PICS
Parasites that control the mind read this then tell me that parasites are not going to be the cause of the Zombie Apocalypse ...I dare you.
Should it feel better or worse to be stood up for a Skype date than a real date? 
Have my schedule all set to go for NCUR. There are so many talks I want to go see. It is going to be so exciting and exhausting. Still have one of my 2 power points to finish off then I will be ready to go. Going to be SO nervous, so I'm planning on going through the presentation so many times that I can give them with out thought. then maybe I'll get black out drunk before hand 
Spring break is going great. Getting stuff done and getting laid, the perfect spring break combo. Also I was forced by my wallet to dye my hair only one color. Went with all black because blonde mohawks just don't seem to jive in my brain.
I just realized that this past Friday was the last time I will ever have to pick up a birth-control prescription, which strangely makes me feel like it's Christmas.
Kiss KIss
Spring break is going great. Getting stuff done and getting laid, the perfect spring break combo. Also I was forced by my wallet to dye my hair only one color. Went with all black because blonde mohawks just don't seem to jive in my brain.
I just realized that this past Friday was the last time I will ever have to pick up a birth-control prescription, which strangely makes me feel like it's Christmas.
Kiss KIss
So here are a couple new insults for those of you still using the uncreative "ass hole" "jack ass" "bastard" ect...
Dirt Condom- One unworthy of trust, who is gross, and who should never be picked up under any circumstances.
Douche Canoe - needs no definition, it's obviously insulting without one
Moist Meat- An attractive person at the gym that is avoided to prevent their sent from ruining their looks.
Dirt Condom- One unworthy of trust, who is gross, and who should never be picked up under any circumstances.
Douche Canoe - needs no definition, it's obviously insulting without one
Moist Meat- An attractive person at the gym that is avoided to prevent their sent from ruining their looks.
Finished my two papers, they are pretty much ready to be sent off to the publishers tomorrow. I'm so excited and afraid to send my mind-babies off into to cold and unforgiving world of biological research. If you have been wondering why I haven't been responding to your messages THIS is why. It is a super big deal to be published as an undergraduate, and I wasn't going to take the opportunity lightly. I'm celebrating by going out on a 6 winery walk tomorrow
, then a whole lot of nooky, bubble baths, and chocolate covered strawberries with my guy.
so Here is one of my mind-babies...remember, you much be cruel to be kind, I can take it
Just forgive formatting issues
Color Preference Trials for the Great Pond Snail: Lymnaea Stagnalis
Abstract
Trichobilharzia ocellata is a parasitic trematode that causes the infection in humans known as “swimmers itch.” T. ocellata could be controlled via the control of its intermediate host, the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis. Color based traps could be created for L. stagnalis if color preference were known. Little information on L. stagnalis behavior exists. At the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 35 randomly selected L. stagnalis in the size range of 45-55mm were collected from a coulee. Color preference trial runs were conducted with 7 different colors in water from the coulee. The trial duration was 45 minutes, at which point, the number of snails in each color field were counted. A light meter was used to test LUX levels penetrating the colored materials in order to rule out a possible brightness preference. Between trials the trays were cleaned, the coulee water refreshed, and snails were replaced. Research statistics discovered the snails had a strong preference for purple with a secondary preference of green. There was no correlation between LUX level and color preference. These results could be used in L. stagnalis population control methods, collection for study, or continued behavioral studies.
Keywords: Lymnaea Stagnalis, Color Preference, Behavior
Introduction
The perception of light and animal interpretation of this information is of recurring interest in biology. An attraction to various colors has been observed in many creatures such as vertebrates: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds 12 , and invertebrates: the Heliconius butterflies9. A wide range of animals are able to differentiate color and react with specific behaviors. Lymnaea stagnalis, the great pond snail, has the ability to see color due to the presence of pigmented cells in their retinas2. We questioned if the ability to observe color also influences L. stagnalis behavior.
We used an experimental approach to determine if L. stagnalis shows a preference for any of the colors presented. Our objective was (1) Determine color preferences and aversions of L. stagnalis (2) Determine if there is an association between the color preference and the total light availability (LUX). We hypothesized that the snails would have a preference for the color green due to the color of their major food source (algae).
Lymnaea stagnalis resides in still or slow moving freshwater. They prefer muddy sand or crushed stone surfaces and feed on diatoms, aquatic plants and remaining tissue of other gastropods2. They are a typical representation of the lentic snail group exhibiting moderately amphibious lifestyles, although they have been observed visiting deeper water2. They have complex light sensing organs that can function in aquatic as well as terrestrial environments. This strategy allows L.stagnalis to escape perceived threats and seek temporary refuge above the water’s surface without sacrificing vision 2. The “pit” retinas of L. stagnalis, are indicated by partitioned dorsal and ventral depressions, with each pit separated by “crests” (internal ridges)15. A pair of camera-like eyes under a specialized region of the integument are also used to perceive light15. The favored visual organs while in terrestrial environments are the photoreceptive cells located in the shallow dorsal pits; however, in aquatic environments the spherical lens of the camera like eyes is more effective. Their curved corneas turn the eyes into a powerful optical system due to the small refractive index difference6. It is known that L. stagnalis use their visual capabilities in some visually guided behavior, though it is not clear if they are exploiting the full potential of the visual information6.
Eastern Washington University Turnbull Laboratory's coulée, Cheney Washington was the location from which we collected the L. stagnalis test subjects. A coulée is an isolated pond carved into the basalt rock that was formed during the Missoula Floods3. The coulée is 730 meters above sea level, located on basalt rock surrounded by Ponderosa Pine savannah. The study coulée has a surface area of approximately 1 ha and is approximately 2 m deep.
Methods
We collected 35 L. stagnalis (within the size range of 45 to 55mm) haphazardly from the coulee. The size range was chosen to ensure a consistent age range within the cohort. Water collected from the coulee filled the 33 ½ cm x 22cm x 6cm glass trays, this ensured the use of underwater vision, providing consistency in the results. Plastic sleeves of -red, green, blue, yellow, black, white, and purple covered opposing halves of each tray, with no gap in between. We conducted tests for all possible color combinations. Each sleeve completely surrounded its side of the tray, top, bottom and all sides. For each trial the subjects had a choice between two colors-. For each color combination seven replicates with five snails in each replicate, for a total of 35 snails. Trials lasted for 45 minutes giving the L. stagnalis time to move freely, after which we counted and logged the number of snails in each color field. We did not count the snails on the boundary between colors. To prevent overexertion the test subjects were
released and new-subjects captured periodically between tests. The same individual snails were used in multiple tests, which could have affected the independence of our results.
We attempted to eliminate other factors which may have an effect on the behavior of the snails. After the each trial we removed the subjects and - rinsed the trays with clean water to remove the mucus trails, so that they would not follow or avoid the trails of the previous snails. We placed the trays at various orientations, all on the same table top, to avoid confounding color with the effects of electromagnetic or gravitational inclinations of the snails13. We conducted all trials during the day as it has been shown that the number of pigment granules in L. stagnalis retinas declines at night2. Because some snails exhibit negative or positive phototaxis1 it was important to ensure that color was not confounded with the total light levels reaching the snails through the sleeves. We used an Extech light meter LT300 to test the amount of light penetrating through the plastic sleeves of each color.
We used a binomial probability test (α = 0.05) to asses preference within each color combination (Table 1). A binomial probability test calculated the statistics for each experiment. Our null hypothesis was that L. stagnalis had no color preference, resulting in a random distribution of snails in the trays.
Results
The binomial probability test showed eight of the tails resulted in no statistically significant preference. (Table 1.) Purple was most often preferred, while green was the second most preferred (Figure 1). All tests involving black resulted in statistically significant avoidance of black (Figure 2). We measured LUX values of the light penetration for each color and compared the results to color preference (Figure 3). There did not appear to be a correlation between LUX and preference. Blue and purple LUX values showed to be 171 and 171.5 LUX respectively (Figure 3). Blue was only preferred over black, while purple was preferred four times. This is evidence L. stagnalis uses color vision potential as cues for behavioral alteration.
Figure 1. Proportion of the two most often preferred colors
(green and purple) compared to other colors offered.
Figure 2. The proportion of least favored color
(black) as compared to other colors offered.
Figure 3. The averaged LUX value for all offered colors.
Discussion
The goal of this experiment was to determine if L.stagnalis had a preference to a particular color. The experiment produced unanticipated results. Though the color green was favored by the L. stagnalis as expected, the color purple was preferred by the highest proportion of snails. Hoagland7 found similar results in her study done on Chrysallida convexa, in which she studied the color of substrate C. convexa rested upon. C.convexa rested upon substrates colored brown, green and purple most often. Further investigation into why the snails tend towards purple, is warranted. Our information should only be considered applicable in aquatic environments, until more research is done on color preference in terrestrial environments. Future research may also explore preference in relation to the ultraviolet and infrared ranges, as the snails may be able to see past the visible spectrum of light10.
Color traps have been used to control and monitor organisms with known color preferences, such as the agricultural pests the leafhoppers, Limotettix vaccinii and Scaphytopius magdalensis14. Pectinophora gossypiella and Helicoverpa armigera, pest insects in cotton crops, are also controlled by color based traps4. The tendency of L. stagnalis to move towards purple provides the information needed for color based trap testing. Two reasons for controlling the L. stagnalis population. They are a host of the parasite Trichobilharzia ocellata11, which causes schistosome dermatitis in humans. They are also an invasive species in New Zealand8. Learning research laboratories that study L. stagnalis may also have applications for color preference and phototaxis knowledge1.
, then a whole lot of nooky, bubble baths, and chocolate covered strawberries with my guy.so Here is one of my mind-babies...remember, you much be cruel to be kind, I can take it
Just forgive formatting issues
Color Preference Trials for the Great Pond Snail: Lymnaea Stagnalis
Abstract
Trichobilharzia ocellata is a parasitic trematode that causes the infection in humans known as “swimmers itch.” T. ocellata could be controlled via the control of its intermediate host, the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis. Color based traps could be created for L. stagnalis if color preference were known. Little information on L. stagnalis behavior exists. At the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 35 randomly selected L. stagnalis in the size range of 45-55mm were collected from a coulee. Color preference trial runs were conducted with 7 different colors in water from the coulee. The trial duration was 45 minutes, at which point, the number of snails in each color field were counted. A light meter was used to test LUX levels penetrating the colored materials in order to rule out a possible brightness preference. Between trials the trays were cleaned, the coulee water refreshed, and snails were replaced. Research statistics discovered the snails had a strong preference for purple with a secondary preference of green. There was no correlation between LUX level and color preference. These results could be used in L. stagnalis population control methods, collection for study, or continued behavioral studies.
Keywords: Lymnaea Stagnalis, Color Preference, Behavior
Introduction
The perception of light and animal interpretation of this information is of recurring interest in biology. An attraction to various colors has been observed in many creatures such as vertebrates: Ruby-throated Hummingbirds 12 , and invertebrates: the Heliconius butterflies9. A wide range of animals are able to differentiate color and react with specific behaviors. Lymnaea stagnalis, the great pond snail, has the ability to see color due to the presence of pigmented cells in their retinas2. We questioned if the ability to observe color also influences L. stagnalis behavior.
We used an experimental approach to determine if L. stagnalis shows a preference for any of the colors presented. Our objective was (1) Determine color preferences and aversions of L. stagnalis (2) Determine if there is an association between the color preference and the total light availability (LUX). We hypothesized that the snails would have a preference for the color green due to the color of their major food source (algae).
Lymnaea stagnalis resides in still or slow moving freshwater. They prefer muddy sand or crushed stone surfaces and feed on diatoms, aquatic plants and remaining tissue of other gastropods2. They are a typical representation of the lentic snail group exhibiting moderately amphibious lifestyles, although they have been observed visiting deeper water2. They have complex light sensing organs that can function in aquatic as well as terrestrial environments. This strategy allows L.stagnalis to escape perceived threats and seek temporary refuge above the water’s surface without sacrificing vision 2. The “pit” retinas of L. stagnalis, are indicated by partitioned dorsal and ventral depressions, with each pit separated by “crests” (internal ridges)15. A pair of camera-like eyes under a specialized region of the integument are also used to perceive light15. The favored visual organs while in terrestrial environments are the photoreceptive cells located in the shallow dorsal pits; however, in aquatic environments the spherical lens of the camera like eyes is more effective. Their curved corneas turn the eyes into a powerful optical system due to the small refractive index difference6. It is known that L. stagnalis use their visual capabilities in some visually guided behavior, though it is not clear if they are exploiting the full potential of the visual information6.
Eastern Washington University Turnbull Laboratory's coulée, Cheney Washington was the location from which we collected the L. stagnalis test subjects. A coulée is an isolated pond carved into the basalt rock that was formed during the Missoula Floods3. The coulée is 730 meters above sea level, located on basalt rock surrounded by Ponderosa Pine savannah. The study coulée has a surface area of approximately 1 ha and is approximately 2 m deep.
Methods
We collected 35 L. stagnalis (within the size range of 45 to 55mm) haphazardly from the coulee. The size range was chosen to ensure a consistent age range within the cohort. Water collected from the coulee filled the 33 ½ cm x 22cm x 6cm glass trays, this ensured the use of underwater vision, providing consistency in the results. Plastic sleeves of -red, green, blue, yellow, black, white, and purple covered opposing halves of each tray, with no gap in between. We conducted tests for all possible color combinations. Each sleeve completely surrounded its side of the tray, top, bottom and all sides. For each trial the subjects had a choice between two colors-. For each color combination seven replicates with five snails in each replicate, for a total of 35 snails. Trials lasted for 45 minutes giving the L. stagnalis time to move freely, after which we counted and logged the number of snails in each color field. We did not count the snails on the boundary between colors. To prevent overexertion the test subjects were
released and new-subjects captured periodically between tests. The same individual snails were used in multiple tests, which could have affected the independence of our results.
We attempted to eliminate other factors which may have an effect on the behavior of the snails. After the each trial we removed the subjects and - rinsed the trays with clean water to remove the mucus trails, so that they would not follow or avoid the trails of the previous snails. We placed the trays at various orientations, all on the same table top, to avoid confounding color with the effects of electromagnetic or gravitational inclinations of the snails13. We conducted all trials during the day as it has been shown that the number of pigment granules in L. stagnalis retinas declines at night2. Because some snails exhibit negative or positive phototaxis1 it was important to ensure that color was not confounded with the total light levels reaching the snails through the sleeves. We used an Extech light meter LT300 to test the amount of light penetrating through the plastic sleeves of each color.
We used a binomial probability test (α = 0.05) to asses preference within each color combination (Table 1). A binomial probability test calculated the statistics for each experiment. Our null hypothesis was that L. stagnalis had no color preference, resulting in a random distribution of snails in the trays.
Results
The binomial probability test showed eight of the tails resulted in no statistically significant preference. (Table 1.) Purple was most often preferred, while green was the second most preferred (Figure 1). All tests involving black resulted in statistically significant avoidance of black (Figure 2). We measured LUX values of the light penetration for each color and compared the results to color preference (Figure 3). There did not appear to be a correlation between LUX and preference. Blue and purple LUX values showed to be 171 and 171.5 LUX respectively (Figure 3). Blue was only preferred over black, while purple was preferred four times. This is evidence L. stagnalis uses color vision potential as cues for behavioral alteration.
Figure 1. Proportion of the two most often preferred colors
(green and purple) compared to other colors offered.
Figure 2. The proportion of least favored color
(black) as compared to other colors offered.
Figure 3. The averaged LUX value for all offered colors.
Discussion
The goal of this experiment was to determine if L.stagnalis had a preference to a particular color. The experiment produced unanticipated results. Though the color green was favored by the L. stagnalis as expected, the color purple was preferred by the highest proportion of snails. Hoagland7 found similar results in her study done on Chrysallida convexa, in which she studied the color of substrate C. convexa rested upon. C.convexa rested upon substrates colored brown, green and purple most often. Further investigation into why the snails tend towards purple, is warranted. Our information should only be considered applicable in aquatic environments, until more research is done on color preference in terrestrial environments. Future research may also explore preference in relation to the ultraviolet and infrared ranges, as the snails may be able to see past the visible spectrum of light10.
Color traps have been used to control and monitor organisms with known color preferences, such as the agricultural pests the leafhoppers, Limotettix vaccinii and Scaphytopius magdalensis14. Pectinophora gossypiella and Helicoverpa armigera, pest insects in cotton crops, are also controlled by color based traps4. The tendency of L. stagnalis to move towards purple provides the information needed for color based trap testing. Two reasons for controlling the L. stagnalis population. They are a host of the parasite Trichobilharzia ocellata11, which causes schistosome dermatitis in humans. They are also an invasive species in New Zealand8. Learning research laboratories that study L. stagnalis may also have applications for color preference and phototaxis knowledge1.
Last final of the quarter today! yay. SO fucking ready for this all to be over. two of my classes were teaching the same things at the end and it was really starting to wear on me. The next 3 weeks are going to be really intense. Spending most of spring break with my guy.
getting my tubes tide the week after that
presenting my research at a national conference the week after that.
This is going to be AMAZING!
getting my tubes tide the week after that
presenting my research at a national conference the week after that.
This is going to be AMAZING!
Hey guys!! sorry I have been incommunicado for so long! I had to move and didn't have internet at my new place until today. Really missed SG especially since you can't use library computers to login LOL. I'm back now so I'll be doing my best to get through the friends requests and reply to messages.
I have REALLY fucking exciting news! I got into the Texas A&M Entomology summer program and will be studying Chagas disease!!! I also get payed to do it which is so incredible. This really gives me a leg up when it comes to grad school so in the immortal words of Rue Paul I say to myself "Don't fuck it up!"
In other good news, I'm almost fully moved in, and I have a hot new plaything. If you remember from a few blogs ago I said something about me being now technically a cougar. Well come to find out he was even younger than I originally thought (bad at math + wishful thinking). Don't really care much about age (two consenting adults and all that) but it's funny to think of myself as a cougar. Any way, he's super smart and funny and hot and all of the good things, really just what I needed, no pressure lots of fun. surprised to find someone willing to be in an open casual thing that actually means it. Also thoughtful, people under appreciate the power of thoughtfulness.
Okay enough gushy stuff, I'm also really excited that I found a Gyno to tie my tubes!! should be in for the surgery before the end of the month.
going to have the clips put on over the broad ligament. It's the most effective instant version of tubal ligation. Can't fucking wait to not have to worry about birth control and hormones fucking with me. Will also be nice to know that I will not be capable of contributing to the human population that is already too fucking high.
Surgery (looks like it hurts)
okay that was a long update so I'll take a breather.
I have REALLY fucking exciting news! I got into the Texas A&M Entomology summer program and will be studying Chagas disease!!! I also get payed to do it which is so incredible. This really gives me a leg up when it comes to grad school so in the immortal words of Rue Paul I say to myself "Don't fuck it up!"
In other good news, I'm almost fully moved in, and I have a hot new plaything. If you remember from a few blogs ago I said something about me being now technically a cougar. Well come to find out he was even younger than I originally thought (bad at math + wishful thinking). Don't really care much about age (two consenting adults and all that) but it's funny to think of myself as a cougar. Any way, he's super smart and funny and hot and all of the good things, really just what I needed, no pressure lots of fun. surprised to find someone willing to be in an open casual thing that actually means it. Also thoughtful, people under appreciate the power of thoughtfulness.
Okay enough gushy stuff, I'm also really excited that I found a Gyno to tie my tubes!! should be in for the surgery before the end of the month.
going to have the clips put on over the broad ligament. It's the most effective instant version of tubal ligation. Can't fucking wait to not have to worry about birth control and hormones fucking with me. Will also be nice to know that I will not be capable of contributing to the human population that is already too fucking high.Surgery (looks like it hurts)
okay that was a long update so I'll take a breather.
[YOUTUBE]http://youtu.be/v9HzU73JPxQ[/YOUTUBE] 
" In a world with out scientists and engineers people would say 'lets run away, dig holes and live in them'" This is Why I love Neil deGrasse Tyson
" In a world with out scientists and engineers people would say 'lets run away, dig holes and live in them'" This is Why I love Neil deGrasse Tyson
my steam user name is Higgssuicide (big surprise hu?) if anyone wants to join me in a game or two
So on top of everything else I hit a moose while I was driving down the highway at 330am. scared the living shit out of me but I'm okay and I think to moose might be too. I just grazed her. shitty thing is that I have a 500 dollar deducatable. 
on the plus side, I'm not dead which is actually a pretty big deal after hitting a 700 lb animal going 65 miles an hour.
le sigh
on the plus side, I'm not dead which is actually a pretty big deal after hitting a 700 lb animal going 65 miles an hour.le sigh
