A Bicentennial Observation of Henry William Ravenel 1814-2014
Henry William Ravenel (1814-1887), a 19th century botanist and mycologist, amassed a remarkable personal herbarium composed chiefly of vascular plants and fleshy fungi, mostly from his native South Carolina. Through international correspondence and exchange, however, his collections boast a significant cosmopolitan element as well. While some specimens obtained through exchange predate his own birth, other collections as well as correspondence from his children indicate that he was actively collecting up until his passing. The breadth of his collections matches his interests, which stretched beyond systematics to related disciplines such as economic botany, public health, and ecology. These related pursuits are reflected through the presence of vouchered agricultural specimens within his herbarium, and are also evident in his own words. Through the latter half of his life, Ravenel kept a detailed journal in which he revealed not only his thoughts on the major defining event of his lifetime, the American Civil War, but also his observations as a scientist and naturalist. His life’s work was fragmented posthumously contrary to his desire for it to remain a single entity. While large portions of the collection remain relatively complete and stable, others have been further disbanded or lost forever. Interdisciplinary collaboration and renewed interest in the research potential of these historic specimens has resulted in a better understanding of the status and distribution of Ravenel’s collections. Currently proposed projects include the ‘re-unification’ of these disarticulated elements in an online environment aimed at facilitating and extending the reach of continued research.
1 A. C. Moore Herbarium (USCH), University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; 2 Ernest F. Hollings Special Collections Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; 3 South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
209 • Herrick H. K. Brown
Henry William Ravenel: Exchanges, Expeditions, Extirpation and Extinction
The botanical collections of Henry William Ravenel document the breadth of 19th century scientific collaboration through exchange of herbarium specimens. His network of correspondents supplied him with material for comparison and annotation. Well known and respected by colleagues, he was called upon to conduct floristic surveys and collect material for the USDA and the American Museum of Natural History. This commissioned work demanded travel through Texas, Washington, D.C. and Georgia. Along the way, he searched for, but did not find Franklinia alatamaha. His failure in locating this ‘lost’ species bears little testament to his abilities to discover scarce species as he was quite possibly the first and only person to observe Elliottia racemosa and Eriocaulon ravenelii in the state of South Carolina.
A. C. Moore Herbarium (USCH), University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
The Effect of Chronic Exposure to Different Concentrations of Lexapro on Long-Term Memory in Adult Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
In a report by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011, eleven percent of American’s aged twelve and over were prescribed antidepressant medication. The most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. Serotonin (5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central nervous system of vertebrates. This study attempted to determine whether exposure to higher concentrations of Lexapro, a common SSRI, resulted in impairment of long term memory in adult zebrafish. Four groups of zebrafish were exposed to Lexapro for three consecutive days, each group at a different concentration. Using a T-maze, the fish were conditioned to choose a favorable arm in the maze. Long-term memory was assessed 10 days post conditioning by testing the zebrafish for the conditioned response. Data was collectedand analyzed using Ethovision software. Data analysis showed no statistically significant evidence to support higher concentrations of Lexapro has an affect on long-term memory.
The Effects of Chronic Exposure of Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide) on Behavior and Memory of Danio rerio
Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for the regulation of both motor and cognitive functions. Previous research suggests that too much serotonin in the synaptic cleft can induce certain behaviors in animals. Often these behaviors are anxiolytic in nature, and are easily observed in model organisms such as zebrafish. Additionally, adult zebrafish have shown the ability to learn and demonstrate memory when placed in a common paradigm, the T-maze, an accepted means of testing memory in animal models. Our team wanted to determine if chronic exposure to Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide), a common SSRI, had an effect on the working and long term memory of zebrafish, and whether or not the anxiolytic effects of the drug were obvious through the behaviors of the fish. After a five day treatment period, control and experimental groups were evaluated using the T-maze and given either a positive or a negative consequence based on the decision that was made (choosing right or left). After a two-week rest period, the fish were assessed again and we found an increase of drug concentration caused a decrease in total correct decision making, possibly suggesting the drug had a negative effect on memory. Additionally, the fish were slower to make an initial decision, suggesting the long-term low concentration exposure of Celexa did have an anxiolytic effect on the treated fish. Future research in this area might give researchers a better understanding of the long-term consequences of serotonin exposure, and the possible implications for humans.
Dept of Biology, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
