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Biomass And Decomposition Dynamics Of Invasive Chinese Tallow (Triadica Sebifera) In The Southeastern United States, Allison M. Stoklosa

Theses and Dissertations

Recent and anticipated global change has focused concern on the role of forests in ecosystem functioning and carbon sequestration. Of key importance is identifying relevant factors that drive carbon and nutrient dynamics and the consequences of changes in these processes. Systems undergoing invasion by invasive woody species are particularly prone to changes. This study examined the branch and crown biomass and decay dynamics for the invasive Chinese tallow tree in Mississippi, USA as well as the influences of stand and site conditions on biomass modeling and arthropod contributions to fine woody debris decay. Coupling biomass and decay models presents a …

2014 Aquatic Weed Surveys In Timothy Lake, Lake Harriet, North Fork Reservoir, Faraday Lake, And Estacada Lake, Rich Miller, Mark D. Sytsma, Jeffrey Thomas Brittain

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

The Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project No. 2195 (Project) is located on the Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River and the mainstem of the Clackamas River in Clackamas County, Oregon. Reservoirs included in the Project include Timothy Lake, Lake Harriet, North Fork Reservoir, Faraday Lake, and Estacada Lake. The operator of the Project, Portland General Electric (PGE), was issued a license on December 21, 2010 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for continued operations and maintenance. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the license noted that regular surveys for invasive aquatic weed species would be conducted as part …

Small Mammals Matter? Linking Plant Invasion, Biotic Resistance, And Climate Change In Post-Fire Plant Communities, Rory Charles O'Connor

Theses and Dissertations

The introduction and establishment of exotic species can profoundly alter ecosystems. Two exotic species drastically changing the landscape of deserts in western North America are Bromus tectorum L. and Bromus rubens L. Through the buildup of biomass and slow decomposition rates in deserts these two exotic annual grasses can alter fire regimes that change the plant and animal community dynamics in the ecosystems. To better understand the ecological mechanisms that could restrict or alter the patterns of invasive plant establishment we established a replicated full factorial experiment in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. The combinations of factors being manipulated …

Effects Of Round Goby Presence On Invertebrate And Microbial Communities In Decaying Leaf Matter Of A Lake Erie Tributary Stream, Allyse M. Fischer

Biology Theses

Microbial communities are ubiquitous and carry out valuable functions in the environment. Decomposition of leaf material by microbial communities is important to return nutrients back to both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. Perturbations to the environment like the arrival of invasive species can have an impact on the structure and functions of the microbial community. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is a Ponto-Caspian fish introduced into the Great Lakes which has since secondarily invaded tributary streams and rivers. Studies have shown they alter invertebrate communities, and these alterations have impacted organic matter decomposition. Stream studies suggest leaf litter decomposes …

Are Genes Faster Than Crabs? Mitochondrial Introgression Exceeds Larval Dispersal During Population Expansion Of The Invasive Crab Carcinus Maenas, John A. Darling, Yi Hsin Erica Tsai, April M.H. Blakeslee, Joe Roman

Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Biological invasions offer unique opportunities to investigate evolutionary dynamics at the peripheries of expanding populations. Here, we examine genetic patterns associated with admixture between two distinct invasive lineages of the European green crab, Carcinus maenas L., independently introduced to the northwest Atlantic. Previous investigations based on mitochondrial DNA sequences demonstrated that larval dispersal driven by advective currents could explain observed southward displacement of an admixture zone between the two invasions. Comparison of published mitochondrial results with new nuclear data from nine microsatellite loci, however, reveals striking discordance in their introgression patterns. Specifically, introgression of mitochondrial genomes relative to nuclear background …

A Review Of The Removal Of Arundo Donax From A Riparian Area Within San Timoteo Canyon, Catherine E. Howe

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

A site within San Timoteo Canyon was revisited, 13-14 years after treatment, to look at long-term effects of Arundo donax removal. The data obtained were used to determine whether A. donax had re-invaded, other non-native species had established the area, or if native species were able to grow in place of the removed A. donax. The previous removals included a combination of grinding large patches of A. donax and then foliar spraying, foliar spraying of uncut plants, and direct spraying of hand cut stems, depending upon the location and size of the plant. The effects of the A. donax …

Biology, Ecology, And Control Of Doveweed (Murdannia Nudiflora [L.] Brenan), Jeffrey Atkinson

All Dissertations

Doveweed (Murdannia nudiflora [L.] Brenan) is a summer annual in the Southeastern United States with an expanding geographic range. The light green color and texture of doveweed is problematic for turfgrass managers as it contrasts with the color and texture of desirable turfgrasses. Limited research is available concerning the biology, ecology, and herbicide control options for doveweed. Therefore, experiments were conducted to improve the understanding of how environmental conditions effect doveweed germination, how cultural practices and environmental resource availability effect doveweed growth and development, to identify pre- and postemergence herbicides with efficacy for doveweed control, and to improve the understanding …

Survival, Growth, And Settlement Of Dreissena Rostriformis Bugensis Veligers In Low And High Calcium Waters, Emma Ruhmann

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Populations ofDreissena rostriformis bugensis(quagga mussels) have continued to spread throughout the western United States since their discovery in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead, NV-AZ in early 2007. Today, quagga mussel specific research is still lacking and the physicochemical characteristics of aquatic systems required by quagga mussels to successfully establish is not fully understood. This includes an absence of research in aquatic environments in the western United States and on quagga mussel veligers (larval stage). Calcium is considered the defining factor for determining if a lake or river is suitable for quagga mussel establishment. The minimum calcium threshold for invasion …

Estimating Sampling Effort For Early Detection Of Non-Indigenous Benthic Species In The Toledo Harbor Region Of Lake Erie, Jeffrey L. Ram, Fady Banno, Richard R. Gala, Jason P. Gizicki, Donna R. Kashian

Environmental Science and Geology Faculty Research Publications

Toledo Harbor (Maumee River and Maumee Bay) is a “port of concern” for introduction of non-indigenous species into the Great Lakes due to the large amounts of ballast water from outside the Great Lakes discharged at the port, the amenable habitat for many potential invasives, and the large amount of ballast water transported from Toledo to other Great Lakes ports, making Toledo a potential source of invasives throughout the entire region. To estimate sampling intensity needed to detect rare or new non-indigenous species, 27 benthic grab samples from 13 locations near Toledo Harbor were collected during autumn, 2010. Benthic organisms …

Effects Of Plant Virus And Its Insect Vector On Encarsia Formosa, A Biocontrol Agent Of Whiteflies, Xiaoyuan Liu, Wensheng Xiang, Xiaoguo Jiao, Youjun Zhang, Wen Xie, Qingjun Wu, Xuguo Zhou, Shaoli Wang

Entomology Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the tritrophic interactions among a persistently transmitted plant virus, Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), its insect vector, the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci, and a parasitoid, Encarsia formosa Gahan, one of the most extensively used biological control agents. As an emerging invasive pest worldwide, the two most damaging whiteflies are B. tabaci B and Q cryptic species. On healthy tomato plants, parasitoid-induced mortality was significantly higher in B. tabaci B than in Q. In contrast, similar mortality levels of B and Q were observed on TYLCV-infected plants. A higher rate of parasitism was consistently observed …

Ecological Biogeography Of The Terrestrial Nematodes Of Victoria Land, Antarctica, Byron Adams, Diana Wall, Ross Virginia, Emma Broos, Matthew A. Knox

Dartmouth Scholarship

The terrestrial ecosystems of Victoria Land, Antarctica are characteristically simple in terms of biological diversity and ecological functioning. Nematodes are the most commonly encountered and abundant metazoans of Victoria Land soils, yet little is known of their diversity and distribution. Herein we present a summary of the geographic distribution, habitats and ecology of the terrestrial nematodes of Victoria Land from published and unpublished sources. All Victoria Land nematodes are endemic to Antarctica, and many are common and widely distributed at landscape scales. However, at smaller spatial scales, populations can have patchy distributions, with the presence or absence of each species …

Diet Of A Cryptic But Widespread Invader, The Oriental Weatherfish (Misgurnus Anguillicaudatus) In Idaho, Usa, Alexander N. Urquhart, Peter Koetsier

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The oriental weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) is invasive to 13 U.S. states and at least 9 other countries. Although this cryptic fish species is widespread, very little is known regarding its ecology. We used baited minnow traps to collect 237 individuals from water bodies connected to the Boise River, Idaho. To determine the diet of the fish within this invasive population, we dissected and examined stomach contents of the sampled fish. Most of the stomachs (158 of 237) were empty, and 42 contained only the trap bait. However, 37 contained natural food items. Gravimetric analysis, frequency of occurrence, and …

The Nature Conservancy And Aquatic Invasive Species, Rachel Ross

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Habitat Suitability And Bioenergetics Of An Invasive Marine Fish (Pterois Volitans) In Biscayne Bay, Florida, Nicholas Andres Bernal

Open Access Theses

As many successful invasive species display varying degrees of plasticity across spatial and temporal habitats, it is often difficult to assess the impacts of a nascent biological invasion on native flora and fauna. Using empirically supported environmental variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), we created a comprehensive habitat suitability model for invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a platform for the modeling process allowed us to quantify correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in the above variables and the spatial distribution of discrete habitat classes, whose ranges …

Harvest Incentives: A Tool For Managing Aquatic Invasive Species, Bob Wiltshire, Nathan Stone, Marshall Meyers, Bill Hyatt, Lori Williams, Jason Goldberg, Susan Pasko, Leah Elwell

National Invasive Species Council

Conclusion

The success of any harvest incentive program to address aquatic invasive species will depend upon numerous biological, socioeconomic, and legal considerations. Programs that encourage harvest may be a successful management tool in targeting small, distinct populations; in high priority areas within a larger invasion; or they may play a supplementary role within larger control programs. Their use, however, will require careful review, planning, and monitoring to ensure success and that they do not unintentionally lead to further spread of invasive species, cause additional harm to native species, or waste valuable resources.

Effect Of Herbivory On The Growth And Competitive Ability Of Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris Arundinacea), Lisa A. Kratzer

Theses

Herbivory plays an important role in plant community structure in many ecosystems through preferential selection, plant regrowth, and seed transport. Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass, is a prevalent wetland invasive species consumed by geese, muskrats, and snails. We lack a clear understanding of how herbivory impacts P. arundinacea's invasion potential. Therefore, I sought to understand the effect of herbivory by generalist macrograzers and micrograzers on the competitive dominance of P. arundinacea in created wetlands, especially the degree to which herbivory alters the competitive relationship between P. arundinacea and Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail). To address this enclosure/exclosure cages were constructed in …

Bemisia Tabaci Q Carrying Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Strongly Suppresses Host Plant Defenses, Xiaobin Shi, Huipeng Pan, Hongyi Zhang, Xiaoguo Jiao, Wen Xie, Qingjun Wu, Shaoli Wang, Yong Fang, Gong Chen, Xuguo Zhou, Youjun Zhang

Entomology Faculty Publications

The concurrence of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) with the spread of its vector Bemisia tabaci Q rather than B in China suggests a more mutualistic relationship between TYLCV and Q. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that viruliferous B and Q have different effects on plant defenses. We found the fecundity of nonviruliferous B, nonviruliferous Q, viruliferous Q and viruliferous B was 11.080, 12.060, 10.760, and 11.220 respectively on plants previously attacked by the other biotype, however, on their respective noninfested control leaves fecundity was 12.000, 10.880, 9.760, and 8.020 respectively. Only viruliferous B had higher fecundity on viruliferous …

A Passive Acoustic And Experimental Study Of Juvenile Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus, Sound Production And Agnostic Behavior In The Tidal Freshwater James River, Laura Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, are an invasive species in the James River, VA. They produce stridulation sounds and passive acoustic monitoring may prove useful in locating and monitoring their populations. Little is known about their behavior, therefore my goal was to examine agonistic behavior and the use of sound in defending a territory. This thesis consists of two manuscripts: 1) A passive acoustic study of the tidal freshwater James River, 2) An experimental study of agonistic behavior in juvenile Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus. The first study showed that three sounds (click, run croak) occurred more often in warmer months than …

Impact And Management Of Megacopta Cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), Nicholas Seiter

All Dissertations

Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), known informally as the kudzu bug or bean plataspid, was found in Georgia in 2009 and has since spread rapidly throughout the southeastern United States. A known feeder on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, in its native Asian range, M. cribraria has been commonly encountered in soybean fields in the southeastern United States since its first detection in the crop in Georgia and South Carolina during 2010. In addition, its overwintering behavior sometimes results in nuisance infestations in homes. The primary objectives of this research were to determine the potential impacts of M. cribraria on …

Forest Edges Enhance Mate-Finding In The European Gypsy Moth, Lymantria Dispar, Lily Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding movement capabilities of individuals within a landscape is essential to identifying the effects of habitat boundaries on species abundances, ranges, and spread rates. Movement barriers due to habitat fragmentation may reduce mate-finding ability in some species, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes containing low-density populations. This study focuses on the effects of habitat type and edge on mate-finding in an invasive defoliator, the European gypsy moth. Adult European gypsy moth males locate mates by following pheromones released by flightless females. Reduced mate-finding was expected in fields and near forest edges based on geographic variation in invasion rates and pheromone plume dynamics. …

Competition For Pollination Between An Invasive Species (Purple Loosestrife) And A Native Congener, Beverly J. Brown, Randall J. Mitchell, Shirley A. Graham

Randall J. Mitchell

Invasive species are frequently regarded as Superlative competitors that can vegetatively crowd Out natives, but little is known about whether invasives call compete for pollination services with native plants. We hypothesized that, when the showy invasive species Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) was present, pollinator visitation and seed set would be reduced in a native congener, L. alatum (winged loosestrife). To test this hypothesis, we constructed mixed and monospecific plots of the two species. Over two years of study, we found that L. salicaria significantly reduced both pollinator visitation and seed set in L. alatum. Furthermore, pollinators moved frequently between the …

Osmb Final Report, Task 4: Oregon Lake Watch, Angela L. Strecker, Rich Miller, Vanessa Morgan

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

The Oregon Lake Watch (OLW) volunteer monitoring program was resurrected after over a decade in hibernation. The new program was designed to educate the public about threats of aquatic invasive species (AIS), provide early detection of AIS invasions, and provide long term water quality data for the better management of Oregon’s lakes and reservoirs. Protocols were created for citizen scientists to survey for AIS, collect temperature and water clarity data, and record the data through an online data entry portal. An OLW website was developed to educate about AIS and provide survey protocols and identification materials to volunteers. AIS surveys …

Power Hours-Invasive Species Communication Through Collaborative Webinars, Annemarie M. Nagle, Robin Usborne, Amy Stone, Deborah Mccullogh, Cliff Sadof

The Journal of Extension

The collaborative webinar project Emerald Ash Borer University (EAB-U) was established in 2009 to address pressing communications needs regarding the invasive emerald ash borer in the midst of national financial crisis. The 40 EAB-U webinars to date have been viewed over 10,000 times. Results of a post-webinar survey evaluating audience composition, impact, and participant satisfaction are presented, and suggest EAB-U webinars reach key audiences who share and apply learned information. Extension professionals faced with complex issues such as invasive species should consider a collaborative webinar approach to efficiently communicate harmonized messages in a cost effective manner.

Phragmites Australis Management In The United States: 40 Years Of Methods And Outcomes, Eric L. G. Hazelton, Thomas J. Mozdzer, David M. Burdick, Karin M. Kettenring, Dennis F. Whigham

Jackson Estuarine Laboratory

Studies on invasive plant management are often short in duration and limited in the methods tested, and lack an adequate description of plant communities that replace the invader following removal. Here we present a comprehensive review of management studies on a single species, in an effort to elucidate future directions for research in invasive plant management. We reviewed the literature on Phragmites management in North America in an effort to synthesize our understanding of management efforts, identify gaps in knowledge and improve the efficacy of management. Additionally, we assessed recent ecological findings concerning Phragmites mechanisms of invasion and integrated these …

Phragmites Australis Management In The United States: 40 Years Of Methods And Outcomes, Eric L. G. Hazelton, Thomas J. Mozdzer, David M. Burdick, Karin M. Kettenring, Dennis F. Whigham

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Studies on invasive plant management are often short in duration and limited in the methods tested, and lack an adequate description of plant communities that replace the invader following removal. Here we present a comprehensive review of management studies on a single species, in an effort to elucidate future directions for research in invasive plant management. We reviewed the literature on Phragmites management in North America in an effort to synthesize our understanding of management efforts, identify gaps in knowledge and improve the efficacy of management. Additionally, we assessed recent ecological findings concerning Phragmites mechanisms of invasion and integrated these …

Utilization Of The Invasive Alga Gracilaria Vermiculophylla (Ohmi) Papenfuss By The Native Mud Snail Ilyanassa Obsoleta (Say), Michele Guidone, Christine Newton, Carol S. Thornber

Biology Faculty Publications

The recent invasions of the red alga, Gracilaria vermiculophylla, to the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans have the potential to significantly alter intertidal and subtidal soft sediment communities. In particular, G. vermiculophylla increases habitat complexity and provides a novel hard substrate in an otherwise two dimensional habitat. Following our observations that the native omnivorous mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta utilizes G. vermiculophylla for egg capsule deposition, our field surveys demonstrated that the in situ abundance of egg capsules on G. vermiculophylla matched abundances on a native alga Ceramium virgatumandwere at least 11–50 times greater than on all other co-occurring macrophytes. Additionally, …

Potential Eradication And Control Methods For The Management Of The Ascidian Didemnum Perlucidum In Western Australia, Julieta Muñoz, Justin I. Mcdonald

Fisheries research reports

In Western Australia, the invasive colonial ascidian Didemnum perlucidum was first detected in the Swan River Estuary in 2010 and subsequently recorded at multiple locations across the State. Ongoing research by the Department of Fisheries (the Department) indicates that this species exhibits strong seasonal changes in abundance. Although, D. perlucidum is able to reproduce sexually (larvae) and asexually (budding) year round, larvae density and settlement, and overall colony size significantly decreases during the colder months (winter). From a management point of view this period would present the best opportunity for an attempt at eradication or control of this species.

A Checklist Of Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Intercepted On Imported Plants In Korea 2005–2013, Soo-Jung Suh, Jungyoun Ji

Insecta Mundi

An updated checklist is provided of 26 species of whiteflies intercepted on plants imported into Korea from 2005 to 2013. Brief diagnostic criteria and photographs of the intercepted species are given to assist in identifying intercepted specimens of whiteflies.

Analyzing Invasion Success Of The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma Urophthalmus; Günther) In Southern Florida, Elizabeth Harrison

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species have caused billions of dollars in damages to their introduced environment through direct effects on wildlife and by altering their introduced habitats. For a species to be considered invasive, it must successfully navigate the stages of invasion: it must be introduced, become established, spread, and have a quantifiable impact on its introduced environment. The numbers of introductions and individuals released affects the genetic diversity of nonnative populations which, in turn, can affect their invasion success.

The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) is endemic to the Atlantic coast of Mexico and Central America. It was first detected in …

Aquatic Invasive Species Surveys Of Eastern Oregon Waterbodies In 2013 And 2014, Rich Miller, Mark D. Sytsma

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

Early detection aquatic invasive species (AIS) surveys were conducted at 33 Eastern Oregon waterbodies during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Submerged aquatic plants, gastropods, bivalves, and crayfish were collected using a thatch rake, benthic dredge, plankton net, and modified minnow traps. Shoreline aquatic noxious weeds were noted when present and water quality characteristics were measured. Two AIS snail species, one AIS crayfish species, and five AIS plant species were detected during the surveys. Big-ear radix snails (Radix auricularia) were newly detected at 14 waterbodies distributed across the survey area. Chinese mystery snails (Cipangopaludina chinensis) were …