Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Bioassessment (2)
- Baccharis halimifolia (1)
- Barrier Island (1)
- Barrier island (1)
- Benthic (1)
-
- Biogeomorphology (1)
- Breeding density (1)
- Coastal (1)
- Coastal dunes (1)
- Coastal ecosystems (1)
- Coastal science (1)
- Costs and benefits (1)
- Dead wood (1)
- Ecology (1)
- Electron transport rate (1)
- Female aggression (1)
- Functional traits (1)
- Hydraulic conductivity (1)
- Isoptera (1)
- James river (1)
- Liana (1)
- Lidar (1)
- Macroinvertebrate (1)
- Macroinvertebrates (1)
- Mitochondrial DNA (1)
- Molecular diagnostics (1)
- Morella cerifera (1)
- Natural resource management (1)
- Nitrogen fixation (1)
- Photosynthesis (1)
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 10 of 10
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Biotic Characteristics Of Managed And Unmanaged Coastal Dunes In The Outer Banks, North Carolina, Andrew E. White
Biotic Characteristics Of Managed And Unmanaged Coastal Dunes In The Outer Banks, North Carolina, Andrew E. White
Theses and Dissertations
Under future climate change and sea level rise scenarios, Natural and Nature-Based Features (e.g., dunes) that protect coastal habitat and infrastructure will be exposed to increased wave energy and storm surge. Understanding how these forces will impact coastal dunes is necessary for their continued use as protective features. Coastal dunes develop through feedback between vegetation and sediment deposition, a process complicated by species-specific growth rates and responses to burial. Wave flume studies have tested the effects of dune vegetation on erosion and found multiple plant organs across several functional types to be important for resisting erosion. Although dune building and …
The Influence Of Breeding Density On Female Aggression, Parental Care, And Ornamentation In A Secondary-Cavity Nesting Warbler, Elsa B. Chen
The Influence Of Breeding Density On Female Aggression, Parental Care, And Ornamentation In A Secondary-Cavity Nesting Warbler, Elsa B. Chen
Theses and Dissertations
Tradeoffs between individual survival and reproductive success associated with aggressive behaviors are a driving force of evolution, but these tradeoffs are often overlooked for aggressive conspecific interactions between females. For avian males, it is well documented that more aggressive individuals tend to provide less parental care. In the few studies that address this in females, the tradeoffs seem to be more context-dependent, varying due to factors such as predation pressure and habitat quality. The relationship between female ornamentation and aggression is similarly understudied, but evidence suggests that both aggression and ornamentation are important traits involved in social selection – the …
Functional Traits Of Expanding, Thicket-Forming Shrubs: Contrasting Strategies Between Exotic And Native Species, Sheri A. Shiflett, Julie C. Zinnert, Donald R. Young
Functional Traits Of Expanding, Thicket-Forming Shrubs: Contrasting Strategies Between Exotic And Native Species, Sheri A. Shiflett, Julie C. Zinnert, Donald R. Young
Biology Publications
Woody expansion has been documented for decades in many different systems globally, often yielding vast changes in ecosystem functioning. While causes and consequences of woody expansion have been well documented, few studies have addressed plant functional traits that promote dramatic and rapid expansion in range. Our objectives were to investigate plant functional traits that contribute to the colonization, rapid expansion, and thicket formation of an invasive, N-fixing shrub, Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. (Elaeagnaceae), and a native, N-fixing shrub Morella cerifera (L.) Small (Myricaceae) and compare to native, sympatric, non-expanding shrub species. Quantified functional traits included morphological (e.g., specific leaf area, leaf …
Identification Of Eastern United States Reticulitermes Termite Species Via Pcr-Rflp, Assessed Using Training And Test Data, Ryan C. Garrick, Benjamin D. Collins, Rachel N. Yi, Rodney J. Dyer, Chaz Hyseni
Identification Of Eastern United States Reticulitermes Termite Species Via Pcr-Rflp, Assessed Using Training And Test Data, Ryan C. Garrick, Benjamin D. Collins, Rachel N. Yi, Rodney J. Dyer, Chaz Hyseni
Biology Publications
Reticulitermes termites play key roles in dead wood decomposition and nutrient cycling in forests. They also damage man-made structures, resulting in considerable economic loss. In the eastern United States, five species (R. flavipes, R. virginicus, R. nelsonae, R. hageni and R. malletei) have overlapping ranges and are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Here we present a molecular tool for species identification. It is based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a section of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene, followed by a three-enzyme restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay, with banding patterns resolved via agarose gel electrophoresis. The assay …
Consequences Of Vine Infestation: Linking Abiotic Influences And Biotic Interactions To Successional And Structural Changes In Coastal Communities, Spencer N. Bissett
Consequences Of Vine Infestation: Linking Abiotic Influences And Biotic Interactions To Successional And Structural Changes In Coastal Communities, Spencer N. Bissett
Theses and Dissertations
Located at the interfaces of terrestrial and marine environments, coastal habitats are inherently vulnerable to the effects of global change. Barrier island systems in particular serve not only as protective buffers against storm events, but also as sentinel ecosystems for observation of the impacts of sea level rise, and of increasing storm frequency and intensity. In the mid-Atlantic region, shrub thickets of Morella species compose the dominant forest community. The often monospecific nature of these plant community assemblages is advantageous to ecological studies and cross-scale applications; the relatively low diversity facilitates transitions between scales. My objective was to investigate the …
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Subsampling Effort And Taxonomic Resolution For Bioassessments Of Streams In The James River Watershed Of Virginia, Laurel Williams
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Subsampling Effort And Taxonomic Resolution For Bioassessments Of Streams In The James River Watershed Of Virginia, Laurel Williams
Theses and Dissertations
Benthic macroinvertebrate diversity influences stream food web dynamics, nutrient cycling and material exchange between the benthos and the water column. Stream bioassessment has moved to the forefront of water quality monitoring in terms of benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in the recent past. The objectives of this study were to determine optimum subsample size and level of taxonomic resolution necessary to accurately and precisely describe macroinvertebrate diversity in streams flowing in the Piedmont province of the James River watershed in Virginia. Forty-nine sampling sites were selected from streams within the Piedmont Physiographic Province of the James River watershed. Ten sites were randomly …
Environmental Influences On Sex Ratio And Spatial Distribution Of Dioecious Morella Cerifera L. On A Virginia Barrier Island., Molly Hokkanen
Environmental Influences On Sex Ratio And Spatial Distribution Of Dioecious Morella Cerifera L. On A Virginia Barrier Island., Molly Hokkanen
Theses and Dissertations
For dioecious plant species, sex ratios within a population depend on multiple environmental and life history characteristics. Sex ratio is an indicator of population health and can be a predictor for genetic bottlenecking. My study established the previously unknown sex ratio for the shrub, Morella cerifera, on a Virginia barrier island. The ratio was compared with multiple environmental and reproductive traits to determine their potential influence on sex determination and/or distribution of male and female plants. Multivariate analyses were used to identify relationships between sex, sex ratio and environmental drivers. The sex ratio for M. cerifera changed depending on scale. …
Changes In Leaf Morphology, Photosynthesis And Nitrogen Content In Two Coastal Shrubs, Elizabeth Kost
Changes In Leaf Morphology, Photosynthesis And Nitrogen Content In Two Coastal Shrubs, Elizabeth Kost
Theses and Dissertations
It is important to understand mechanisms that facilitate expansion of two common shrubs, Morella cerifera and Baccharis halimifolia in coastal environments. The purpose of my study was to investigate the physiological and structural changes that occur as leaves age. Photosynthesis, incident light, chlorophyll, and leaf C:N ratios were quantified for young, intermediate, and old leaves (distal, central and proximal leaves, respectively). Leaf structural differences were also compared. Leaves did not change morphologically with age. Light decreased with leaf age and during winter months. Photosynthesis showed no seasonal or age related patterns. Chlorophyll increased initially and then declined with age due …
Long-Term Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities: Implications For Bioassessment Of Lotic Systems, Eve O'Connor
Theses and Dissertations
The structure and composition of benthic macroinvertebrate communities can vary spatially and over time. Spatial and temporal variation along a stream has many implications for population and community dynamics, which may influence bioassessment programs. I examined variability in the benthic community of eight streams within the Polecat Creek, Virginia watershed. These streams vary in size from 1st to 4th order. The streams were sampled once every season for eleven years using standard bioassessment protocols. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from both sediment and submerged wood habitats at each site. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to quantify among season, among year …
Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Larval Fishes In A Large Tidal River., Harold Seelig
Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Larval Fishes In A Large Tidal River., Harold Seelig
Theses and Dissertations
There are few published studies of larval fish assemblages from unregulated, tidal freshwater rivers. Patterns in the spatial and temporal distribution of larval fishes in the Mattaponi River were examined. Sampling took place on a weekly basis from February through August, 2006 and 2007. Larval fishes were categorized by taxa, reproductive guild, and residency guild. Group comparisons using multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) indicated significant spatial and temporal differences in assemblage composition on multiple scales. Differences in assemblage composition were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS). Interannual differences were attributable to anadromous and semi-migratory species. Seasonal differences were attributable to herrings, …