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A Biogeographic Review Of The Spider Genus Agelenopis (Araneae Agelenidae), Thomas Charles Paison
A Biogeographic Review Of The Spider Genus Agelenopis (Araneae Agelenidae), Thomas Charles Paison
Masters Theses
This study is a review of the biogeography of the North American spider genus Agelenopsis (Giebel) (Araneae: Agelenidae). Previous theoretical and empirical work provides support for the hypothesis that many North American taxa have been subject to disjunction and divergence due to the effects of Late Pleistocene glacial/interglacial cycles. A summary of the current knowledge of the biology and ecology of the 13 Agelenopsis species is developed and new distribution maps for each species are generated from published collections. A reconstructed phylogeny for the genus is created based on the adult sexual morphology of the species. A detailed hypothesis for …
Southern Appalachian Fir And Fir-Spruce Forest Community Changes Following Balsam Woolly Adelgid Infestation, George Francis Smith
Southern Appalachian Fir And Fir-Spruce Forest Community Changes Following Balsam Woolly Adelgid Infestation, George Francis Smith
Masters Theses
The southern Appalachian fir and fir-spruce forests are unique glacial relict communities that occupy 26,600 ha at the highest elevations of only seven mountain areas. Over the last three and a half decades an exotic insect, the balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae Ratz.), has caused catastrophic mortality to populations of the endemic Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) throughout its entire native range. In 1990 and 1991, a set of temporary and permanent plots were established at the summits of five mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains to study processes of community change in overstory and understory composition …
Relationships Between Habitat Variables And Biotic Integrity Of The Embarras River Basin, Ann Marie Hogan
Relationships Between Habitat Variables And Biotic Integrity Of The Embarras River Basin, Ann Marie Hogan
Masters Theses
In agricultural watersheds, channelization and the conversion of native vegetation into agricultural crops contribute to a loss or simplification of near-stream vegetation and a reduction in the complexity of the physical stream environment. Since changes to near-stream vegetation can have a significant effect on the stream biological community, this study investigated the relationship between a habitat quality index and stream fish assessment indices used to evaluate stream quality. Fish data and stream habitat quality data were collected from 13 sampling localities associated with the Embarras River basin. Habitat quality was measured using the Stream Habitat Assessment Procedure (SHAP), while stream …
The Effects Of Habitat Fragmentation And Factors Influencing Nest Box Use On The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Volans) In Southern Illinois, Catherine J. Woodworth
The Effects Of Habitat Fragmentation And Factors Influencing Nest Box Use On The Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys Volans) In Southern Illinois, Catherine J. Woodworth
Masters Theses
I studied the effects of habitat :fragmentation on the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in 30 forest fragments in southern Illinois. The fragments ranged in size from 6 ha to 5264 ha, and had varying degrees of isolation. I placed 10 nest boxes in each habitat fragment and checked them monthly. I captured southern flying squirrels in 24 of the 30 fragments, and found evidence of squirrels (i.e., nests and feeding stations) in 4 additional fragments. Thus, only 2 fragments did not show any evidence of squirrel use suggesting that the southern flying squirrel may not be particularly …
Adaptive Significance Of Re-Nesting Following Nest Abandonment In The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila Caerulea), Melissa Nicole Helton
Adaptive Significance Of Re-Nesting Following Nest Abandonment In The Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila Caerulea), Melissa Nicole Helton
Masters Theses
We studied the adaptive significance of nest abandonment and re-nesting in the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) in east-central Illinois from 1995 through 1997. This Neotropical migrant is widely distributed and highly persistent in re-nesting following nest abandonment. Nest abandonment may be a response to brood parasitism, predation or other nest disturbances. We studied the nesting behavior of gnatcatchers and investigated the cues which may elicit nest abandonment. We monitored 57 pairs of gnatcatchers which built a total of 98 nests. Twenty pairs successfully fledged a total of 63 young and overall nest success was only 8.5%. Daily mortality rates for …
Roost Site Selection Of The Red Bat (Lasiurus Borealis), Kenneth J. Mager
Roost Site Selection Of The Red Bat (Lasiurus Borealis), Kenneth J. Mager
Masters Theses
I monitored the roosting activity and evaluated roost site selection of red bats (Lasiurus borealis) at study sites in Coles County during the summer of 1996. Red bats were mist-netted and radio transmitters were affixed to 12 individuals. A total of 105 transmitter-days were recorded with 75 roost locations identified. The roost types consisted of eight different species of trees, prairie grass, and residential structures but the vast majority of roosts (92%) were in large, deciduous trees. The height of the roosts ranged from 0.5 to 21.4 m, but 54.7% were between 5-10 m. Movement between consecutive roosts ranged from …
A Study Of The Lichens At Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, Eric B. Grunder
A Study Of The Lichens At Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois, Eric B. Grunder
Masters Theses
In 1971, a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University, James E. Wiedman, studied the lichen flora of Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, Clark County, Illinois. During his study he collected, identified, and recorded a total of 64 lichen species. Since 1971, Rocky Branch Nature Preserve has experienced a dramatic increase in use by people and a concomittant decline in the quality of lichen habitats. In order to assess the decline of suitable lichen habitats and the reduction of lichen species a second study of the lichens at Rocky Branch Nature Preserve was undertaken. As part of this study, ten habitat sites …