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Award Announcement
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Rear Experimental Plodia Generation
Single Plodia interpunctella wild type mate-pairing and rearing of offspring to pre-pupal stage -
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Conduct Initial Manual and Laser Microdissections
Perfect experimental protocol, including manual and laser micro-ablations of neurons innervating the tympanal organs, cerebral neurosecretory organs, and neuroblast lineages which eventually innervate the testes and ovaries. -
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Conduct Experimental Ablations and Ultrasound Exposure Trials
Each ablation type will be carried out on larval, pupal, and adult Plodia interpunctella followed by prolonged exposure to bat ultrasound, after which several fitness measures and internal neuromorphology will be documented and compared to control moths. -
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Monitor Offspring Fitness
Record experimental adult reproductive rates and F1 generation developmental rates, survival, and fecundity. -
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Image Internal Neuromorphology via Micro-CT
Using nanoscale micro-CT, I will image and construct 3D models of the internal neural networks of control and ablated larvae, pupae, and adults both during the experimental trials and using a subset of ethanol-preserved individuals. -
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Replicate Microdissections, Incorporate Single-Neuron Ablations, and Exposure Trials to Increase Sample Size
If possible, expand the initial microdissection, ablation, and ultrasound exposure experiments to include precise, single-neuron ablation manipulations on targeted tissues pinpointed during earlier trials. -
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Write-Up Results and Submit for Publication
I intend to publish the results of this work soon after completion in a leading, high-impact neurobiology journal.