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NEUROANATOMICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF REDUCED STRESS IN THE BLIND MEXICAN CAVEFISH, A. MEXICANUS

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Date Issued:
2019
Abstract/Description:
Brain atlases have been created across species from flies to humans in order to obtain a better understanding of neuroanatomical morphology. Although these brain atlases allow for analysis of neuroanatomy they do not give insight about how the morphology adapt to fit challenges brought on by unique environments. Here I developed a brain atlas for Astyanax mexicanus, a species known to have populations that differ in various behaviors, to gain a better understanding about how populations of the same species, derived from different environments, evolve to be best suited for the challenges they face. By creating a brain atlas for adult surface fish and three populations of cavefish I was able to examine differences in neuroanatomical structures implicated in regulating behavior. My findings show significant differences in neuroanatomical regions known to regulate behavior. Along with these findings, the brain atlases created are a tool for researches to use and expand on in the future.
Title: NEUROANATOMICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF REDUCED STRESS IN THE BLIND MEXICAN CAVEFISH, A. MEXICANUS.
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Name(s): Loomis, Cody Lee, author
Duboué, Erik, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2019
Date Issued: 2019
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 41 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Brain atlases have been created across species from flies to humans in order to obtain a better understanding of neuroanatomical morphology. Although these brain atlases allow for analysis of neuroanatomy they do not give insight about how the morphology adapt to fit challenges brought on by unique environments. Here I developed a brain atlas for Astyanax mexicanus, a species known to have populations that differ in various behaviors, to gain a better understanding about how populations of the same species, derived from different environments, evolve to be best suited for the challenges they face. By creating a brain atlas for adult surface fish and three populations of cavefish I was able to examine differences in neuroanatomical structures implicated in regulating behavior. My findings show significant differences in neuroanatomical regions known to regulate behavior. Along with these findings, the brain atlases created are a tool for researches to use and expand on in the future.
Identifier: FA00013329 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Brain--Atlases
Neuroanatomy
Astyanax mexicanus
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013329
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.