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The Decline Of Fowler's Toad (Bufo Fowleri) In Southern Louisiana: Molecular Genetics, Field Experiments And Landscape Studies, Laura Sanders Vogel Aug 2007

The Decline Of Fowler's Toad (Bufo Fowleri) In Southern Louisiana: Molecular Genetics, Field Experiments And Landscape Studies, Laura Sanders Vogel

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Two of the most pervasive threats to species biodiversity are invasive species and habitat loss and degradation. Invasive species are often relatively insensitive to disturbance and many expand their range into disturbed and fragmented habitats. This dissertation uses an interdisciplinary approach to investigate how anthropogenic habitat disturbance is precipitating a range expansion in an invasive toad species, Bufo nebulifer, which is driving a decline in its native congener, B. fowleri. I employed a remote sensing and GIS study using historical data to compare changes in the two species distributions and habitat changes, a molecular genetic study to identify interspecific hybrids …


Ecology Of An Invasive Predator In Hawaii, Steven C. Hess, Heidi Hansen, Paul C. Banko Aug 2007

Ecology Of An Invasive Predator In Hawaii, Steven C. Hess, Heidi Hansen, Paul C. Banko

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Cats (Felis catus) brought to Hawaii in the 1700s now occupy most habitats throughout the islands, including montane and sublapine zones. We studied home range, population genetics, diseases, and diet of feral cats on Hawai`i Island. Feral cats on Mauna Kea live in low densities and exhibit some of the largest reported home ranges. While 95% kernel home range estimates for 4 males ( x = 1418 ha) were nearly twice as large as 3 female home ranges ( x = 772 ha), one male maintained a home range of 2050 ha. Population genetics revealed that Mauna Kea …


Predicting Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea Maculosa) Range Expansion Near Missoula Montana Using Localized Climate And Elevation Data, William Frank Preston Cumming Jan 2007

Predicting Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea Maculosa) Range Expansion Near Missoula Montana Using Localized Climate And Elevation Data, William Frank Preston Cumming

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Since the 1920s spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) has adapted to a variety of habitats, including pastureland, rangeland, hay land, open forests, road sides, and ditches. In 2003 this plant species dominated more than five million acres in Montana, half of the total infestation of noxious weeds in the state. This project demonstrates the utility of using downscaled Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) data for predicting vegetation movement within a 2°×2° geographical area surrounding Missoula County, Montana. This localized climate change data was correlated against current knapweed range using validation data from the Volunteer for Wilderness Program at the …