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Epiphyte-Host Dynamics Between Pyropia And Nereocystis In Central California, Daniel Joseph Gossard

Master's Theses

Macroalgal epiphytism is widespread, but many unique epiphyte-host interactions remain poorly understood. Pyropia nereocystis is an annual northeastern Pacific species that has evolved to primarily epiphytize the annual kelp Nereocystis luetkeana. I examined three aspects of Pyropia-Nereocystis epiphyte-host dynamics in the southern extent of the host’s range: (1) temporal variation in epiphtyte presence; (2) growth of gametophyte and sporophyte (conchocelis) stages using transplantation experiments; and (3) effects of epiphyte depth and host characteristics on the recruitment and biomass of the epiphyte. Pyropia exhibited a shift in presence on Nereocystis that differed interannually as a function of Nereocystis density and Nereocystis …

Climate-Driven Insect Herbivory In Mixed Coast Live Oak Woodlands Within The Mt. Hamilton Range, Santa Clara County, Michelle Domocol

Master's Theses

Climate change is expected to dramatically alter and destabilize critical functions of oak woodlands (Quercus spp.) in California. Oak woodlands support hundreds of vertebrate species and thousands of native insect species. Climate-driven changes in annual temperature, annual rainfall, and spatial climatic variability may increase insect herbivore pressures on mixed coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) woodlands. The Mt. Hamilton Range of Santa Clara County, California offers a unique matrix to study oak-insect herbivore relationship using elevation as a proxy for climate change. This thesis research assessed the relationship between lepidopteran herbivory and coast live oak with insect surveys and the laboratory …

Floral Preformation In The Warming Boreal Forest: The Effects Of Temperature On The Development Of Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea, Eileen Schaub

Master's Theses

The boreal forest is experiencing climate change at twice the rate of other regions. Although changes in flowering phenology are a known consequence of warming temperatures, much is unknown about the effects of temperature anomalies on floral development. Boreal angiosperms preform flowers a year or more in advance and are consequently subject to varied environmental conditions across that time. My thesis examines the effects of temperature on floral development in order to understand how boreal taxa will respond to climate change.

Collection of Vaccinium vitis-idaeafrom natural populations in Fairbanks, Alaska was carried out over the growing seasons of 2017 …

The Vascular Flora Of Powhatan County, Virginia, Michael Austin Terry

Master's Theses

The project was undertaken with three main goals in mind: to provide as current and complete an account as possible of the flora of Powhatan County in the form of an annotated checklist; to integrate the information obtained from the inventory into phytogeographical and ecological generalizations currently being developed for the state of Virginia; and, to report any significant or anomalous discoveries. There is no previous county-wide inventory of plant diversity for Powhatan County. However, Corcoran (1981) published a list of plants from the Jones and Mill Creek watershed located in the Fine Creek Mills area of northeastern Powhatan.

The Vascular Flora Of The Kersey-Crump Creek Watershed, Hanover County, Virginia, Eddie Reeves Smith

Master's Theses

A floristic survey was conducted in the Kersey-Crump Creek watershed, Hanover County, Virginia from spring 1978 through summer 1980. This upper Coastal Plain area (42 km2) near the fall line yielded 514 species of vascular plants, representing 334 genera and 113 families. Four hundred and seventy-nine county records were established. Panax trifolium, colonizing a rich wooded creek bottom, was the only plant rare to Virginia. Voucher specimens are deposited in the herbaria of the University of Richmond, Virginia, and the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia.

A Comparative Study Of Directed Laboratory And Lecture Demonstration As Methods Of Instruction In Teaching Botany To High School Students, M. Lucida Vorndran

Master's Theses

A controlled investigation of green plants as the most important food factories of the world has been made in order to contribute more information upon the issue. Stated more specifically, the problems of this experimental study were the following: To determine which of the two methods, if either, is superior as a procedure for learning. To determine whether laboratory experiments are more effective than lecture-demonstration in training students to think clearly, to correlate and retain facts; and finally, to draw logical conclusions. To determine, if possible, which method stimulated the greater amount of pupil interest.