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Section I: biological sciences.

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ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE JOINT MEETING OF THE GEORGIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE WITH THE FLORIDA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, MARCH 14-15, 2008

TIME BUDGET ANALYSES OF WILD NINE-BANDED ARMADILLOS **, Kier A. Ancona *, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698. Nine-banded armadillos exhibit obligate polyembryony, whereby they produce litters of genetically identical quadruplets by repeated twinning of a single fertilized egg. High levels of altruism have been predicted among these clonal littermates, yet intensive long-term field studies have revealed no evidence of this. The "time constraints" hypothesis attempts to explain these findings by arguing that armadillos are precluded from evolving complex social interactions, such as altruism, because of their phylogenetic history. That is, armadillos have very low metabolic rates, eat low quality, widely scattered prey, and have very short active periods, so they may not have the time to be social. I collected data relevant to this hypothesis from May-July, 2007 at Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, Hollandale, Mississippi. Focal animal observations lasting up to 10 min were obtained from marked armadillos during two 7 h time periods: 16:00-23:00 and 23:00-06:00. Supplementary scan can data were collected at first sighting of animals during the first of these time periods. I will present data describing the general pattern of armadillo time budgets during the summer, as well as sex, age, temporal (time of day and seasonal), and environmental influences on time allocation. My study represents the first detailed description of armadillo time budgets and should shed light on the validity of the time constraints hypothesis. This study was funded through various Valdosta State University research awards.

COLIFORM COUNTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF TETRACYCLINE RESISTANT COLIFORMS FROM RAE'S CREEK * *, Vernon Horst, Wendy Singleton, and J.M. Andrus, Augusta State University, Augusta, GA 30904. Water quality assessment has been carried out over the past year on Rae's Creek, which runs through the city of Augusta, GA. An investigation led to the discovery of a faulty sewage line that crosses over the creek, creating the potential for fecal coliforms to enter this recreational body pf water. Fecal coliform counts were performed at this location throughout 2007. Coliforms isolated were subsequently screened for tetracycline resistance. Initial screening procedures yielded over 120 isolates displaying tetracyline resistance. Genomic DNA was subsequently isolated from a small pool of these resistant isolates. We are in the process of amplifying the 16S rRNA gene which will be used to genetically identify these organisms. The results of this study will be presented.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PIGGYBAC VECTOR FOR GERM-LINE TRANSFORMATION OF FISH **, M.J. Bland * and B.C. Ring, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698. PiggyBac, a nonviral DNA transposon derived from the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, has been efficiently transformed into a wide variety of organisms ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates and spanning several phyla. However, methods for germ-line transformation of piggyBac into fish have not yet been established. We are constructing both a piggyBac vector and transposase source for transformation into the Zebrafish, Danio rerio, by the microinjection method. The vector contains both dominant (GFP) and selectable marker (HygR) genes...

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