Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 7 of 7
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Compatibility Between Native Mississippi Ectomycorrhizal Fungi And Native And Exotic Pine Hosts: Testing For Specificity And The Potential For Rapid Evolution, Hailey A. Long
Honors Theses
Pines are highly invasive trees that are commonly used in pine plantations throughout the Southern Hemisphere. However, the survival and subsequent invasion of pines in exotic environments are dependent on the obligate symbiosis between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and pines. ECM fungi vary in host specificity and compatibility from pine-specialist species in the genus Suillus to broad generalists, such as species within the genera Pisolithus and Scleroderma. In Experiment 1, we sought to understand how the geographic origin of ECM fungi native to the southeastern United States and two pine species (native southeastern United States Pinus taeda and exotic Pinus …
Can An Invasive Species Burn Soil Carbon? Black Locust Invasion And Soil Carbon In The Albany Pine Bush, Jacqueline Sharry
Can An Invasive Species Burn Soil Carbon? Black Locust Invasion And Soil Carbon In The Albany Pine Bush, Jacqueline Sharry
Honors Theses
Invasive plant species can have dramatic and pervasive impacts on ecosystems, from species interactions, to resource availability, to biodiversity. One such invasive plant, the nitrogen-fixing black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), has had significant effects on the soil chemistry in the globally rare inland pine barren ecosystem of the Albany Pine Bush. We have documented a loss of soil carbon following invasion by black locust, one that persists long after locusts are removed. We hypothesize that the nitrogen added through fixation by the black locust increases the carbon flux from soil to the atmosphere. Because decomposition rates are dependent …
Salinity Tolerance Of Gambusia Affinis, Sarah Rubelowsky
Salinity Tolerance Of Gambusia Affinis, Sarah Rubelowsky
Honors Theses
Developmental plasticity refers to changes during development as a result of environmental contributions. Salinity is a varying environmental condition in freshwater and estuarine habitats that can mediate developmental plasticity in Gambusia affinis, which can increase their tolerances as an invasive species. For my study, estuarine and freshwater populations of Gambusia affinis were sampled in March of 2017 using dip nets. Both populations were then brought back to the laboratory where pregnant females were acclimated to three different salinities (0‰, 15‰, 25‰) until they gave birth. I predicted that the estuarine population of Gambusia affinis would have a greater salinity tolerance …
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Predictors Of Exotic Plant Species In United States National Parks, Rachel S. Fried
Honors Theses
Invasive species are recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Understanding what factors facilitate invasion is of great conservation value, as this will allow for more specific and targeted conservation efforts related to non-native species. Knowledge of factors that contribute to invasion play an important role in conservation of particularly unique habitats, such as the iconic United States National Parks. Though National Parks have some legal protections against some forms of habitat degradation, they are still vulnerable to the introduction of non-natives. The purpose of this study is to characterize species invasion in National Parks and identify what environmental conditions …
The Nature Conservancy And Aquatic Invasive Species, Rachel Ross
The Nature Conservancy And Aquatic Invasive Species, Rachel Ross
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Public Awareness Of The Impacts Of The Emerald Ash Borer And Its Management In New York State, Mital Patel
Public Awareness Of The Impacts Of The Emerald Ash Borer And Its Management In New York State, Mital Patel
Honors Theses
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis fairmaire) is a major threat to the American Ash Tree (Fraxinus sp.). It is a native beetle of China and was first discovered in North America in 2002. It originally infested Canada and quickly spread to the Unites States (Kovacs at al, 2010). Though it cannot be confirmed, it is suspected that the insect arrived in Canada in wood packing materials commonly used to stabilize cargo ships or ship consumer products (www.nyis.info). Since its discovery ten years ago near Detroit, Michigan, infestations have been confirmed in 14 different states across the U.S.A (www.dec.ny.gov). …
Assessing Genetic Differentiation Among Populations Of The Invasive Plant Impatiens Glandulifera In Maine, Jordan R. Schoonover
Assessing Genetic Differentiation Among Populations Of The Invasive Plant Impatiens Glandulifera In Maine, Jordan R. Schoonover
Honors Theses
The annual herbaceous plant Impatiens glandulifera Royle is native to the Himalayas and is a significant invasive species in Europe. In the past century, it was introduced to the United States, where it has become established in 12 states. This study evaluated genetic differentiation among four Maine populations, to address a theory that posits hybridization of distinct lineages as a trigger for invasiveness. Regions of microsatellite repeats were evaluated at two polymorphic loci for 41 plants sampled from the four populations. A striking finding was that the observed heterozygosity was substantially higher than the heterozygosity expected from random combination of …