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Articles 1 - 14 of 14
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Early Life History Of Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus) In South Carolina Estuaries: Assessment Of Juvenile Recruitment And Validity Of Aging And Back-Calculation Methods, Garrett M. Elmo
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Past, Current, And Future Potential Distributions Of Red Spruce And Fraser Fir Forests In The Southern Appalachians: Interpreting Possible Impacts Of Climate Change, Danika Mosher
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Spruce-Fir forests are relicts from the Pleistocene and can only be found within the Southern Appalachians. Analyzing the relationships between species distribution, climatic parameters, topography, and biotic interactions through ecological niche modeling creates prediction maps for conservation efforts. Maxent, Boosted Regression, and Random Forest were utilized to compare which model and variable combinations best approximate the unique mountain forest environment. Maxent with a bias file produced optimal results and was used to examine distributional changes that may occur in the future and how these changes compare to paleo-environmental distributions. Fraser fir has shown evidence of being influenced by changing climates …
Molecular Techniques To Advance The Conservation Of Imperilled Freshwater Fishes, Ryland George Corchis-Scott
Molecular Techniques To Advance The Conservation Of Imperilled Freshwater Fishes, Ryland George Corchis-Scott
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The conservation of imperilled fishes should be informed by species-specific genetic information. However, there are a lack of molecular data for most species at risk with the development of species-specific primer acting as a barrier to genetic evaluations. Here, I describe the development and preliminary testing of a set of microsatellite markers for the imperilled Lake Chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta). These markers are apparently diploid, are polymorphic, and have been demonstrated to amplify individuals from across the species’ North American range. The microsatellite markers described in this thesis have applications for population genetics as well as informing source population selection for …
Spatial And Temporal Genetic Variation In An Exploited Coral Reef Fish: A Cohort Approach To Examine The Effects Of Line Fishing, Zahra Salem Taboun
Spatial And Temporal Genetic Variation In An Exploited Coral Reef Fish: A Cohort Approach To Examine The Effects Of Line Fishing, Zahra Salem Taboun
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Many reef fishes are harvested, making it important to study the effects of exploitation. However, reef fishes often show highly variable and unpredictable genetic patterns, and high levels of gene flow from dispersive larvae can mask the effects of stressors. Since larval dispersal is the main mechanism of gene flow in reef fishes, and inter-reef movements of adults are reduced, studying cohorts offers a solution to assessing the effects of exploitation because it lowers the chance that gene flow will mask the effects of fishing. Here we characterize genetic patterns in the common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, an important reef …
The Effects Of Elevation On Foraging Behavior Of Bats In Southern Appalachia, Victoria Long
The Effects Of Elevation On Foraging Behavior Of Bats In Southern Appalachia, Victoria Long
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
There are limited studies on bat activity in higher elevations in the Appalachian region. Levels of bat activity were compared in south central Appalachia at low (< 914.4 m) and high (> 1, 524 m) elevations in open, forest edge, and riparian habitats. Additionally, habitat suitability was modeled for a common species, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The study started May 27th 2019, and sites were monitored biweekly until October 2nd 2019. Six species and one genus were recorded during the study. Species from the Myotis genus were grouped together because of similar call characteristics. Results show that species were significantly more …
Assessing The Impact Of Restored Wetlands On Bat Foraging Activity Over Nearby Farmland, Philip Allagas
Assessing The Impact Of Restored Wetlands On Bat Foraging Activity Over Nearby Farmland, Philip Allagas
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Up to 87% of the world’s wetlands have been destroyed, considerably reducing ecosystem services these wetlands once provided. More recently, many wetlands are being restored in an attempt to regain their ecosystem service. This study seeks to determine the effects of restored wetlands on local bat habitat use. Bat activity was found to be significantly higher around the wetlands when compared to distant grassy fields; however, no significant difference was found among the restored wetlands and a remote cattle farm containing multiple water features. Geospatial models of bat distribution and bat foraging were produced using machine learning that showed higher …
A Deep Life: The Application Of Stable Isotopes To Understand Deep-Sea Environments With A Focus On Latitudinal Gradients, Laurissa Christie
A Deep Life: The Application Of Stable Isotopes To Understand Deep-Sea Environments With A Focus On Latitudinal Gradients, Laurissa Christie
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The deep-sea, defined as the area 200 m below the surface, is facing emerging chemical, physical and biological stressors. Currently, very little is known regarding deep-sea ecosystems both globally and in the Arctic. In this thesis I undertook a literature review on the current understanding of global deep-sea ecosystems through the use of stable isotopes. Specifically, I synthesized the available literature on spatial variation, energy pathways, depth, temporal variation, feeding behaviour, niche, trophic position and body size isotopic trends. This thesis then presents a case study examining the isotopic niche of five teleost and two decapod species within Arctic deep-sea …
Exploring The Energetic Consequences And Decision-Making Behaviours Of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) Foraging On Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Seaduck Eggs On Mitivik Island, Nunavut, Patrick Mathiew Jagielski
Exploring The Energetic Consequences And Decision-Making Behaviours Of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) Foraging On Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Seaduck Eggs On Mitivik Island, Nunavut, Patrick Mathiew Jagielski
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Climate change is projected to further degrade sea-ice conditions in the Arctic, causing disruptions in the foraging ecology of animals. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) will likely continue to suffer declines in fitness if they are unable to supplement lost on-ice hunting opportunities with terrestrial resources. My thesis aimed to investigate whether polar bears accrue a net energetic gain from foraging on common eider (Somateria mollissima) eggs and whether the decisions they make when foraging on eggs are consistent with optimal foraging theory. Using aerial footage of bears foraging on common eider eggs, I estimated the energetic consequences of foraging on …
Using Isotopic Niche Dynamics To Predict Resiliency To Climate Change In An Arctic Seabird, Kyle John Lee Parkinson
Using Isotopic Niche Dynamics To Predict Resiliency To Climate Change In An Arctic Seabird, Kyle John Lee Parkinson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Resource limitation drives fitness-related decisions and constrains the ability of organisms to invest in energetically demanding life history stages. Environmental factors (e.g., temperature) play an important role in affecting resource availability and quality which can downstream effect the ability of individuals to invest in energetically demanding life history stages, including reproduction. Human-induced climate change is generating increasingly variable environmental conditions, impacting the abundance and distribution of prey items and therefore the ability of individuals to successfully reproduce, and these effects are especially pronounced in the Arctic. However, it is currently unknown whether Arctic organisms possess the ability to adjust foraging …
Evaluating Seafood Distribution Channels In The Atlantic Sea Scallop And Northeast Multispecies Groundfish Fisheries, Amanda Fall
Evaluating Seafood Distribution Channels In The Atlantic Sea Scallop And Northeast Multispecies Groundfish Fisheries, Amanda Fall
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Federal fisheries policy in the United States aims to balance resource conservation with maximum sustainable use. Catch shares are a quota-based management tool that are being increasingly deployed to achieve this ambitious goal. One perceived benefit of catch shares is that they give fishermen control of their catch so they will have the latitude to pursue the most profitable marketing arrangements. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research seeks to (1) describe and document the different marketing strategies that commercial fishermen in the Northeast Multispecies Groundfish and Atlantic Sea Scallop fisheries are using to sell their catch; and (2) estimate the …
The Spatial Ecology And Genetics Of Copperhead Snakes (Agkistrodon Contortrix) In An Urban Forest, Malle F. Carrasco-Harris
The Spatial Ecology And Genetics Of Copperhead Snakes (Agkistrodon Contortrix) In An Urban Forest, Malle F. Carrasco-Harris
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As global population increases and metropolitan areas grow, natural habitats are progressively fragmented, isolated, and modified. Species residing in urban areas face novel challenges compared to conspecifics in undisturbed habitats. Animals in and around urban areas often modify behavior and space use to reduce anthropogenic disturbance. Further, populations may be isolated from other suitable habitats, potentially reducing opportunities to mate with non-related individuals. Although the consequences of urbanization have been extensively studied in birds and mammals, less is known about limited mobility animals, such as reptiles. Reptiles, specifically snakes are particularly vulnerable in urban areas because of their decreasing populations, …
Land Use Influences Along Elevation Gradient On Macroinvertebrate Communities, Brittany Sprout
Land Use Influences Along Elevation Gradient On Macroinvertebrate Communities, Brittany Sprout
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Land use activities have caused disturbances that affect the quality of freshwater ecosystems worldwide. How the influences of land use along an environmental gradient and the associated environmental variables that may influence stream diversity and function is unclear. We address these issues by studying biodiversity, abundance, and functional diversity of macroinvertebrates across different land types along a gradient in Colorado, USA. We also address how diversity may change along an elevation gradient by analyzing previously published macroinvertebrate research. We found evidence that land use and disturbance are stronger explanations of changes in macroinvertebrate communities, rather than elevation. Functional trait patterns …
Mechanistic Studies To Understand The Role Of Human Gut Microbiota In Colonization Resistance And Gut Health, Sudeep Ghimire
Mechanistic Studies To Understand The Role Of Human Gut Microbiota In Colonization Resistance And Gut Health, Sudeep Ghimire
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Human gut microbiota is comprised of thousands of species which fall into two major categories or “enterotypes” based on dominating bacteria: “Bacteroides” and “Prevotella”. Bacteroides enterotype dominates the microbiota of the western population because of a high protein and fat diet, whereas Prevotella enterotype is dominate in the gut of the eastern population because of a high carbohydrate diet. While most of the microbiota studies focused on the Bacteroides enterotype using both metagenomics and culturomics, Prevotella enterotype is understudied, especially in the field of culturomics. The structure of the Prevotella dominated gut microbiome is revealed by …
Identification And Genomic Characterization Of Candidate Starch And Lactate Utilizing Bacteria From The Rumen Of Beef Cattle, Venkata Bandarupalli
Identification And Genomic Characterization Of Candidate Starch And Lactate Utilizing Bacteria From The Rumen Of Beef Cattle, Venkata Bandarupalli
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The rumen functions as an anaerobic fermentation chamber where microbial communities ferment feedstuffs into SCFAs. These SCFAs are critical to the ruminant host since they fulfill 70% of its energy requirements. In intensive management systems, ruminants are fed with grain-rich diets, which contain high levels of starch that help meet the energy demands of high producing animals. When grain-based diets are fed to ruminants, ruminal amylolytic and lactate metabolizing bacteria predominate. Grain overload can cause rapid production and accumulation of lactate, resulting in proliferation of amylolytic bacteria and death of lactate metabolizing bacteria. Consequently, high lactate levels result in a …