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Genetic Population Structure And Effective Number Of Breeders In Systems Across The Range Of The Gulf Sturgeon, Jacob Zona
Master's Theses
Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyicnhus desotoi) are a large, anadromous fish belonging to an ancient lineage that diverged as early as 400 MYA. Overfishing for meat and caviar during the early 1900’s reduced their range and abundance and continued habitat destruction and mortality have limited their ability to recover, leading to their listing under the Endangered Species Act. This study uses genetic techniques to determine the effective number of breeders for multiple spawning groups of Gulf sturgeon in river systems across their range to set a baseline for tracking reproductive success of the species. Accompanying genetic information relevant to …
Relationship Between Bats And Prairie-Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) Colonies In Western Kansas, Mario N. Rodriguez
Relationship Between Bats And Prairie-Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) Colonies In Western Kansas, Mario N. Rodriguez
Master's Theses
Although it is known that prairie dog colonies can increase biodiversity in the areas surrounding them, there is extraordinarily little known about the relationship between bats and black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). In a recent study from the Front Range of Colorado, several bat species were found to be consistently flying around prairie dog colonies, presumably foraging due to increased insect diversity and abundance. Despite the importance of prairie dogs to the ecosystem, prairie dog colonies are usually eradicated due to the perception that they adversely impact cattle grazing. If insectivorous bats are attracted to prairie dog colonies …
Development And Use Of An Environmental Dna Tool To Monitor Recovery Of The Critically Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis Pectinata, In The Northwest Atlantic, Ryan N. Lehman
Master's Theses
The Critically Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata, was once common in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean; however, following global declines in range and abundance over the past century, individuals were restricted to the waters of south and southwest Florida (SWFL) by about the 1980’s. Recently, public encounter reports have emerged in historically occupied habitats in United States waters, suggesting individuals are present in, or re-occupying, these areas, although the status of P. pectinata outside of SWFL is not currently well understood. Targeted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys were chosen to assess the occurrence of P …
Behavioral Ecology And Physiological Health Of Managed Populations Of Juvenile Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii) In Urban Wetlands, Armand Andre' Cann
Behavioral Ecology And Physiological Health Of Managed Populations Of Juvenile Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii) In Urban Wetlands, Armand Andre' Cann
Master's Theses
Substantial threats to reptile species biodiversity have become apparent in the last few decades. This is partly caused by significant losses in grasslands and their associate prairie-wetland ecosystems. One Midwestern prairie-wetland species, Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), are at risk of extirpation due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and increased predator populations. Consequently, significant head-starting efforts, a form of reintroduction conservation using captive-reared and then released turtles, have been conducted to recover populations of E. blandingii in northeastern Illinois. However, the success of these programs both locally and range-wide have not been fully quantified. Unfortunately, many approaches to guaging success involve long-term …
Critical Habitat Assessment And Recovery Plan For The Kansas State Threatened Broad-Headed Skink, Allison Hullinger
Critical Habitat Assessment And Recovery Plan For The Kansas State Threatened Broad-Headed Skink, Allison Hullinger
Master's Theses
No abstract provided.
The Population Genetics Of Morro Bay Eelgrass (Zostera Marina), Julia Gardner Harencar
The Population Genetics Of Morro Bay Eelgrass (Zostera Marina), Julia Gardner Harencar
Master's Theses
Seagrass populations are in decline worldwide. Zostera marina (eelgrass), one of California’s native seagrasses, is no exception to this trend. In the last 8 years, Morro Bay, California has lost 95% of its eelgrass. Eelgrass is an ecosystem engineer, providing important ecosystem services such as sediment stabilization, nutrient cycling, and nursery habitats for fish. The failure of recent restoration efforts necessitates a better understanding of the causes of eelgrass decline in this estuary. Previous research on eelgrass in California has demonstrated a link between population genetic diversity and eelgrass bed health, ecosystem functioning, and resilience to disturbance and extreme climatic …
Effects Of Experimental Noise Exposure On Songbird Nesting Behaviors And Nest Success, Tracy I. Mulholland
Effects Of Experimental Noise Exposure On Songbird Nesting Behaviors And Nest Success, Tracy I. Mulholland
Master's Theses
Anthropogenic noise is an increasingly prevalent global disturbance. Animals that rely on the acoustical environment, such as songbirds, are especially vulnerable to these sounds. Traffic noise, in particular, overlaps with the frequency range of songbirds, creating masking effects. We investigated the effects of chronic traffic noise on provisioning behaviors and breeding success of nesting western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens). Because anthropogenic noise exposure has the potential to interrupt parent-offspring communication and alter vigilance behaviors, we predicted that traffic noise would lead to changes in provisioning behaviors, such as fewer visits to the …
The Preservation And Protection Of Native Biodiversity In The Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Complex, Lindsey M. Whitaker, Matthew Ritter, Scott J. Steinmaus, Jonathan Hall
The Preservation And Protection Of Native Biodiversity In The Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Complex, Lindsey M. Whitaker, Matthew Ritter, Scott J. Steinmaus, Jonathan Hall
Master's Theses
The Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Complex (GNDC) is located within the California Floristic Province, a biodiversity hotspot characterized by high rates of endemism and exceptional loss of habitat. In 1980, the US Fish and Wildlife Service described the GNDC as, “the most unique and fragile ecosystem in the State of California,” and ranked it first on a list of 49 habitat areas needing state protection. It is the largest coastal dune area in California and it is one of the last remaining, relatively intact ecosystems of its type and size in the western United States. The growing recognition of species decline …
Effects Of Environmental And Anthropogenic Factors On The Range Contraction Of Bird And Mammal Species, Patrice M. Betz
Effects Of Environmental And Anthropogenic Factors On The Range Contraction Of Bird And Mammal Species, Patrice M. Betz
Master's Theses
The largest contributor to biodiversity loss is habitat destruction caused by humans. A common consequence of habitat destruction is a reduction in the geographic range of a species. Little research has been done to separate the contribution of anthropogenic and environmental variables to the extinction or persistence of species that have experienced range contraction. In this thesis, I examined the relative effects of several variables (elevation, mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, human population density, distance from roads, and proportion of land converted to built-up land, cropland, and rangeland) on the geographic ranges of declining bird and mammal species from …
Inferring Herpetofaunal Distributions And Habitat Preferences For Conservation Planning, Lisa M. Prowant
Inferring Herpetofaunal Distributions And Habitat Preferences For Conservation Planning, Lisa M. Prowant
Master's Theses
Global climate change is a serious threat to global biodiversity (IPCC, 2001). Due to their limited dispersal ability, reptiles and amphibians might be more vulnerable to rapid climate change than are other taxonomic groups (Gibbons et al., 2000). Herpetofauna in south-central Kansas was sampled from May through August in 2012 and 2013. Seven study sites spanning Meade, Clark, Comanche, and Barber counties were sampled. Drift fence and cover-board traps were arranged in transects at each site to capture reptiles and amphibians. Species were also sampled through surveys on all-terrain vehicles and on foot. Two thousand nine hundred and forty five …
Forest Regeneration On The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Manette E. Sandor
Forest Regeneration On The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, Manette E. Sandor
Master's Theses
Woody species diversity of secondary forest has the potential to converge with that found in old growth forest. This study is the first to examine multiple aspects of species and reproductive trait diversity, and their relationship to each other, across a successional chronosequence. Species richness and species diversity increases with increasing age of forest. Diaspore size and diversity as well as fruit size generally increased with increasing age of forest, but fruit size diversity did not. Abundance of animal-dispersed species increased whereas wind-dispersed species decreased in abundance over succession. Insect-pollinated individuals were most abundant overall. Diaspore diversity, pollination diversity, and …
Spatial Conservation Prioritization Of Kansas For Terrestrial Vertebrates, Megan R. Rohweder
Spatial Conservation Prioritization Of Kansas For Terrestrial Vertebrates, Megan R. Rohweder
Master's Theses
Biological diversity is being threatened by the encroachment of humans, which limits the habitat available for conservation and strains resources allocated for conservation efforts. However conservation goals have to be achieved within these limitations. Conservation priorities can ensure that habitat and resources are used effectively and efficiently. I developed a conservation prioritization plan for the terrestrial vertebrates of Kansas. I used modeled distributions of every terrestrial vertebrate species found in Kansas to build three biodiversity indices; species richness, vulnerability, and endemicity. Kansas was divided into a grid of planning units, 34.5 km2. For each taxonomic group the planning units were …
Nested Subsets, Scale, And The Distribution Of Abundance: A Macroecological Approach, Elita Baldridge
Nested Subsets, Scale, And The Distribution Of Abundance: A Macroecological Approach, Elita Baldridge
Master's Theses
While the canonical nested subset pattern suggests that less species-rich areas will contain a proper subset of the species observed in richer areas, actual data sets do not show perfect nestedness; however, they show a pattern with more structure than would be expected by chance. Biological processes like immigration and extinction have traditionally been thought to produce the nested subset pattern. These processes acting indirectly could cause variation in the distribution and abundance of species that could produce nestedness at a variety of scales. Determining at what scales the pattern is observed might allow inference of processes that are more …
Studies Of Increment, Height-Weight, And Moisture Content Of Important Western Kansas Grasses., John Launchbaugh
Studies Of Increment, Height-Weight, And Moisture Content Of Important Western Kansas Grasses., John Launchbaugh
Master's Theses
A logical approach to the question of how much forage is taken by livestock would be, it seems, to study first the growth habits of the important species of p:i.sture and range grasses in the areas where they are used. The purpose of this report, therefore, was to stud y the development of several species of perennial grasses in the mixed prairie of west-central Kamas from near the beginning of the grazing season until the grasses had reached maturity.
The Ecology Of A Pasture In The Dakota Sandstone Formation In Ellsworth County, Kansas, Byron O. Blair
The Ecology Of A Pasture In The Dakota Sandstone Formation In Ellsworth County, Kansas, Byron O. Blair
Master's Theses
The vast area of prairie of the United States has long been known as the "feeding grounds" for herbivorous animals. In the past, the standard of living of the people of grassland regions has been measured largely by the ability of the native ranges to produce ·vegetation sufficient to maintain economical livestock production. It has become apparent that if our desired living standard is to be maintained, we must direct our efforts toward a program by the most rapid and efficient means possible, which will bring economic stability to the seventeen million acres of grassland in the Great Plains region. …
A Descriptive Analysis Of The Musculature And Osseous Systems Of The Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys Ordii, Virgil Mathis
A Descriptive Analysis Of The Musculature And Osseous Systems Of The Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys Ordii, Virgil Mathis
Master's Theses
The kangaroo rats constitute the only genus, Dipodomys, of the subfamily Heteromyinae, now extant . There is fossil evidence of two other genera which are now extinct. The kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii richardsoni, is one of the common rodents of western Kansas . According to Hibbard (3, p. 76), "Its range extends northeastward along the Kansas river into Riley County." These animals are easily distinguished from other rodents by their long tail, long hind legs and feet, small hands, fur lined external cheek pouches, and their saltating method of locomotion. These rodents are seldom seen by the casual observer, being …
The Effect Of Climate And Different Grazing And Dusting Intensities Upon The Yield Of The Short Grass Prairies In West Central Kansas., Marvin L. Lacey
The Effect Of Climate And Different Grazing And Dusting Intensities Upon The Yield Of The Short Grass Prairies In West Central Kansas., Marvin L. Lacey
Master's Theses
The purpose of this problem was to determine the effect of climate, amount of dusting, and degree of grazing by livestock and grasshoppers upon the quantity and quality of forage produced by various short grass pastures in west-central Kansas.