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An Interpolation Method For Stream Habitat Assessments With Reference To The Crystal Darter, Kenneth Richard Sheehan
An Interpolation Method For Stream Habitat Assessments With Reference To The Crystal Darter, Kenneth Richard Sheehan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Crystallaria asprella spp. (Elk River crystal darter) is documented only in Elk River, West Virginia. Little life history detail is known about this lotic, benthic-dependent species. Previous studies have led to a very basic understanding of the use of depth, flow and substrate of the crystal darter (Crystallaria asprella), and less is known about the Elk River crystal darter. Due to substrate-specificity in crystal darters (which reportedly bury in sand), a study concerning benthic stream habitat modeling was undertaken. Substrate and depth modeling using >5% of an area sampled at a resolution of 0.093 m2 square spatial data in a …
An Assessment Of Impacts Of Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Ketan Shrikant Tatu
An Assessment Of Impacts Of Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) On Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (Sav) In Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Ketan Shrikant Tatu
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) contribute to the localized decline in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) through foraging in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. I assessed intensity of feeding activity of 868 Mute Swans in non-breeding flocks and breeding pairs through focal sampling during 2003 and 2004. I also assessed SAV reduction due to Mute Swan herbivory by measuring difference in percent cover, shoot density, and canopy height among 2 year controls (n = 54), 2 year exclosures (n = 54), and 1 year exclosures (n = 54) at 18 sites on the eastern shore during the same time period. Analyses of the …
Nesting Ecology, Chick Survival, And Juvenile Dispersal Of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa Umbellus) In The Appalachian Mountains, Brian W. Smith
Nesting Ecology, Chick Survival, And Juvenile Dispersal Of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa Umbellus) In The Appalachian Mountains, Brian W. Smith
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) populations have been declining throughout the Appalachian Mountains for several decades. From 1996--2002, state natural resources agencies in the region initiated the Appalachian Cooperative Grouse Research Project (ACGRP) to investigate potential factors limiting Ruffed Grouse populations. At the onset, nest success, nest predation, and brood survival were identified as potential limiting factors, and numerous other aspects of grouse ecology (e.g., dispersal) in the Appalachians were poorly understood. Therefore, I designed my ACGRP project to examine (1) nest predation and factors that influence nest success, (2) cause-specific mortality and survival rates for chicks 2--4 days posthatch to …
Spatial Variation In Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis ) Population Dynamics And Juvenile Recruitment Potential In An Appalachian Watershed, Zachary W. Liller
Spatial Variation In Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis ) Population Dynamics And Juvenile Recruitment Potential In An Appalachian Watershed, Zachary W. Liller
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
I examined the spatial variation in brook trout population dynamics and juvenile recruitment potential in the upper Shavers Fork watershed, West Virginia. The objectives of my research were to (1) identify physico-chemical factors contributing to the spatial variation in the abundance of juvenile brook trout within small basin area stream reaches, (2) quantify patterns of brook trout distribution, movement, and post reproductive demographic parameters across multiple spatial scales, and (3) place the upper Shavers Fork watershed brook trout population along the continuum of watershed-scale metapopulation models. I sampled brook trout population size structure, physical habitat, and water chemistry at the …
Effects Of Morrow's Honeysuckle Control And The Impact Of The Shrub On Invertebrates At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania, Jason Patrick Love
Effects Of Morrow's Honeysuckle Control And The Impact Of The Shrub On Invertebrates At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania, Jason Patrick Love
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle) dominates a degraded meadow at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. We tested four removal methods of Morrow's honeysuckle during spring and autumn 2004. Cut, stump application of 20% glyphosate, and mechanical removal in autumn were not successful (<47% reduction), while mechanical removal in spring and foliar application of 2% glyphosate were somewhat successful (>66% reduction). We used a modified leaf blower to sample invertebrates at our site. Invertebrate biomass was lowest within the native shrub, Viburnum recognitum (southern arrowwood) (p<0.05). Biomass of larval leaf chewers was highest in the native shrub. Invertebrate abundance, biomass, and richness were reduced under dense thickets of Morrow's honeysuckle (p<0.05), due to low amount of herbaceous cover beneath the shrubs. The amount of leaf area consumed by herbivores was 10 times more on the native shrub. Overall, our findings reveal that the exotic shrubs negatively impact invertebrate communities.
Summer Home Range, Habitat Use, Movements, And Activity Patterns Of River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) In The Killbuck Watershed, Northeastern Ohio, David A. Helon
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
River otters (Lontra canadensis), one of the most aquatic Mustelids, are important components of riparian systems and are an important fur-bearing species. Several studies evaluating post-release survival and movements have been conducted; however, there have been deficient long-term studies to determine the status of these river otter populations once established. During 2002 and 2003m 16 river otters (7 female, 9 male) were trapped and radio-tagged. Overall, mean female home range size was 802.4 ha and mean male home range size was 1,101.7 ha. Mean home range size was similar between genders in 2002, but was greater for males than females …
Cerulean Warbler Selection Of Forest Canopy Gaps, Kelly A. Perkins
Cerulean Warbler Selection Of Forest Canopy Gaps, Kelly A. Perkins
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Forest canopy gaps are through to be an important component in Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) habitat. This study examined the selection of forest canopy gaps within Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) territories and in core areas of territories on the Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area and surrounding properties in Wetzel County, West Virginia in 2004 and 2005. The study objectives were to (1) determine the use and selection of gaps according to type, size, and structure, (2) determine if gap size was related to gap density, total gap area (%), or perimeter amount, and (3) determine if distances of territories to …