Biology ETDs

Leola Walker

Publication Date

10-25-1978

Abstract

In order to determine the effects of seasonality, bound-lipid localization, and treatments of Dri-die 67 and chloroform-methanol on the cuticular morphology of the desert millipede, Orthoporus ornatus, specimens collected west of Albuquerque in 1976-1977 were exposed to several experimental techniques. Because the dense nature of the cuticle presented difficulties in sectioning, a slightly modified procedure involving a vacuum oven was used in all experiments. A relatively standard procedure involving glutaraldehyde as a fixative and osmium tetroxide as a post-fixative was utilized in the descriptive and seasonal study. The method of Wigglesworth (1975a) was utilized in attempting to localize presumably protein-bound lipid while other treatments involved the use of Dri-die 67, a silica aerogel, and chloroform-methanol, a solvent. Results of the seasonal study revealed morphological similarities between the cuticles of other arthropods and the desert millipede. Attempts to localize bound lipid material within the cuticle were successful, possibly revealing concentrations of lipoproteinaceous material in the epicuticle and in Schmidt's layer. Treatment with Dri-die 67 affected the epidermis as well as the dermal gland ducts but had no effect on the epicuticular layer. Exposure to a mixture of chloroform and methanol had no effect on the morphology of the cuticle.

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

Clifford Smeed Crawford

Second Committee Member

Illegible

Third Committee Member

Robert O. Kelley

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