Senescence in Lemna turionifera: the influence of stress on fitness
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Hayden, Jerrad
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : Universtiy of Lethbridge, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Senescence is a process of physiological deterioration observed in individuals advancing in age which is characterized by decreasing rates of survival and reproduction. Selective pressures are thought to eliminate individuals before geriatric ages can be reached and the intensity of pressure believed to shape patterns of survival in a population. My thesis examines how simple environmental stressors may affect senescence in Lemna turionifera, an aquatic macrophyte, and explores the possibility of observing senescence under more realistic circumstances. In these experiments, I observed that survival and reproduction of L. turionifera fronds can be influenced by specific stresses, e.g., salinity, and resilient against others such as tissue damage. With respect to realistic observations of senescence, I attempted to construct an apparatus for such an undertaking that succeeded in early observation attempts.
Description
Keywords
Plants -- Aging -- Research , Duckweeds -- Aging -- Research , Lemna -- Aging -- Research , Lemna -- Aging -- Effect of stress on -- Research , Lemna -- Aging -- Effect of salt on -- Research , Biological fitness , fitness , herbivory stress , Lemna , plant , salt stress , senescence , Dissertations, Academic