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Litter Breakdown And Benthic Invertebrate Detritivores From A Hydrologically Restored Stream, Jacob Becraft
Litter Breakdown And Benthic Invertebrate Detritivores From A Hydrologically Restored Stream, Jacob Becraft
Online Theses and Dissertations
The breakdown of coarse forms of detritus into finer forms is an ecosystem function of forested headwater streams. Many factors influence the rate of litter decay, but there is a lack of research on how stream restorations, that aim to restore hydrologic functions, influence litter breakdown. This study compared litter processing rates and macroinvertebrate detritivore assemblages between a hydrologically restored stream (Slabcamp Creek) and an un-restored control stream (White Pine Branch) in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan Co., KY. Red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves were placed in mesh bags and deployed in riffles and pools at the restored …
Population Demographics And Active Foraging Behavior Of Copperheads (Agkistrodon Contortrix) At A Recreational Site In Eastern Kentucky, Jocelyn Hendricks
Population Demographics And Active Foraging Behavior Of Copperheads (Agkistrodon Contortrix) At A Recreational Site In Eastern Kentucky, Jocelyn Hendricks
Online Theses and Dissertations
Recreational areas represent a significant source of human-wildlife interaction, which can have an especially negative effect on organisms, like snakes, that are generally perceived as dangerous by the public. Considering the projected increase in recreation rates in the United States, the threat to this already vulnerable group of organisms deserves attention. While habitat factors associated with recreational areas—fragmentation, decreased canopy cover, altered vegetation composition—have been shown to affect snake thermoregulatory behavior and abundance, detailed studies of wild snake behavior are uncommon due to their cryptic nature. The goal of this study was to reduce human-wildlife conflict at a recreational site …
Are Mussel Shells Environmental Dna Time Capsules? A Comparison Of Extraction Methods For Obtaining Dna From Shell Material., Kelsey Elizabeth Rogers
Are Mussel Shells Environmental Dna Time Capsules? A Comparison Of Extraction Methods For Obtaining Dna From Shell Material., Kelsey Elizabeth Rogers
Online Theses and Dissertations
Freshwater mussels have become some of the most imperiled species in North America and widespread populations have succumbed to pollution and many other anthropogenic-related factors. With molecular techniques evolving, a recent interest in ancient DNA and museum specimens has emerged and prompted a study to test the ability of several extraction methods to isolate DNA from museum mussel specimens. The purpose of this study was to determine if four DNA extraction methods had influence on total DNA yield (ng/mg) from mussel tissue. The hinge ligaments of freshwater mussels ranging in collection date (1984-2015) were used as the source of genetic …
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Responses To A Headwater Valley Restoration At Slabcamp Creek, Rowan Co., Kentucky, Nicholas Primo Revetta
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Responses To A Headwater Valley Restoration At Slabcamp Creek, Rowan Co., Kentucky, Nicholas Primo Revetta
Online Theses and Dissertations
The practice of stream restoration is well underway in the U.S., but there are few quantitative post-restoration studies of macroinvertebrate communities in restored streams in Kentucky. Slabcamp Creek, a first order tributary within the Licking River Basin, was recently restored to improve hydrology and degraded habitat caused by historical land use. The primary goal of my study was to begin baseline studies of the macroinvertebrate community in the restored section of Slabcamp Creek and to compare those findings to White Pine Branch (a pre-restoration control site) during the first post-restoration year. Specific objectives of my study were to: 1) report …