Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Dna Identifies Coastal Plant Community Shift 1,000 Years Ago In Torrens Island, South Australia, Nicole R. Foster, Alice R. Jones, Oscar Serrano, Anna Lafratta, Paul S. Lavery, Kor-Jent Van Dijk, Ed Biffin, Bronwyn M. Gillanders, Jennifer Young, Pere Masque, Patricia S. Gadd, Geraldine E. Jacobsen, Atun Zawadzki, Andria Greene, Michelle Waycott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Anthropogenic activities are causing detrimental changes to coastal plants– namely seagrass, mangrove, and tidal marshes. Looking beyond recent times to past vegetation dynamics is critical to assess the response and resilience of an environment to change. Here, we develop a high-resolution multi-proxy approach, providing a new evidence base to decipher long-term change in coastal plant communities. Combining targeted environmental DNA analysis with chemical analysis of soils, we reconstructed 4,000 years of change at a temperate wetland on Torrens Island South Australia and identified an ecosystem shift that occurred ~ 1000 years ago. What was once a subtidal seagrass system shifted …

Deciphering Above-Treeline Vegetation Greenness Trends: Insights From The Carpathian Mountains, Pavel Dan Turtureanu, Arthur Bayle, Nicoud Baptiste, Olimpiu Traian Pop, Mihai Pușcaș, Philippe Choler

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Study Of Avian Migration Patterns Using Stable Isotope Analysis In The Galite Archipelago, Tunisia, Hsan Ben Jemaa, Said Nouira, François Fourel, Ilham Bentaleb

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This research employed stable isotope analysis to investigate the migratory patterns and geographic origins of the Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae) and its associated prey species within the Galite Archipelago, Tunisia. Feathers collected from both juvenile and adult falcons, along with their prey, were analysed for deuterium isotopic composition using the "Isorix" package in R, which facilitated the geographic assignment based on stable isotope ratios. The results demonstrated no significant difference in deuterium values (δ2H) between adult and juvenile falcons, indicating a lack of geographical variation in moulting locations among the different age groups. However, the isotopic data for adult falcons …

Dietary Observations Of Adult Pleurodema Nebulosum (Anura: Leptodactylidae) From Argentina, Gabriel Natalio Castillo, Cynthia J. González- Rivas

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study is the first to examine the diet composition of adult Pleurodema nebulosum specimens based on an analysis of the gastrointestinal contents of 78 individuals. Analyzed herein were 40 specimens from a site disturbed due to anthropogenic action and 38 from a protected area in Argentina. Differences were found in the trophic consumption at both sites. In the protected area, P. nebulosum presented an active foraging mode, with a diet specialized in prey items from the Formicidae family. At the disturbed site, this amphibian showed a sit-and-wait foraging mode, with a generalist diet where it consumes Hemiptera and Coleoptera. …

The Influence Of Environmental Change On Genetic Diversity Across Spatial And Taxonomic Scales, Connor M. French

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The spatial distribution of genetic diversity is of interest to biodiversity scientists and conservationists and is a fundamental metric of biodiversity. Genetic diversity patterns across spatial and taxonomic scales contain information about population and assemblage dynamics that can convey their resilience to environmental change. Ectotherms are especially linked to their environments and may be especially sensitive to fluctuations in the environment over time. Herein, I investigate global and regional patterns of genetic diversity in two groups of ectotherms, insects and lizards, to understand the relationship between environmental change and genetic diversity, from populations to assemblages. Overall, my research aims to …

Seasonal Dynamics Of The Introduced Sponge Hymeniacidon Perlevis In The Elkhorn Slough, California, Usa, Jackson Hoeke

Master's Theses

Hymeniacidon perlevis is a cosmopolitan sponge with a seasonal life cycle We investigated seasonal and interannual dynamics of H. perlevis in Elkhorn Slough estuary, where it is an introduced species, and explored correlations between sponge cover and environmental conditions. We used sponge cover to estimate the potential effects H. perlevis on its environment and how those could vary across its seasonal life cycle. We found that successful recruitment is currently restricted to the upper estuary and while it varies annually, the frequency and density of sponge recruits have generally increased from 2007 to 2023. A seasonal life cycle was confirmed …

Unraveling The Behavioral Ecology Of The Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus Atrox) Through The Lenses Of Personality, Predator-Prey Interactions, And Crypsis, Oceane Da Cunha

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To thrive in an environment, individuals need to be able to forage efficiently and acquire mates. These resources are limited, and their acquisition depends upon the energy and time an individual chooses to allocate to each activity and the environmental conditions, leading to behavioral trade-offs. Different species, or even different individuals within the same population, respond to these trade-offs by employing contrasting strategies, leading to differential life-history outcomes. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to gain a better understanding of the trade-offs cryptic ambush mesopredators are facing using the western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) as a model species. Each …

The Role Of Above- And Belowground Interactions For Plant Allocation, Sophia Carmel Turner

Doctoral Dissertations

My dissertation builds upon decades of research on plant resource allocation, by incorporating multispecies interactions, above- and belowground, with the overarching goal of uncovering the role of a whole community in shaping plant resource allocation and change to subsequent interactions. I accomplished this goal by establishing two controlled common garden experiments where I manipulated the biotic community that a focal plant is exposed to. Using these experiments, 1) I tested whether plant neighbors alter a focal plant’s resource allocation through changes to above- or belowground processes, and if these allocation changes resulted in any indirect effects on the focal plant’s …

Advancing Quantitative Approaches For Estimating Avian Population Responses To Environmental Change Using A Data-Rich Species: The American White Pelican, Aimee Michele Van Tatenhove

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Advancements in wildlife data collection technology and analysis are helping us understand how human-caused environmental change is impacting bird species. Yet data collection for many species remains challenging, and often the data are difficult to analyze. Improved methods for collecting and analyzing avian data are needed to understand how species respond to environmental change. However, before applying new methods to poorly understood species, it is crucial to test methods on well-studied species to ensure their effectiveness. The American White Pelican is a well-studied species that is ideal for testing new analysis methods. Pelicans have been studied extensively due to conservation …

Influence Of Different Breeds Of Pigs To The Natural Succession, H D. Matthes, A.C D. Micklich, G Dietl, H Mohring, W Jentsch

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The aim of this study was to find out the effect of pigs on the natural succession. We used 4 different breeds of pigs for our investigations. Because of the grazing behaviour and their rooting activity the total number of plants increased up to 30%. But the vegetation quickly returned to conditions prior to rooting, if the rooting activity fails to happen. Rooting activity of pigs on floodplain soil and following grazing in the next spring after rooting permits seeds of different species of plants to germinate and develop in the plant free areas. These plants often have little chance …

A Decade Of Earth-Centered Scholarship And Activism, Elizabeth Allison

CIIS Faculty Publications

Origin stories reveal the myriad causes that converge to birth a new initiative. On the occasion of its tenth anniversary, this essay looks back to document the context and intellectual lineage out of which the Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion graduate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) emerged in 2013, and suggests some possibilities for the future of transdisciplinary education and the fields of religion and ecology (e.g. Tucker and Grim 2001), religion and nature (e.g. B. Taylor 2010), and spiritual ecology (e.g. Sponsel 2012) more broadly.

Wildlife Conservation: The Importance Of Individual Personality Traits And Sentience, Karen A. Owens, Gosia Bryja, Marc Bekoff

Animal Sentience

Individual differences in personality types within the same species have been studied much less than differences between species and populations. Personality differences are related to risk-taking and exploration, which in turn correlate with individuals' daily responses, decisions, and fitness. Bold and shy personality types can have different advantages and disadvantages under different social or environmental pressures. Analyzing personality differences has helped clarify how elk habituate to a well-populated area and how management strategies can be adapted to them. For wolves newly repatriated to Colorado, individual personality factors are likely to prove important for adapting to their new homes as well …

History, Impacts, And Control Of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum Salicaria) In Minnesota, Jude Humphrey

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an infamous invasive plant species in wetland habitats. It was introduced to North America through multiple pathways. While herbicides and other attempts to eradicate purple loosestrife have proved mostly ineffective for various reasons, the introduction of the plant’s natural herbivores has shown promise. This paper provides an overview of research done on purple loosestrife’s introduction, biology, impacts, and control methods with an emphasis on its history in Minnesota. Understanding the history and past efforts made to control this plant can be an important reference point for future work.

Some Ecological Aspects Of Semi-Natural And Temporary Grasslands, N Gaborcik, L Ondrasek, J Cunderlik, J Tomaskin, T Kizek

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Some ecological aspects were studied in semi-natural and temporary grasslands at different levels of fertilizer application. The research was carried out in the upland region of central Slovakia at the altitude of 460 m in Banská Bystrica. At zero fertilizer application, soil CO2 production and Cox content were higher in the temporary grassland. Atmospheric N fixation was also higher in the temporary grassland. However, root accumulation, microbial biomass content and R : S ratio were lower in the temporary grassland. By comparison with the semi-natural grassland, leaf area index (LAI), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) were …

Alteration In Immunological Profile During Malignancy: Role Of Environmental Toxicants, Susmita Mukherjee, Priya Ghosh, Chiranjeeb Dey, Sonali Paul

American Journal of Applied Bio-Technology Research (AJABTR)

No abstract provided.

The Relative Contributions Of Contaminants To Ecological Risk In The Upper San Francisco Estuary, Wayne Landis, Eric J. Lawrence, Mikayla Bowers, Ethan Brown, Steven R. Eikenbary, Skyler Elmstrom, Colter Lemons, April J. Markiewicz, Emma E. Sharpe, Erika Whitney

Institute of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry Publications

This report presents the methods we developed to calculate risk of mixtures of pesticides for the Upper San Francisco Estuary (USFE). We used curve fitting to estimate the exposure-response curves for each individual chemical and then the mixture. For the mixtures, the models were normalized for specific ECx values. In that way, the curve fitting was optimized for effects that are comparable to most threshold values. A Bayesian network was built that incorporated five different pesticides and mercury. The input distributions of the contaminants were measured amounts from each of the six risk regions. We also explored three different methods …

Study Of The Diversity Of Soil Animal Community In The Songnen Plain Grassland Of China, Yin Xiuqin, Zhu Tingcheng, Zhong Weiyan, Peng Wu Kui

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

This paper makes a diversity study of 8 habitats of soil animal communities in Songnen plain grassland. The research shows that the better the habitat condition is, the higher the diversity index of soil animals, and the worse the habitat condition is the lower the diversity index of soil animals. The diversity of soil animal communities has a positive relationship with soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and has a negative relationship with pH value. It has no obvious relationship with soil water content and total phosphorus. The diversity of soil animal communities decreases with increasing depth of soil layer and …

Clipping Intensity Impacts On Root Mass Variation Of Cool Season Grasses, D L. Stetson, W M. Sullivan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Seasonal changes in grass root and mat weight density were documented under different cutting managements. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) received one annual cut, twice yearly forage harvest, and mown turf treatments. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) received one annual and twice yearly cutting treatments. Soil cores were collected to a 15 cm depth and divided into 7.5 cm increments. Roots and mat were recovered, washed, dried and weighed. Differences in years, seasons, species, treatments, and soil depth significantly influenced total root weight density and fine root density. With all species and …

The Core Of It All: From The Forest To The Concrete Jungle, Ayo Andra J. Deas

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Core of It All is a component of principle within Fasaha. The mission of Fasaha is to implement programming directed toward development of one’s Core through self-actualization. Self-Actualization is defined as bringing forth the total essential qualities of one’s own consciousness, character, and identity through positive behavior. Throughout this manuscript, principle is defined as the standard of natural essential qualities determining intrinsic consciousness, character and identity. Programming is defined as providing with intrinsic instructions for the automatic performance of a task.

Fasaha is a support service that enhances the existing organization’s service. Throughout this dissertation, it will be apparent …

Root Nodules Of Red Alder (Alnus Rubra) And Sitka Alder (Alnus Viridis Ssp. Sinuata) Are Inhabited By Taxonomically Diverse Cultivable Microbial Endophytes, Robyn Dove, Emily R. Wolfe, Nathan U. Stewart, Abigail Coleman, Sara Herrejon Chavez, Daniel J. Ballhorn

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The root nodules of actinorhizal plants are home to nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbionts, known as Frankia, along with a small percentage of other microorganisms. These include fungal endophytes and non-Frankia bacteria. The taxonomic and functional diversity of the microbial consortia within these root nodules is not well understood. In this study, we surveyed and analyzed the cultivable, non-Frankia fungal and bacterial endophytes of root nodules from red and Sitka alder trees that grow together. We examined their taxonomic diversity, co-occurrence, differences between hosts, and potential functional roles. For the first time, we are reporting numerous fungal endophytes of alder root nodules. …

Long Time No See: New Reports Of Legua Rosea Amédégnato And Poulain, 1986 (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Romaleidae: Romaleinae: Leguini), A Rare Arboreal Grasshopper From Brazil, Daniela Santos Martins Silva, Renan Da Silva Olivier, Larissa Lima De Queiroz, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Jardel Boscardin, Guilherme Rabelo D’Angelis

Insecta Mundi

The genus Legua Walker, 1870 comprises only two known species from Central America and Brazil, with a notable scarcity of collected specimens. Herein, we provide a new contribution to our knowledge of the distribution of Legua rosea Amédégnato and Poulain, 1986 (Romaleinae: Leguini), that has a restricted distribution in Brazil, based on entomological collection data and social media information. Our records emphasize the importance of natural history collections and new tools for biodiversity studies.

ZooBank registration. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:17E0802B-A389-4983-AC74-21B51197F557

The Stability Of Epigenetic Variants That Can Act As Loci Causing Phenotypic Change, Raul Faburrieta

Biology Theses

Epigenetic variations are a possible source of heritable phenotypic variation. In this study I focus on phenotypic alterations seen in epigenetic Recombinant Inbred Lines (epiRILs) of Arabidopsis thaliana. These epiRILs allow me to study the effects differentially methylated regions (DMRs) have on phenotypic variance. In a study performed in 2014 by Cortijo et al., they found that DMR’s affect flowering time and root length when grown under greenhouse conditions. In this study, I replicated the Cortijo et al. (2014) study, with some changes, to see whether the same significant eQTL regions are found. I found that, some of the eQTLs …

Eco-Assessment Of Phytoplankton Composition In Relation To Environmental Conditions Of Saltwater And Freshwater Lakes In The Konya Closed Basin (Türkiye), Abuzer Çelekli, Ömer Lekesiz, Tolga Çetin

Turkish Journal of Botany

Great importance is given to maintaining lentic ecosystems, threatened by human-induced consequences worldwide. The present study hypothesized to assess differences in species-environment relationships and ecological status of 15 lakes (saline water systems, high-altitude freshwater lakes, and other freshwater lakes) in the Konya Closed River Basin using phytoplankton indices throughout wet and dry periods. Results of canonical correspondence analysis separated saline and freshwater (high-altitude) habitats, which were characterized by different phytoplankton species. Total phosphorus (TP), electrical conductivity (EC), nickel-Ni, and altitude were the most influential environmental factors affecting phytoplankton dispersal in these ecosystems. Saline lakes were under pressure of high EC, …

The Ecology And Genetic Diversity Of Buckleya Distichophylla (Santalaceae), Montana Hill, Conley K. Mcmullen

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla) is a native, rare, shrub found along the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Research on its ecology and genetic diversity is limited due to its rarity; only one population on Poor Mountain has been studied extensively in the past. To determine if there are ecological differences between populations of B. distichophylla, research on sex distribution, floral visitors, individual length, leaf area, and amount of light that reached each specimen were conducted and then compared between a population located on Dragon’s Tooth Trail and a population on Poor Mountain, both located …

First Record Of The Invasive Chenopodium Aphid, Hayhurstia Atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), In Colombia, Takumasa Kondo, Roberto Rosero, Jackeline Gaviria

Insecta Mundi

The chenopodium aphid, Hayhurstia atriplicis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is reported for the first time in Colombia. The aphid was found on the aerial parts of the quinoa plant, Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (Amaranthaceae), especially on the leaves, in five municipalities in the department of Cauca, Colombia. Brief information on its natural enemies, distribution and biology is provided. This is the only aphid in Colombia known to cause malformations on the leaves of quinoa plants. In South America, this aphid has been found previously only in Ecuador, where it was reported for the first time in 2023 based on specimens collected …

Use Of Space By Urban Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius Ludovicianus) As A Window Into Habitat Suitability, Katie A. Maddox, Christopher E. Hill

Biology

Wild animals in urban environments face new challenges that may change how they use space and, at the same time, how they use space provides clues to suitability of habitat: bird territories in desirable areas tend to be smaller and populations denser. Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), historically associated with shortgrass habitats such as pasture and shrub steppe, occur widely in urban areas of the southeastern United States. For a complete picture of shrike use of space in urban spaces, we present three measures for a population inhabiting urban areas of Horry County, South Carolina: population density, home range size, and …

Occlusal Surface Variations In Genetically-Identified Specimens Of The Genus Apodemus (Mammalia: Rodentia) Distributed In The Northern Anatolia Region And Three Turkish Islands: Gökçeada, Marmara Island And Bozcaada, Duygu Korkmaz, Engin Selvi̇, Nuri Yi̇ği̇t, Ercüment Çolak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A total of 134 Apodemus samples, whose genetic diagnoses had been previously conducted, were morphologically examined from 39 localities in Northern Anatolia, Thrace, Gökçeada, Bozcaada and the Marmara Island. The variation boundaries of dental variations in the distribution areas of five Apodemus species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus witherbyi, Apodemus sylvaticus, Apodemus uralensis, Apodemus mystacinus) included in the research were determined. The defining morphological characters of Apodemus species, which have a complex taxonomic status, and their variations according to regions were identified using samples that had undergone genetic diagnoses. It was determined whether geographical barriers such as the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus …

Assessing Population Size And Survival Rate Of Pelophylax Bedriagae Caralitanus, In A Well-Protected Nature Park In Türkiye, Ayfer Şirin, Akın Kiraç, Gürçay Kıvanç Akyildiz, Eyup Başkale

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Estimating population trends provides valuable information for conservation biologists. Although there are many methods for estimating demographic rates, capture-mark-recapture (CMR) methods are known to be the most realistic method that can provide detailed data on individuals and populations, including the achievement of conservation goals. This study focused on determining the population trend of Pelophylax bedriagae caralitanus, Beyşehir frog using the CMR method in a protected area during the 2011 - 2019 breeding seasons. Our CMR data led to the selection of a model-considering constant survival rates, capture/recapture probabilities, and year-specific immigration/emigration patterns [Φ(··) y'(t) y''(t) p(··) = c(··) N(t)]-as the …

Physical Activity On Multiuse Trails And In A Novel Bike Park Within An Urban Wilderness, Douglas Gregory

Doctoral Dissertations

Research has shown that the presence of, access to, and use of parks and trails is associated with increased levels of PA. However, little research exists on nature-based, recreational multiuse trails and bike-specific amenities within parks and their impact on PA. Therefore, to explore the effect trails and bike parks have on PA, this dissertation conducted three investigations to: 1) determine the impact of trail/greenway interventions on PA, 2) investigate how seasonality and weather influence nature-based recreational trail use, and 3) develop a demographic and PA profile of bike park users.

Investigation 1 (Chapter 4) systematically reviewed the literature specific …

Consequences Of The Megafauna Extinction: Changes In Food Web Networks On The Edwards Plateau Across The Pleistocene-Holocene Transition, Quentin A. Smith Jr.

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We are experiencing biodiversity loss due to climate change and human impacts, which is not only harmful to the environment but can also alter the composition of communities and interactions among species. The late Pleistocene experienced a loss of large-bodied mammals which resulted in significant changes in community structure due to changes in body size, diet, and species associations. The impact of these changes on species interactions and community structure across the Pleistocene-Holocene transition remains poorly understood. Using a robust data set of species composition, stable isotopes, body size, and climate variables, we constructed and compared ecological networks of mammal …