Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Roadways On Seasonal Movement Strategies And Mate Location Success In An Imperiled Pit Viper (Crotalus Horridus), Elizabeth J. Noble

Graduate Research Showcase

A detailed understanding of animal movement behavior is fundamental to effective conservation and management. Within populations, a diversity of movement strategies can be displayed in search of critical resources, and these strategies are influenced by multiple interacting factors related to individuals and the environment. Mating partners are one critical resource that often serves as a prominent selective force shaping movement during mating seasons. For many large-bodied snakes, such as pit vipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae), male mate- searching movements are the primary determinant of mate location success. During this time, males incur significant risks associated with elevated movement. In an increasingly human- …

A Triumph Of Conservation: The University Of South Carolina Aiken’S Bluebird Trail, Alyssa Godfrey, Emory Owens, Quinn Schreiber, Michelle L. Vieyra

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) was once an endangered species, with over 90% of its population declining in the early 1900s (Ritchison, 2000). These birds play a crucial role in regulating insect populations and maintaining the safety of food sources, making them important both economically and environmentally. Eastern Bluebirds are proof that conservation efforts work, as they are now a species of least conservation concern in the United States. Since 2020, undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina Aiken have collaborated with the South Carolina Bluebird Society to establish and monitor 31 nesting boxes across the main campus …

From Inbreeding To Admixture: How The Diverse Consequences Of Gene Flow Shape Evolutionary Dynamics And Population Viability, Amy L. Springer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

When Homo sapiens traveled out of Africa and interbred with the Neanderthals of Europe, human genes spread into the Neanderthal population. Likewise, genes from Neanderthals spread into the human genome—genes humans still carry to this day. The process whereby genetic material from one population is spread to another is known as gene flow. Gene flow—or the absence thereof—can have critical consequences for a population’s health and survival. On one hand, if no gene flow occurs, mating among close relatives can lead to high levels of inbreeding. Inbreeding can have devastating consequences for the health of populations, in some cases even …

Genetic Analysis Of Global Sawfish Populations, Kylie Faulkner

Honors Theses

Family Pristidae contains five of the most critically endangered elasmobranch species: Anoxypristis cuspidata, Pristis pristis, Pristis pectinata, Pristis zijsron, and Pristis clavata. The species of this family have suffered drastic population declines and range reductions due to historic patterns of overexploitation, accidental entanglement, and habitat disruption. The conservation of this taxa has been historically complicated by taxonomic uncertainty, as similar morphologies across species make them exceedingly difficult to identify. A morphological and genetic comparison of sawfish specimens collected globally was conducted in 2013, which supported a reduction in the number of described species from seven to …

The Impact Of Isolation From Other Members Of The Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur Simus) Species On The Behavior Of A Lone Greater Bamboo Lemur In Ranomafana National Park, Marissa N. Mccandless, Alex Casamassima, Sophie Thomas

Undergraduate Research

Across Madagascar, many lemur species are declining in number due to deforestation perpetuated by slash and burn agriculture. Ranomafana National Park hosts 12 unique lemur species, one of which has a local population of just a single individual- the Greater Bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus). Being extremely social beings, we theorize that isolation from members of one’s species will change behavioral patterns. To test this hypothesis, we used focal animal sampling to record the behavior of the Greater Bamboo lemur for about 40 hours over a five day period. We compared our results to behavioral data collected of lemurs in a …

Factors Associated With Acoustic Bat Presence During Spring Emergence In The Appalachian Mountains Of Western Virginia, Emily Kirk Pody

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Studies of threats that bats face during hibernation have increased in response to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has ravaged North American bat populations. However, impacts of WNS on bat ecology during spring emergence, when bats are potentially recovering from infection and allocating resources for reproduction, is relatively understudied. As more bat species become listed at the federal and state level, the need to understand the factors associated with spring emergence is critical for improving conservation guidelines and habitat management practices. Acoustic monitoring is an efficient method for monitoring bat presence for prolonged periods of time, giving biologists …

Bridging Biological Systems With Social Behavior, Conservation, Decision Making, And Well-Being Through Hybrid Mathematical Modeling, Maggie Renee Sullens

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Mathematics

This dissertation defense presentation highlights the power of hybrid mathematical modeling and addresses crucial issues such as:

1️. The Impact of Industry Collapse on Community Mental Health: A Complex Contagion ODE Model.

2️. Budget Allocation and Illegal Fishing: A Game Theoretic Model.

3️. Reactive Scope Model with an Energy Budget and Multiple Mediators: An ODE Model

The overarching theme of Hybrid Mathematical Modeling beautifully captures the essence of this work, demonstrating its potential to unravel ecological issues while addressing the intricate interactions between humans and the environment.