Browsing by Author "Taylor, Zachary"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Description of the mantle lure and novel mimicry of the endangered Cumberlandian Combshell (Epioblasma brevidens) in the Clinch River, eastern United States
    Jones, Jess W.; Taylor, Zachary; Lane, Timothy (Wiley, 2023-03)
    The Cumberlandian Combshell (Epioblasma brevidens) is an endangered freshwater mussel endemic to the Tennessee and Cumberland River drainages, major tributaries of the Ohio River of the eastern United States. We conducted mask and snorkel surveys in May and June of 2021 and 2022 to locate, observe, photograph, and video female E. brevidens to document their unique mantle lures at sites in the Clinch River in Tennessee and Virginia. The mantle lure is morphologically specialized mantle tissue that mimics prey items of the host fish. The mantle lure of E. brevidens appears to mimic four distinct characteristics of the reproductive anatomy of the underside (ventral) of a gravid female crayfish, to include: (1) the external apertures of the oviducts located on the base of the third pair of walking legs, (2) crayfish larvae still encased in the egg membrane, (3) pleopods or claws, and (4) postembryonic eggs. Surprisingly, we observed males of E. brevidens displaying mantle lures that were anatomically complex and closely resembled the female mantle lure. The male lure similarly mimics oviducts, eggs, and pleopods but is diminutive (2-3 mm smaller in length or diameter) to those same structures in females. We describe for the first time the mantle lure morphology and mimicry of E. brevidens, showing its close resemblance to the reproductive anatomy of a gravid female crayfish, and a novel form of mimicry in males. To our knowledge, mantle lure displays in males have not been previously documented in freshwater mussels.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Photosynthetic Rate and Root Growth Responses to Ascophyllum nodosum Extract–based Biostimulant in Creeping Bentgrass under Heat and Drought Stress
    Zhang, Xunzhong; Taylor, Zachary; Goatley, Mike; Wang, Kehua; Brown, Isabel; Kosiarski, Kelly (American Society for Horticultural Science, 2023-08-01)
    Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) experiences quality decline during summer in the United States transition zone and warmer regions. Various bioproducts have been used to improve creeping bentgrass performance and to mitigate effects of summer stress in the United States transition zone. This 2-year study was carried out to examine if foliar application of seaweed extract (SWE; Ascophyllum nodosum)-based biostimulant UtilizeVR could enhance creeping bentgrass nitrate reductase (NaR) activity, and root viability under heat and drought stress conditions. The UtilizeVR was sprayed biweekly on creeping bentgrass foliage at 0, 29, 58, 87, and 116 mL.m22, with application volume of 815 L.ha22. Two weeks after first application, plants were exposed to heat (35/25◦C, day/night) and drought stress (40% to 50% evapotranspiration replacement) conditions for 42 days in an environment-controlled growth chamber. In general, the abiotic stress caused turf quality reduction. Foliar application of UtilizeVR at 58, 87, and 116 mL.m22 increased turf quality, leaf color ratings, leaf chlorophyll, carotenoid content, and net photosynthetic rate (Pn). UtilizeVR at 58, 87, and 116 mL.m22 increased NaR activity by 26.5%, 16.3%, and 16.3%, respectively, when compared with the control. UtilizeVR at 58, 87, and 116 mL.m22 increased root biomass, root length, surface area (SA), and root volume when compared with the control. UtilizeVR at 58 and 87 mL.m22 improved root viability by 16.3% and 30.9%, respectively, when compared with the control. Our data indicate that the SWE-based biostimulant UtilizeVR improves nitrogen (N) metabolism and root viability. UtilizeVR treatment at 58 mL.m22 biweekly can be considered an effective approach for improving creeping bentgrass performance during summer stress.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Sarita Gnawali, Head Cashier, Owens Food Court, Virginia Tech
    Taylor, Zachary (2008)
    Oral histories of people living or working in Montgomery, County Virginia, were conducted by students of Dr. Emily Satterwhite's HUM 2504 Introduction to American Studies class from 2006 to 2011. Each submission contains a transcript of the interview and a narrative that students created based on the transcript. Some submissions include a paper in which the student reflects on the interview experience.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Seaweed Extract-based Biostimulant Impacts on Nitrate Reductase Activity and Root Viability of Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Subjected to Heat and Drought Stress
    Zhang, Xunzhong; Taylor, Zachary; Goatley, Mike; Booth, Jordan; Brown, Isabel; Kosiarski, Kelly (American Society for Horticultural Science, 2022-10-01)
    Bermudagrass is a warm-season turfgrass species widely used for sports fields, home lawns, and golf courses. Ultradwarf bermudagrass has been used for golf course greens, but its quality declines with abiotic stresses. This 2-year study was designed to investigate if foliar applications of seaweed extract-based biostimulant UtilizeVR could improve ultradwarf bermudagrass photosynthetic function, nitrate reductase activity, root growth, and root function while under heat stress and drought stress conditions. UtilizeVR was applied to ultradwarf bermudagrass canopy at 0, 88, 117, 175, and 234 lL•m22. Two weeks after the initial application of UtilizeVR , bermudagrass was subjected to heat (40/36 ◦C, day/night) and drought stress (40–50% evapotranspiration replacement) for up to 42 days. Heat stress and drought stress caused decline of the turf quality. Foliar application of UtilizeVR at 117, 175, and 234 lL•m22 biweekly consistently improved turf quality and leaf color ratings and increased leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations, net photosynthetic rate, nitrate reductase activity, and root growth and viability. On average, UtilizeVR at 117, 175, and 234 lL•m22 increased turf quality ratings by 9.1%, 12.1%, and 10.6%, respectively, net photosynthetic rates by 32.4%, 45.0%, and 35.0%, respectively, and nitrate reductase activity by 16.7%, 18.8%, and 14.6%, respectively, compared with the control. UtilizeVR at 117, 175, and 234 lL•m22 increased the root biomass, root length, surface area, and root volume compared with the control. UtilizeVR at 88, 117, 175, and 234 lL•m22 increased root viability by 46.2%, 73.1%, 88.5%, and 74.4%, respectively, relative to the control. The results of this study suggest that seaweed extract-based biostimulant UtilizeVR improves nitrogen metabolism, photosynthetic function, root growth, and root viability. Foliar application of UtilizeVR at rates between 117 and 175 lL•m22 biweekly can be considered an effective approach to improving ultradwarf bermudagrass performance under heat stress and drought stress environments.