Graduation Date
Spring 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Biology
Committee Chair Name
John Reiss
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Karen Kiemnec-Tyburczy
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Sharyn Marks
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Allison Bronson
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Olfaction, Morphology, Plethodontid, Electron microscopy, MicroCT scanning, Histology
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Many amphibian species rely on olfaction for locating prey and for social interactions during different life stages. Despite the importance of the olfactory system, research on its structure has been taxonomically limited. The most diverse family of salamanders, the Plethodontidae, has been largely excluded from research efforts to describe olfactory morphology. Although several histological studies have been conducted, no studies have yet looked at morphology at the level of ultrastructure using electron microscopy. The primary goal of my research was to examine olfactory morphology and ultrastructure in plethodontid species with a range of life history strategies, to better understand the relationship between habitat, life history, and morphology. Utilizing standard histology, transmission electron microscopy, and MicroCT scanning, I examined four species within Plethodontidae, Batrachoseps attenuatus, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus, “Eurycea bislineata” (a species complex), and Eurycea troglodytes, and one outgroup species, Rhyacotriton variegatus.
In the direct-developing and biphasic plethodontids I examined, the main olfactory cavity (MOC) of the adult is a sac-like structure with the vomeronasal organ (VNO) as a lateral diverticulum. The MOC in aquatic stages (larvae and paedomorphic adults) is tubular, extending from the external naris to the choana, with a very small VNO. The ultrastructure in the VNO across all species and stages indicates a stronger correlation between phylogeny and cell type than life history and cell type. In the MOC, I found no apparent correlation between cell types and life stage. I conclude that the cellular composition of the plethodontid MOC may be shaped by both phylogeny and habitat.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Gremling, Emily, "Comparative morphology and ultrastructure of olfactory epithelia in plethodontid salamanders: Effect of life history variation" (2024). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 725.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/725