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Reasons For Overwinter Declines In Age-1+ Brook Trout Populations (Salvelinus Fontinalis) In Appalachian Headwater Streams, Jeremy J. Webster
Reasons For Overwinter Declines In Age-1+ Brook Trout Populations (Salvelinus Fontinalis) In Appalachian Headwater Streams, Jeremy J. Webster
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Appalachian Mountains are an important game species in West Virginia, yet angling mortality on these populations in headwater streams is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to: (1) examine relative changes in body composition of brook trout as they fluctuate throughout the year, and to identify critical periods of survival to determine if brook trout reach critical levels of resource depletion over winter, and (2) evaluate whether angler harvest affects brook trout populations in spring in headwater streams. Body composition estimates indicated that brook trout are unlikely to reach critical levels of …
Effects Of Herbivory By White -Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus Zimm.) On The Population Ecology And Conservation Biology Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius L.), Mary Ann Furedi
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is a long-lived understory herb considered rare within its range. Harvesting pressures and habitat degradation/destruction are thought to be the primary causes of population decline although others factors such as browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimm.) have not yet been explored. To understand the effects of deer browsing on natural ginseng populations, my research focused on four specific objectives. First, I investigated how plant characteristics and microsite conditions influence the susceptibility to being browsed. I found that apparency plays a role in influencing browse selection, such that large, reproductive plants in visible and accessible …
Factors Influencing Basal Area Growth Of Yellow-Poplar ( Liriodendron Tulipifera L.) In Central West Virginia, Christopher T. Crum
Factors Influencing Basal Area Growth Of Yellow-Poplar ( Liriodendron Tulipifera L.) In Central West Virginia, Christopher T. Crum
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
This paper uses data from continuous forest inventory (CFI) plots to evaluate basal area growth of yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) as related to four topographic factors (aspect, slope position, steepness, and landform), two competition variables (basal area per acre and trees per acre) and four tree characteristics (age, diameter, total height, and crown diameter). These variables were plotted against basal area growth per year using simple linear regression on 69 yellow-poplar trees. The four tree characteristics all had a highly significant (p < .01) relationship with basal area growth. While the other variables did not exhibit a significant relationship, the two competition variables did have a significant (p < .05) relationship with each other.
Demography And Genetic Structure Of An Allegheny Woodrat Population In Northcentral West Virginia, Mary Elizabeth Manjerovic
Demography And Genetic Structure Of An Allegheny Woodrat Population In Northcentral West Virginia, Mary Elizabeth Manjerovic
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) occurs throughout the Appalachian Mountains forming isolated colonies in rock outcrops, cliffs, and caves. In the past 20--30 years, populations along the northern and western peripheries of the range have experienced drastic declines. There have been suggested reasons for this decline but a lack of long-term data has prevented application of specific management actions. In recent years, there has been more insight into population structure, gene flow, and relatedness among colonies. The objectives of my study were to examine these factors at a localized level to further assist with future management decisions.;Using data collected over …
Sources And Ecological Consequences Of Deposited And Suspended Sediments In Small Tributaries Of The Upper Elk River Watershed, West Virginia, Cynthia Louise Sanders
Sources And Ecological Consequences Of Deposited And Suspended Sediments In Small Tributaries Of The Upper Elk River Watershed, West Virginia, Cynthia Louise Sanders
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Deposited and suspended sediments were sampled in small tributaries of the upper Elk River watershed to determine if differences exist in sediment transport and deposition based on land management activities of low disturbance, development, or timber harvesting. Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis ) were sampled to determine if a negative relationship existed between populations and deposited or suspended sediments. There were no significant relationships in deposited sediments among land use yet timber harvest and developed lands had significantly higher transported sediments than low disturbance lands. There were no significant relationships between brook trout populations and deposited sediments. However, a slight negative …
Estimating Net Photosynthesis And Productivity Of A Loblolly Pine Forest Grown With Carbon Dioxide Enrichment, Clint J. Springer
Estimating Net Photosynthesis And Productivity Of A Loblolly Pine Forest Grown With Carbon Dioxide Enrichment, Clint J. Springer
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
I examined the long-term effects of elevated CO2 on the leaf chemistry and photosynthesis of four species growing in the understory and two species growing in the overstory at the Duke Forest FACE experiment. I then used these measurements to parameterize a process based forest productivity model, PnET-II, in order to model the net primary productivity of the portions of the forest growing under ambient and elevated CO2. Finally, I performed a greenhouse study that examined the effects of elevated CO 2 and water availability on the growth and biomass allocation of loblolly pine seedlings from four distinct geographic locations. …
Effects Of Drought On The Growth Of Young And Mature Temperate Forests In West Virginia, Nicholas R. Doner
Effects Of Drought On The Growth Of Young And Mature Temperate Forests In West Virginia, Nicholas R. Doner
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Recent research suggests that the temperate deciduous forests of the eastern United States may have played a significant role in the sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 100 years. However, little is known about the role of forest management and climatic variability on the productivity of these forests. The purpose of this study was to determine the variation in aboveground production between two different aged forest stands and to evaluate the effect of drought on inter-annual variation in productivity. Aboveground net primary production (ANPP) was compared with precipitation and the Palmer Drought Severity Index to determine the effects …
Tests For Causes Of Rarity In Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis L.), Suzanne Sanders
Tests For Causes Of Rarity In Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis L.), Suzanne Sanders
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Hydrastis canadensis L. (goldenseal) is becoming more uncommon within the eastern deciduous forest. I performed a series of studies that tested hypotheses about population decline and causes of rarity. First, I assessed the time-trend of a natural H. canadensis population in an Indiana nature preserve which had been censused 26 years prior. We found a negative population trajectory between the two time periods. The second goal of this dissertation was to determine the breeding system of H. canadensis. The breeding system type appears unlikely to be a major factor limiting the distribution or abundance of H. canadensis. My third objective …