G1) laboratory born and raised HA deer mice acclimated to normoxia or chronic hypoxia, we examined the metabolic regulation of muscle glucose uptake by glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 and of pyruvate oxidation by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH). Exercise was simulated in situ by electrically stimulating the gastrocnemius under anaesthesia and acute normoxia at two workloads relative to maximal force production, which was measured using a force transducer. In frozen gastrocnemius following stimulation or rest, GLUT4 protein content was measured via Western blotting of the sarcolemmal membrane fraction and PDH activity was measured using a radiolabelled assay. We found no differences in sarcolemmal GLUT4 content with stimulation, but PDH activity was increased in hypoxia, indicating increased CHO rates at similar workloads after acclimation. In support of our hypothesis, these data show that the metabolic regulation of the CHO pathway changes with acclimation to support higher CHO rates during submaximal exercise. These data will help uncover the mechanistic underpinnings responsible for the exercise fuel use strategies observed exclusively in HA-native mice. Habitat Complexity, Season, and Vocal Behaviour of Nocturnal Birds in a Neotropical Dry Forest Haylee Begin-Dyck, MSc Student Neotropical dry forest is a habitat type that has faced considerable loss due to anthropogenic influences, principally through cattle ranching and climate change. Because of this, efforts have been made to restore these habitats to benefit the organisms that live within them. Birds make up a large component of tropical biodiversity, and since they are cryptic, nocturnal birds tend to be overlooked in many conservation studies. Bioacoustic approaches provide an effective way to study nocturnal birds because they can be more easily detected by their vocalizations than seen under the cover of darkness. In this investigation, our goal is to assess if the vocal behaviour of nocturnal birds in dry forest habitat is affected by forest complexity or the variations between dry and wet periods. Our study site, Sector Santa Rosa of the Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica, is a mosaic of dry forest sites at different stages of regeneration. We collected recordings using autonomous recording units during both dry and wet seasons at 20 sites. Our findings suggest there is temporal variation in the number of avian species that produce nocturnal vocalizations, and there

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is more nocturnal vocal activity during the dry season than the wet season. We found no relationship between vocal activity and three different measures of vegetation. Interestingly, several diurnal species often vocalized at night, providing new insights into the behaviour of tropical birds. Our findings expand our understanding of the vocal behaviour of nocturnal birds in tropical dry forests, an ecosystem of great conservation concern. Cache site selection of Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis) Jeff Martin, PhD Student Food caching is a strategy used by a wide variety of birds to ensure adequate food availability through food sparse periods. Many species have been shown to remember various details about caches at the time of retrieval, including location, contents, and relative time of cache placement, but much less is known about caching behaviour at the time of caching. Birds should not only remember information about previously cached food, but also seek favourable cache locations for their future caches. We investigated behaviour, at the time of caching in eight captive Canada jays (Perisoreus canadensis). Canada jays are year-round residents of the Canadian boreal forest that use their caches to not only feed themselves, but also to provision their offspring. We explored jays’ ability to recognize and utilize potential cache sites by allowing the birds to cache freely in four different tree species that occur in their natural habitat: Red pine (Pinus resinosa), White spruce (Picea glauca), Red maple (Acer rubrum), and White birch (Betula papyrifera; also referred to as Paper Birch). Tree specimens were counterbalanced for height, branchiness and location in the aviary. Birds cached in all four species but demonstrated a strong preference for White spruce. These findings indicate that jays make fine scale assessments of their environment, discriminating among trees of different species, and use this information to select cache sites. Further research will examine whether White spruce provides better cache preservation, protection from cache pilfering or some other advantage in the placement of caches by Canada jays. Exploring the diversity and specificity of zooplankton parasites in coastal marine ecosystems Rosie Savage, MSc Student As consumers, zooplankton are a key link in the transfer of energy generated by phytoplankton to higher trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems. Understanding the dynamics of zooplankton productivity is a critical area of current research. Predation accounts for a large proportion of zooplankton death, but the influence of non-consumptive mortality of zooplankton, such as senescence, toxicity, and parasitism, is much less understood. In particular, parasites of zooplankton have rarely been characterized and their impact on zooplankton health is largely unknown. Many zooplankton parasites are eukaryotic microorganisms, or protists, that have largely been identified through microscopy. Using metabarcoding and high-throughput sequencing, I am investigating the diversity of parasitic lineages associated with marine crustacean zooplankton and how infection fluctuates seasonally in a coastal ecosystem. I predict

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that benign parasites will be more generalist and be found at a higher proportion than highly lethal parasites. Also, during summer months with higher productivity, I predict that zooplankton will have a higher diversity of symbionts, including parasites. This work provides insight into the specificity of zooplankton parasites in coastal ecosystems and contributes to resolving the ecological significance of zooplankton parasitism in marine food webs. Metabolic demands on soil predators and prey selection under warm conditions Matt Meehan, PhD Student Predator-prey dynamics are controlled by many factors, including movement rates, nutrient demands, and body sizes of both predators and prey. Climate warming is expected to affect predator-prey interactions through greater metabolic demands for ectotherms. We use a combined physiological and behavioural approach to model predator behavior under two acclimation temperatures (16°C and 24°C) using a predatory mite (Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley)) species and three prey species: a collembolan (Folsomia candida Willem) and two mites (Oppia nitens Koch and Carpoglyphus lactis (Linneaus)) that differ in movement, nutritional quality and body size. We measured CO2 production, as a proxy of metabolic rate for S. scimitus, and measured soluble protein and lipid content, as well as movement rates for each taxon. We subsequently performed ‘no choice and choice’ feeding experiments to determine if feeding preference for predators changes under increasing temperatures. We found that movement rates were not significantly different for all taxon between the two temperatures. However, macromolecule composition changed as all taxon had greater protein content, relative to body mass at 24°C. Predator mites consumed C. lactis quickest in our no choice feeding experiment in both temperatures, followed by F. candida and O. nitens. In our choice feeding experiment, prey preference remained the same but feeding rates changed due to prey interference, highlighting the complexity of these dynamics, irrespective of temperature. Perceived paternity affects parental care behaviour in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) Emma Churchman, MSc Student Parental care is energetically costly, and theory predicts that parents should alter their level of care to reflect the reproductive value of their brood. Cuckoldry reduces the relatedness of a parent to their brood, thereby reducing its value. Kin recognition – the ability to distinguish between kin/non-kin – allows parents to adjust their care based on the value of the brood. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to adaptive behaviour is an exciting interface between levels of analysis in behavioural ecology. Here we manipulated perceived paternity of nest-tending parental male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and examined the effect on circulating hormone concentrations and parental care behaviour. Males perceived paternity was reduced using either an indirect cue of the presence of cuckolder males during spawning, or a direct cue of swapping a portion of the eggs in males’ nests. When compared to control males, we found that reduced paternity led to a decrease in males’ aggressive behaviour directed towards a

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brood predator. However, we found no apparent effect of the manipulation on circulating 11-ketotestosterone concentrations. We will discuss the influence of prolactin concentrations with the goal of understanding the mechanisms influencing adaptive parental care decisions. Oral Presentations – Concurrent Talks II Modulating a negative regulator of the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathway alters neural cell fate specification Danielle Spice, PhD Student Background: Sonic Hedgehog (HH) signaling is essential in dorsal-ventral patterning of the neural tube where active signal gives rise to interneuron and motor neuron precursors. When HH ligand is absent, a negative regulator of the pathway Suppressor of Fused (SUFU) sequesters full-length GLI transcription factors in the cytoplasm or promotes conversion of GLI to a repressor. Presence of ligand relieves Patched inhibition on Smoothened, which inhibits the SUFU-GLI interaction leading to activation of full-length GLI. Although the role of HH signaling in neural tube patterning is well understood, the role of these negative regulators during neural cell fate specification remains unclear. The P19 embryonal carcinoma cell line was used to investigate this question as treating cells with retinoic acid (RA) over 10-17 days induces all neural lineages. Initial investigations showed that P19 cells are HH competent and have an increase in HH target gene expression and GLI activation 24 hours post RA treatment; with a subsequent decline of signaling post 24 hours. Hypothesis: If decreasing HH signal activation occurs in the later stages of neuronal differentiation, then using CRISPR/Cas9 to genetically ablate Sufu will alter neural cell fates. Results: Sufu knockout (KO) cells showed constitutively active HH signaling however this did not alter pluripotency or proliferation rates of untreated KO cells compared to wild type (WT). With RA treatment, �neuron markers observed in WT cells on days 10-17 were no longer detectable by day 14 in KO cells. Loss of neuron markers was accompanied by increases in astrocyte and oligodendrocyte markers in KO cells compared to WT. CRISPR/Cas9 ablation of the HH transcription factors GLI1 and GLI2 in Sufu KO cells rescued the neuronal phenotype at later differentiation stages. Conclusion: Genetic ablation of Sufu primes P19 cells towards a glial cell fate, where neurons are able to form but are not maintained in the neural cell culture. Funding sources: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Determining the effect of mistranslation on development, fitness, and disease. Josh Isaaccson, PhD Student Proteostasis is a process that controls the production, maintenance, and degradation of proteins within cells. Disruptions to proteostasis, which can occur through aging or disease, greatly affect cell and organism viability. Mistranslation, or the misincorporation of amino acids into nascent proteins, is a disruption to proteostasis that usually occurs at low levels but can be increased by mutant transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. My goal is to understand how mistranslation can affect viability, development, and behaviour in

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Drosophila melanogaster. I expect flies containing mistranslating tRNAs to show developmental and behavioural defects, with the phenotypic severity increasing with the extent of mistranslation. Preliminary data examining morphological defects in the mistranslating flies show that flies containing the severe tRNA variant have significantly more deformities than control flies (p<0.00001). These deformities affect all parts of the fly but tend to affect the limbs, wings, and exoskeleton. Female flies are disproportionately affected (p = 0.005). These results indicate that females might be less able to tolerate proteostatic disruptions than males and aligns with human data, as proteostatic diseases such as Alzheimers' and Huntington's are more common or severe in women. While these results are only preliminary, it indicates that these tRNA variants are having a strong physiological effect on the flies and that females are affected more strongly by mistranslation. Available mouse models of basal cell carcinoma provide a means to analyze and explore the mystery of one of the highest mutation burdens within a benign human cancer Hailie Pavanel, MSc Student Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer type in Caucasian populations and incidence is rising five times faster than other cancers. BCC is a locally invasive, rarely metastatic cancer that has a recurrence rate of 50% over five years. Current treatments for BCC include non-specific methods, which increase patient morbidity and do not decrease the risk of recurrence. Interestingly, BCC tumours bear one of the highest mutation burdens but are one of the most benign human cancers. Ultraviolet B (UVB) induced DNA damage is responsible for the majority of mutations seen in BCC. Aberrant activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is known to drive hyperplasia and BCC initiation. Accordingly, current mouse models target six genes in the Hh pathway. A systematic review between the years of 1990 and 2018 identified at least 81 genes with mutations in human BCC tumours. These genes are involved in 42 different pathways, with the majority of genes being involved in the Hh pathway. Comparatively, there were only five genes with mutations reported in murine tumours – all of which were in the Hh pathway. Thus, an important knowledge gap to be explored is whether mouse models of human BCC reproduce a similar burden and dynamic of de novo somatic mutations that characterize human tumours. Characterizing the somatic mutation burden in murine tumours will allow for a well-characterized murine proxy for human BCC, facilitating better evaluation of targeted therapies for treating BCC tumours and suppressing tumour recurrence. Assessing the role of neuroligin 3 in Drosophila melanogaster social spacing behaviour Wes Robinsion, PhD Student Drosophila exhibit social behaviours when in proximity to other individuals. Social space and sociality are two of these behaviours. Determination of social spacing could be attributed to many factors such as social experience, genetics or differential signalling of neural circuitry. So far, it has been determined that the mushroom bodies, a sensory

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integration center in fly brains, are important for social space, as well as cholinergic and dopaminergic signalling. However, we do not know how these different parts of the neural circuitry are potentially integrated, nor do we know how different behaviours relate to one another. Here, I show that neuroligin 3 (nlg3), a gene encoding a post-synaptic protein that regulates transmission at the synapse, affects fly social spacing and sociality, with minor effect on climbing ability. Using genetic and molecular techniques, I identify specific brain regions rich in Nlg3. I assess how separate nlg3 mutants, and how different brain regions where the gene is expressed can differentially affect social spacing behaviour and locomotion. Our results contribute to understanding the role of neuroligins in a social behaviour response, as these genes have been linked to proper social interactions from flies to human. Investigating the relationship of HD2 family histone deacetylases in response to drought stress in Arabidopsis thaliana Muhammad Tahir, PhD Student Despite the evidence that plant-specific histone deacetylase 2 (HD2) family plays significant role in plant abiotic stress responses, the relationship of histone deacetylases (HDACs) among HD2 family in response to environmental stresses remains largely unknown. Objective of this study is to investigate the relationship of four HD2-type HDACs in Arabidopsis in response to drought stress. In-vitro yeast two-hybrid and BiFC assays showed physical interactions among HD2 family proteins. This indicates that HD2-type HDACs may be related and do not work independently to regulate the plant abiotic stress response. All HD2 genes demonstrated significant variation in their expression under drought stress. To further investigate the relationship, T-DNA insertion mutant lines of each HD2 gene were screened and expression of all HD2 genes was analyzed in leaves and roots of each single hd2 mutant line. Knockout of one HD2 gene in each mutant line affected the expression of other HD2 genes under drought stress. Osmotic stress caused significant effect on the primary root length and no. of lateral roots in development in all hd2 mutant lines. To further study the relationships, hd2 double mutants (M2) and HD2 over-expressing (HD2-OE) transgenic plants will be developed. Plant root phenotype and survival of all genotypes under drought stress will be studied to understand the genetic relationship of HD2 genes in regulating the plant growth under drought stress. Knowledge generated from this research will be useful to improve our understanding about the interactional role of HD2-type HDACs in mediating the plant response toward drought stress. Supervised machine learning for sample classification based on genotyping array data Daniel Olteanu, MSc Student Supervised machine learning in which known labelled data are used to train a computer algorithm to classify samples has been used successfully for biological sequencing data to classify taxonomy even in instances where traditional methods have been limited. With the utility of machine learning, we wish to analyze available data types to extract information missed by traditional methods. Genotyping array data are an untapped

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abundant resource for machine learning. Using machine learning with genotyping array data as a novel approach leads to a complement of more recent technologies such as high throughput sequencing in the analysis of genotyping, and by extension a more complete understanding of genetic relatedness. Here, we adapt a machine learning with digital signal processing (MLDSP) based application, currently classifying sample genome sequences for use with genotyping microarray data. MLDSP software will be adapted from receiving primary DNA genome sequence data to a matrix of genotype calls. The expectation is that MLDSP allows for a broader classification in areas of genealogy not assessed by sequencing results. Presented here are the classification data for Mus musculus genotyping array data for 1900 mice, 800 of which having conclusive genetic background were used as a training set for the algorithms, and the remaining 1100 mice having inconclusive genetic background information and requiring classification. Our approach will also be applied to human genotyping array data for classification of disease phenotypes. A XEN STORY: The interplay between metabolism and differentiation Mo Gatie, PhD Student Glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) play intricate roles in metabolism, however, recent efforts have elucidated their roles in influencing stem cell fate. Glycolysis yields 2 molecules of ATP when compared to OXPHOS, which produces 36 molecules of ATP. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDKs) activity favours glycolysis by phosphorylating and inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), an enzyme that converts pyruvate to Acetyl CoA. Conversely, lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) converts pyruvate to lactate while LDHB catalyzes the reverse reaction. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can differentiate into extraembryonic endoderm (XEN), which forms the yolk sacs. In regards to metabolic activity, ESCs rely on glycolysis and OXPHOS to produce ATP. Proteomic analysis shows that differentiation towards the XEN lineage coincides with increased OXPHOS markers, yet little is known about the bioenergetic profile of XEN cells. Once both lines were characterized, expression and protein levels of metabolic genes were examined. LDHA:LDHB ratio was significantly higher in XEN cells when compared to ESCs. Surprisingly, PDK1, PDK4 and subsequently pSer293-PDH levels were significantly lower in XEN cells. Next, we measured secreted lactate levels and found it to be significantly higher in XEN cells. To corroborate the protein work, we examined mitochondrial activity using flow cytometry and found its levels are higher in ESCs when compared to XEN cells, suggesting that mitochondrial metabolism is more active in ESCs. To examine the mitochondria, we tested the levels of proteins involved in mitochondrial fission (pSer616-DRP1) and fusion (Mitofusion 1, 2 and OPA1) between the two populations. No changes were detected in fusion proteins, pSer616-DRP1 levels were significantly higher in ESCs than XEN cells, suggesting that mitochondrial fission is more prominent in ESCs. Our preliminary findings implicate metabolism in stem cell fate; however, a deeper understanding is still warranted. This work is supported by NSERC and CHRI.

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The Effects of PFAS on the Development and Mitochondrial Function of Zebrafish Ova Renee Resendes, MSc Student Increasing concerns of PFAS has led to research evaluating the effects of these chemicals on biological systems. PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Acids) are man-made chemicals found in a wide variety of consumer products, drinking water, and/or within living organisms. The two most common forms of PFAS are PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), which are persistent in the environment, of common exposure to humans, and are non-biodegradable. The objective of this experiment is to investigate if exposure to PFOA, PFOS, alone and in synergy have an effect on embryonic development and/or changes energy production in developing zebrafish ova. A methodology was developed to expose 24 hpf (hours post fertilization) ova to PFOA, PFOS, alone and in combination at high and low concentrations. The developing ova-larvae were evaluated on ATP production and morphological development of tail length and yolk sac size on days 3, 6, and 14. Results demonstrated that PFOA and PFOS in synergy increased overall yolk sac size, increased ATP production and even resulted in embryo death before 14 days old. Research of PFAS is of value because of the potential harm these chemicals have on reproductive and developmental processes and overall adverse human health effects. Galectins and differentiation of Promyelocytic HL-60 Cells Adam McTague, MSc Student Galectins are a family of soluble glycan-binding proteins with different functions inside and outside of cells. We aim to elucidate the role of galectins in regulating promyelocytic HL-60 cell differentiation into neutrophil-like cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid. We hypothesized that this regulation depends on O-GlcNAc glycosylation, a post-translational modification of regulatory proteins, which is up-regulated in pluripotent progenitor cells. We have established a method of HL-60 cell culture and differentiation in serum-free conditions to avoid interference with circulating galectins normally present in the serum. We have confirmed differentiation of the cells using DAPI staining to show the unique, segmented nuclear morphology characteristic of neutrophils. This finding will be supplemented in the future via qPCR to test for specific biomarkers for both differentiated and progenitor cells. Expression profiles of both intracellular and extracellular galectins will be analysed using Immunodot Blot assay to determine whether the localization of the galectins varies between progenitor and differentiated cells. We will use inhibitors of O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase to down and up respectively regulate this post-translational modification to verify the relevant signaling mechanisms. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind self-renewal, proliferation, and survival of promyelocytic cells.

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Metschnikowia Mitochondria Dong Lee, MSc Student Our current understanding of mitochondrial genomes is biased toward metazoans, which represent the majority of sequenced mitochondrial DNAs. The high diversity in size, shape and gene synteny among yeast mitochondrial genomes make them an appealing alternative to those of metazoans for studying genomic diversity and evolution. Recently, more than 60 draft-genome assemblies of large-spored Metschnikowia species have been determined. Complete mitochondrial genomes of these yeasts, however, are yet to be constructed and characterized. Therefore, I propose to construct and analyze the mitochondrial genomes of all 60+ strains of large-spored Metschnikowia species. I have found that the sequencing read databases of these species are highly enriched in mitochondrial sequences with a high adenine and thymine content. These properties will be used to help isolate mitochondrial reads and assemble them into intact and complete genome sequences. The preliminary analyses showed that the mitochondrial genomes from Metschnikowia can be circular or linear and it will be of interest to find out whether the distribution of overall morphology follows phylogenetic lines. Also, genome sizes have shown a six-fold range so far and determination of main driver of such diversity is currently working in progress. Patterns of gene synteny have shown interesting differences between early and late emerging species and provide glimpse of evolutionary history of these genomes. Furthermore, cox1 and cob genes have multiple introns that varies extensively in numbers and can be incredibly high. On the genetical evolution of altruism: the importance of genetic responsiveness to changing social environments Vonica Flear, MSc Eusocial ants, bees, wasps and termites are characterized by a differentiation of reproductively selfish (e.g., queens) and altruistic (e.g., workers) castes. Reproductive altruism is intriguing to evolutionary theorists because this trait can only evolve via indirect selection such that alleles causing the behavior are transmitted, but are not expressed, by reproducing relatives. The evolution of reproductive altruism therefore depends on a caste-specific expression pattern whereby alleles for altruism are conditionally expressed based on social circumstance. Despite this basic understanding, little is known of how responsive the expression of these alleles must be to social circumstance in order to actually evolve indirectly, as opposed to going extinct. In this talk, I use kin selection theory to model the evolution of alleles for altruism with varying degrees of social responsiveness. I find that responsiveness is definitely required; alleles that are unresponsive to social context go extinct. Alleles that persist or even fix, by contrast, must be at least partially responsive, especially when the social benefits are small. Our simulations help to clarify the role of environmentally responsive gene expression at the origins of insect social life.

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The Importance of Biofilm to Migrating Shorebirds in the Salish Sea Scott Walters, PhD Student Biofilm produced on the surface of mudflats has been identified as a significant proportion of the diet of migrating shorebirds (Jardine et al 2015). It has been proposed that the lipid content of the biofilm is a potentially critical food source (Schnurr et al 2019). There is an ongoing question as to the importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the diets of terrestrial vertebrates such as birds. These dietary compounds may improve consumer exercise performance (Pierce & McWilliams 2014), and long-chain ω3 PUFAs in particular are known to play vital physiological roles (Twining et al 2016) but are scarce in terrestrial environments. They are, however, relatively abundant in aquatic primary producers like diatoms within biofilm. I propose a study to evaluate the value of biofilm lipids to shorebirds. Tissue samples will be obtained from Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and Sanderlings (C. alba) captured at mudflats along the coasts of the Salish Sea in British Columbia and Washington State, USA. Capture periods will occur in spring, early summer, and late summer to get samples from adults migrating to breeding grounds, returning adults, and juveniles, respectively. Biofilm samples will be collected during these same three periods. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis will be used to determine which fatty acids comprise the lipid content of the migrating shorebirds and which components are derived from Salish Sea mudflats. A subset of captured birds will be fed a controlled diet to evaluate the importance of specific biofilm compounds to the physiological success of the shorebirds. Happy or Hangry Families: Kinship as a mediator of co-operation and Cannibalism in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Lucas Khodaei, PhD Student The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has a long-standing history as a research model for studies on behaviour and group dynamics. Individual’s behaviours might be influenced by whom they interact with when the environment changes to become more hostile and resources deplete. Individuals will either compete antagonistically or will cooperate with each other to survive. Kinship might mediate how individuals interact with each other based on Hamilton’s Law which states that if the individual’s indirect fitness will increase then they will prefer to cooperate with related group members compared to unrelated individuals. Currently there is little to no knowledge on whether kinship mediates cooperation, such as clustering behaviour in 3rd instar, or antagonistic behaviors, such as cannibalism. For my master research I wanted to investigate the cooperation and cannibalistic behaviours in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. I determined that kinship does mediate cooperation behaviour in 3rd instar larvae when the degree of relatedness in the clusters varied. Larger clusters with more kin-related larvae formed and this allowed for evolutionary benefits to arise in the form of increased weight in females. I also wanted to explore if kinship mediates egg cannibalism in 2nd instar larvae. I assayed larvae who had the choice to cannibalism either related or unrelated eggs. I found that larvae do cannibalize unrelated eggs more than related eggs. Overall, Drosophila larval behaviour is not understood and has only been studied

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recently, my master’s research has provided the foundation for future research to explore the mechanisms behind kin selection and larval behaviours. Reactive oxygen species damage and functional consequences in different hibernation states of the thirteen lined ground squirrel Brynne Duffy, MSc Student The thirteen lined ground squirrel survives adverse winter conditions with the dynamic process of hibernation. During the hibernation season, ground squirrels experience repeated bouts of torpor from which they arouse spontaneously to interbout euthermia (IBE). During these arousals, metabolic rate, heart rate, and body temperatures rise quickly resulting in a potential mismatch between oxygen supply and demand. Additionally, during arousal blood flow varies throughout the body so this mismatch likely varies among tissues. Such mismatches may cause oxidative damage, due to reactive oxygen species produced by mitochondria. To our knowledge, however, no studies have assessed such damage in the thirteen lined ground squirrel, a common model for hibernation research. We assessed functional consequences of anoxia reoxygenation in isolated liver mitochondria. In response to reoxygenation, state three (ADP phosphorylating) rates, were reduced in torpor, IBE and summer, but this reduction was greater in IBE and greatest in summer. Overall damage to state three was reduced when complex one was blocked by rotenone. State four (leak) rates were not affected by reoxygenation in any hibernation state. We will also report levels of total antioxidant capacity and markers of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in isolated liver mitochondria as well as several tissues sampled from animals in torpor and IBE, as well as summer active ground squirrels that are not hibernating. Reversible mitophagy drives metabolic suppression during diapause in the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) Jackie Lebenzon, PhD Student Temperate insects spend over half their lives overwintering, during which most enter diapause; a programmed state of developmental arrest characterized by metabolic suppression. During diapause, Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) suppress their metabolic rate by ~90% and degrade energetically costly flight muscle. In this study, we investigated the extent to which diapause-induced flight muscle degradation contributes to metabolic suppression, especially at the mitochondrial level. As beetles enter diapause, whole-animal metabolic suppression is closely followed by the gradual suppression of flight muscle mitochondrial respiration rates. Both metabolic rate and mitochondrial respiration rates rapidly recover after beetles emerge from diapause. Diapausing beetles have drastically reduced mitochondrial number, which appears to be driven by mitophagy, as Parkin (a ubiquitin ligase involved in tagging mitochondria for removal) is upregulated during diapause. Furthermore, PGC1α and NRF1 (transcription factors that initiate mitochondrial biogenesis) are upregulated in anticipation of emergence from diapause, coincident with a full recovery of functional mitochondrial number. Using RNA interference, we knocked down Parkin expression in diapausing beetles, reversing whole animal metabolic suppression, and preventing

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mitochondrial breakdown in flight muscle. Taken together, these results suggest that mitophagy pathways play a crucial role in mitochondrial regulation, and ultimately metabolic suppression during diapause. The effect of elevated rearing temperature on gill morphology in juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Rachel Wise, MSc Student Atlantic salmon are an economically important species in Canada, however, many rivers in their traditional range have seen a decline in returning salmon. Thermal challenges imposed by climate change may exacerbate these declines. To cope with thermal stress, organisms can change their geographic distribution to a more suitable environment, genetically adapt to new environmental conditions, or alter their physiology via phenotypic plasticity. Under the oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance hypothesis, it is thought that oxygen supply via the cardiorespiratory system limits thermal tolerance in aquatic ectotherms. Previous work has shown rearing salmon at higher temperatures can improve thermal performance of the cardiorespiratory system. Here, I provide evidence that Atlantic salmon have the capacity to adjust their gill morphology through temperature-dependent phenotypic plasticity. Juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were reared in either current (+0°C) or projected (+4°C) temperatures for one-year post-fertilization. This 4°C increase in temperature was associated with an increase in relative gill filament length and a reduction in relative interlamellar cell mass (ILCM) thickness. These results trend towards an increased functional surface area of the gills, and therefore, an increased capacity for oxygen uptake. Since oxygen supply is thought to limit upper temperature tolerance in salmonids, these morphological changes could allow for improved thermal performance. With mean global surface temperature predicted to increase by 4°C by the year 2100, understanding the thermal physiology of Atlantic salmon is critical to their management. Characterization of a Yeast DNA Repair Protein: The Shu Complex Amalie Saab, MSc Student The DNA of living organisms is under constant repair due to damage from both endogenous and exogenous agents. Certain types of DNA damage cause stalling of the replication fork, which can lead to collapse and toxic double-stranded breaks if left unchecked. Eukaryotes have evolved mechanisms devoted to repairing DNA to allow the replication fork to progress, called DNA Damage Tolerance (DDT). Error-free lesion bypass is one of the two mechanisms proposed for DDT. The Shu complex is involved with error-free bypass by regulating the formation of Rad51 filaments, critical for specific homologous recombination-directed steps. The goal of the current study is to biochemically and structurally characterize the yeast Shu complex to better understand its role in DDT. A robust purification procedure was carried out for obtaining the Shu complex in a pure and active form. DNA-dependent ATPase activity of the Shu complex was determined, and the Shu complex’s DNA substrate preference was investigated via ATPase activity assays. We report highest ATPase activity stimulated by DNA containing a 5’overhang, providing evidence to the end invasion model of error-free

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bypass DDT. Additionally, we co-crystallized the Shu complex with an ATP analog and report a hit that may be promising to optimize for structural analysis. Posters P1. Understanding the Role of Polyamine N-Acetyltransferase in the Fission Yeast Response to Perturbation of the Cytokinetic Machinery Mythili Ravishankar, MSc Student Mechanisms that promote the successful execution of cytokinesis are important for the maintenance of genomic integrity. To better understand these mechanisms, the actin depolymerizing drug Latrunculin A (LatA) was used to perturb the cell division machinery in the model eukaryote, Schizosaccharomyces pombe (also known as fission yeast), in order to isolate gene deletion mutants prone to cytokinesis failure. One of the genes identified in this genetic screen, pna1, encodes a conserved polyamine N-acetyltransferase. Polyamines are low molecular weight polycations that interact with negatively charged molecules, including actin, and are known to participate in a variety of cellular processes related to cell growth and proliferation. In contrast to wild-type cells, I show here that pna1Δ mutants display severe growth defects when exposed to even low doses of LatA. Furthermore, I show that relative to wild-type, pna1Δ cells treated with LatA display significantly increased rates of cytokinesis failure characterized by the severe fragmentation of the division septum. In contrast to pna1 loss-of-function, over-expression of pna1 using the nmt series of thiamine repressible promoters did not reveal any significant effects on cellular growth or the actin cytoskeleton. Surprisingly, Pna1-GFP fusion proteins did not localize uniformly to the cytoplasm as expected, but instead formed unusual filamentous structures whose identity remain unknown. Future work will focus on the use of a targeted metabolomics approach to identify and quantify acetylated and non-acetylated polyamines in wild-type and pna1Δ mutants in both the presence and absence of LatA. P2. Production of self-assembling protein nanocages and VLPs displaying PRRSV epitopes in Nicotiana benthamiana Jordan VanderBurgt, MSc Student Livestock diseases affect animal welfare and bear a burden on the economy. Precautions need to be taken to either prevent infection or cure infected animals. Vaccines can control the spread of bacterial and viral infections; however, many diseases currently do not have effective or any vaccines. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a small enveloped RNA virus and is one of the most economically significant swine diseases in the world. Different vaccines have been attempted for it, but they either pose the risk of reverting to virulence or are ineffective. Protein nanocages are a newly emerging method for vaccination that uses protein subunits that self-assemble into structures capable of displaying disease epitopes. Virus-like particles (VLPs), such as the coat proteins of many viruses, also self-assemble into stable structures and have proved capable of displaying foreign peptides for vaccine production as well. Both are good methods for vaccine development

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because they are able to display many epitopes in a repetitive and organized manner, leading to strong and long-lasting immune responses. My project will involve translationally fusing the antigenic regions of two PRRSV surface proteins, M and GP5, onto two different nanocages, Ferritin from Helicobacter pylori and Lumazine Synthase from Aquifex aeolicus. These epitopes will also be fused to two VLPs including the Tobacco Mosaic Virus coat protein. These constructs will be transiently expressed in different Nicotiana benthamiana organelles to examine protein accumulation levels and nanocage or VLP formation. P3. How will climate change affect nectar production and floral displays in Cucumis sativus? Sarah McDonald, MSc Student Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations are increasing average surface temperatures, with a global mean warming of 3-4 °C predicted for 2100. Increases in both temperature and CO2 concentrations are having a variety of effects on Earth’s flora, including decreasing the nutritional value of important agricultural crops, like soybeans and wheat. While some research has been conducted on the effects of climate change on human nutrition, we know much less about how pollinator food sources may be affected by these same climate drivers. Furthermore, in light of recent declines in insect pollinator populations, investigating the effects of climate change on pollinator food supplies is increasingly important because there is evidence of a direct correlation between available nutrition and pollinator susceptibly to stressors.To investigate how pollen and nectar produced by honeybee-pollinated Cucumis sativus responds to climate change, we exposed C. sativus plants to elevated CO2 and temperature treatments using a full factorial design. So far we have looked at the interactive and singular effects of these drivers on nectar production, flower number, and flower size for both male and female flowers. Future work will focus on climate change effects on nectar quality, pollen quantity and quality, net photosynthetic and dark respiration rates, and non-structural carbohydrates. Ultimately, this study aims to provide some insight into how the nutrition available to pollinators may change in coming years. P4. Quantifying and mitigating bird window collisions on a university campus Brendon Samuels, PhD Student Collisions with glass windows kill hundreds of millions of migratory birds annually in North America, representing a leading anthropogenic source of avian mortality. The ubiquity of glass in construction is thus a major challenge for the conservation of migratory birds. During spring and fall migration periods, southwestern Ontario is traversed by a rich variety of birds including species at risk. Many of these birds will pass through the campuses of the University of Western Ontario and its affiliate colleges. The campuses contain buildings which feature large, reflective glass surfaces situated in close proximity to bird habitats, which previous research suggests puts them at an increased risk of causing bird-window collisions. We conducted systematic walking surveys of buildings at Western, as well as Brescia and Huron Colleges, in order to quantify the temporal frequency and geographic distribution of bird-window

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collisions. Our surveys were conducted daily during the spring migration period, between April 1 - May 31 2019, after which the spatial range and frequency of the surveys was reduced, to be resumed again in the fall. We report on the specific windows and buildings that produced the greatest number of collision incidents. We discuss recommendations for targeting mitigation efforts, and for producing local awareness of bird-window collisions on campus and beyond. P5. Do benzalkonium chloride biocides promote antimicrobial resistance in environmental bacteria? Liam Brown, MSc Student Antimicrobial resistance is a problem of increasing concern to healthcare practitioners and world health institutions due to a rise in multidrug-resistant infections in hospitals, with a conservative global estimate of 700,000 annual deaths due to resistant infections. Particularly, there is growing attention towards the exposure of agricultural soils and waste treatment facilities to sub-lethal concentrations of biocides as a driver for the dissemination of resistance. Benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) are a class of cationic biocides which are included in numerous household products as an antimicrobial agent. Recent evidence suggests a relationship between BAC resistance and class 1 integrons in bacteria — genetic elements that play an important role in the mobilization of antimicrobial resistance genes between similar and divergent species. Over a five-year period, soil microplots were exposed annually to inhibitory concentrations of two different BACs. We propose an investigation of the effect of long-term exposure of the soil microbiome to BACs by using culture-based and molecular methods to examine a) the abundance and composition of resistant culturable and unculturable bacteria, b) the prevalence and diversity of class I integrons, and c) the spread and/or evolution of chromosomal- versus plasmid-based mechanisms of resistance, in response to exposure. We hypothesize that long-term exposure of soil to BACs co-selects for resistance to clinically relevant antimicrobials. These results will help to inform future practices for managing biocide concentrations in the environment, thereby reducing the disease and economic burdens of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. P6. Dispersal ability and flight morphology in Parnassius smintheus Nikita Frizzelle, MSc Student Dispersal plays a vital role in the function and survival of a species, which is especially true for insects. Small butterflies move across vast uninhabitable environments from their natal patch to a more desirable patch; and while the external factors that drive this behaviour are well studied, the same cannot be said about internal factors. We expand the knowledge of which internal factors influence dispersal by studying flight morphology in the Rocky Mountain Apollo butterfly, Parnassius smintheus. In July 2018, butterflies were collected from a metapopulation in Kananaskis, Alberta, consisting of individuals that have completed a dispersal event (dispersers) and those that have not (non-dispersers). Individuals were then frozen, dissected, and weighed to measure body mass, while their wings were photographed to digitally measure wing area and wing shape. Data were contrasted between dispersers and non-dispersers with

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univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate if flight morphology influences the ability of this species to cross forest matrices. Additionally, these traits were contrasted between the sexes to determine whether flight morphology is influenced by the species’ sex-specific mating behaviours. By investigating how flight morphology influences dispersal, we are furthering our understanding of how dispersal operates, which is essential to understanding the ecology of a population. P7. Origins of harvested American Black Ducks: a stable isotope approach Jackson Kusack, PhD Student Conservation and management of waterfowl requires accurate information on migratory connectivity between breeding and harvest areas. The international adaptive harvest management strategy between Canada and the US for the American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) uses information from harvested and banded individuals and assumes that they originate from the same geographic extent, although growing evidence suggests that this may not be the case. The northern part of their range is not sampled by banding, making banding data biased to the southern portion of the breeding range. By contrast, individuals harvested in at least some regions are known to originate from throughout the boreal region. There are also differences in the adjusted age ratios that go into the strategy based on banding and harvest data when calculated only for Canada or only for the US, which may further suggest differences in the spatial extent of the origin of banded compared to harvested individuals among the two countries. Our objective was to utilize ratios of naturally-occurring stable isotopes (δ2H) within wing feathers to determine probabilistic origin of American Black Ducks harvested within Canada and the US. Feathers were collected from wings submitted by hunters to the species composition and parts collection surveys (2016 – 2019). Probabilistic origin was determined using likelihood-based assignment algorithms based on a predicted feather δ2H isoscape. Using this information, we tested how origin of harvested individuals varies with region of harvest. Results from this integrative approach will be useful for evaluating and potentially improving the adaptive harvest management strategy.

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We would like to thank the following sponsors:

Qiagen

SOGS

ThermoFisher Scientific

Praxair

PSAC 610

Western Faculty of Science

Department of Biology Seminar Committee

Department of Biology

David Laudenbach Memorial Fund