The Development of Fiddler Crabs
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W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2018 The Development of Fiddler Crabs (Uca Spp.) as a Comparative Model System for the Parasitic Dinoflagellate, Hematodinium Perezi and its Natural Host the Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus Patricia Anne O'Leary College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Marine Biology Commons, and the Parasitology Commons Recommended Citation O'Leary, Patricia Anne, "The Development of Fiddler Crabs (Uca Spp.) as a Comparative Model System for the Parasitic Dinoflagellate, Hematodinium Perezi and its Natural Host the Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus" (2018). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1550153657. http://dx.doi.org/10.25773/v5-pf1h-gs14 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Development of Fiddler Crabs (Uca spp.) as a Comparative Model System for the Parasitic Dinoflagellate, Hematodinium perezi, and its Natural Host the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus. A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Marine Science The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Patricia Anne O’Leary August 2018 APPROVAL PAGE This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Patricia Anne O’Leary Approved by the Committee, August 2018 Jeffrey D. Shields, Ph.D. Committee Chair / Advisor Hamish J. Small, Ph.D. Ryan B. Carnegie, Ph.D. Kurt Williamson, Ph.D. Spencer J. Greenwood, Ph.D. University of Prince Edward Island Charlottetown, PE, Canada My dissertation work is dedicated to my family, who taught me with hard work anything is possible. It is dedicated to my academic mentors, who both guided and challenged me, giving me the skills that I needed to succeed. I also dedicate this dissertation to Seacamp for their exemplary work sharing marine science with thousands of children, creating the world stewards of tomorrow. Lastly, I dedicate this work in loving memory of my dad, John F. O’Leary, and friend Dana Capobianco. i TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 2 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 1. Development of fiddler crabs (Uca spp.) as a model laboratory host for Hematodinium perezi infections .......................................... 19 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... 19 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 20 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................... 23 RESULTS ......................................................................................................... 28 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................... 32 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................... 36 TABLES ............................................................................................................................................................... 40 FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................................ 41 CHAPTER 2. The ecotone as an ecological barrier to infection by Hematodinium perezi (Dinoflagellata) in the fiddler crab Uca pugnax .................................................................................................................................................................. 47 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... 47 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 48 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................... 51 RESULTS ......................................................................................................... 57 DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................................................. 64 LITERATURE CITED ....................................................................................... 70 FIGURES ......................................................................................................... 73 TABLES ............................................................................................................ 82 CHAPTER 3. The effect of temperature on the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi, in experimentally infected fiddler crabs, Uca minax ................................................................................... 85 ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................................... 85 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 86 MATERIALS AND METHODS .......................................................................... 90 RESULTS ......................................................................................................... 98 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................... 102 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................................. 106 FIGURES ......................................................................................................... 109 TABLES ............................................................................................................ 121 APPENDIX ....................................................................................................... 124 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................... 125 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................................. 133 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My academic advisor, Dr. Jeffrey Shields, merits several accolades. He is extremely knowledgeable and his passion for parasitology is infectious. I benefitted from his strong skill sets as a writer, researcher, and critical thinker. Jeff also showed patience as I learned to master different skills. Our group manuscript review sessions and weekly lab meetings were of great assistance to me as a young researcher. I would like to thank my committee members for their support and involvement. Throughout my PhD, Dr. Hamish Small has been a strong role model, setting the gold standard through his integrity, humor, and dedication. Dr. Ryan Carnegie frequently asked insightful questions to spur my research forward. Dr. Spencer Greenwood was quick to respond to all questions and was a knowledgeable addition to my committee. Dr. Kurt Williamson coordinated my Transmission Electron Microscopy training at William & Mary with Dr. Abby Reft. I would like to thank the post docs that I have worked with, Dr. Tom Dolan, Dr. Zhengfeng (Jason) Ding, Dr. Juan Pablo Huchin-Mian, and Dr. Maya Groner for allowing me to be engaged in their projects and assisting with my research.The laboratory specialists in the Shields’ lab have all been amazing. A special thanks to Kersten Wheeler, Shelley Katsuki, Dana Kinney, and Brittnee Barris. A debt of gratitude to Patrice Mason, Wolfgang Vogelbein, and Abby Reft for their assistance in my Transmission Electron Microscopy training and sharing their laboratory space. I would like to thank my undergraduate advisor, Dr. Charles Gowan, and せんせい Dr. Todd Munson for their advice and encouragement throughout my student career. ありがとうございます. I would also like to thank Dr. Sophie George and Dr. Oscar Pung for their mentorship throughout my master's. A heartfelt thanks to the teachers at Peasley Middle School, Mrs. Stephanie Sowers, Mrs. Samantha Berry, Ms. Sharlene Rollins, and Mrs. Judy Gwartney. I greatly benefitted from my time in their classrooms, working with these amazing and talented educators. An additional thanks to my teaching supervisors both at Peasley and at W&M, Carol Hopper-Brill, Vicki Clark, Dr. Elizabeth Canuel, and Dr. Heather Macdonald. I would also like to thank my own teachers as a young student, especially Mrs. Joanne Failey who taught me that it was OK to make a mistake and Mrs. Claire Butera who fostered my love of