List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Claire Fuller
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The cave cricket, Hadenoecus subterraneus, is a keystone species in cave ecosystems within Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP). Within MCNP, many cricket cadavers have been found
with a thick, white fungus growing on them; this fungus has previously been identified to be Beauveria bassiana. However, new molecular data suggests that this may actually be the species B. amorpha. Cricket cadavers with Beauveria sp. were collected from MCNP and cultured on potato dextrose agar. Cultures will be sent to the USDA for a genetic analysis and identification of the fungus. The purpose of this study is to examine if the relationship between the cave crickets and the fungus is of parasitic or saprophytic nature. Fifteen crickets will be exposed to a 1 x 106 conidia solution, while the other 15 will be exposed to a Tween-80 solution for the control group. Mortality rates will be observed daily and analyzed.
Location
Large Ballroom, Curris Center
Start Date
April 2016
End Date
April 2016
Included in
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Parasitology Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons
The effects of the fungus Beauvaria sp. on the cave cricket, Hadenoecus subterraneus
Large Ballroom, Curris Center
The cave cricket, Hadenoecus subterraneus, is a keystone species in cave ecosystems within Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP). Within MCNP, many cricket cadavers have been found
with a thick, white fungus growing on them; this fungus has previously been identified to be Beauveria bassiana. However, new molecular data suggests that this may actually be the species B. amorpha. Cricket cadavers with Beauveria sp. were collected from MCNP and cultured on potato dextrose agar. Cultures will be sent to the USDA for a genetic analysis and identification of the fungus. The purpose of this study is to examine if the relationship between the cave crickets and the fungus is of parasitic or saprophytic nature. Fifteen crickets will be exposed to a 1 x 106 conidia solution, while the other 15 will be exposed to a Tween-80 solution for the control group. Mortality rates will be observed daily and analyzed.