Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Epiphyte Distributions Vary With Structural Heterogeneity In Acer Macrophyllum, Kaela Hamilton, Carrie L. Woods
Epiphyte Distributions Vary With Structural Heterogeneity In Acer Macrophyllum, Kaela Hamilton, Carrie L. Woods
Summer Research
As a foundation species, epiphytes play an essential role in augmenting biodiversity within an ecosystem. In the Hoh temperate rainforest, Acer macrophyllum (bigleaf maple) trees host more epiphytic biomass than any other tree in the Pacific Northwest. Previous studies in tropical rainforests, as well as in the Woods lab have used broad-scale zonation techniques to examine how resource partitioning creates epiphytic specialization, but the variation in epiphyte species around the circumference of the trunk and branches suggests that the true heterogeneity of the tree is left uncaptured by this method. Using dot-intercept method, fine-scale epiphyte distribution data was taken from …
The Role Of Song In Reproductive Isolation In A New Secondary Contact Zone Of White-Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia Leucophrys), William Brooks
The Role Of Song In Reproductive Isolation In A New Secondary Contact Zone Of White-Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia Leucophrys), William Brooks
Summer Research
Within the past thirty years, two formerly isolated subspecies of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) have formed an overlap in geographic range. This creates a natural experiment in speciation and reproductive isolation. Understanding how song acts as a reproductive barrier in this overlap can contribute to our understanding of behavioral isolation. We preformed playback experiments on territorial males to measure subspecific vocal discrimination. Additionally, we looked to see if hybridization was occurring. In the playback experiments we found that Z. l. pugetensis discriminates more strongly between songs, while Z. l. gambelii demonstrates little to no difference in response. We …
Hylocomium Splendens: Microhabitat Selection And Potential Role In Forest Succession, Anna Marchand, Carrie Woods
Hylocomium Splendens: Microhabitat Selection And Potential Role In Forest Succession, Anna Marchand, Carrie Woods
Summer Research
Fallen logs play an essential role in the temperate rainforest ecosystem by providing a safe site for tree establishment, with seedling abundance being much greater on nurse logs than on the ground. This disparity is likely due to differences in competition with bryophytes between microsites. Hylocomium splendens, a moss that dominates the forest floor of temperate rainforests, could potentially inhibit tree seedling growth, but little is known about its microhabitat distribution. We found that stairstep moss grows more abundantly in areas of high canopy openness, and that nurse logs have lower canopy openness in comparison to the forest floor. Fittingly, …
The Effects Of Depth On Microplastics Distribution And Ingestion By A Biological Indicator Species: Mytilus Galloprovincialis, Marlowe Moser, Peter Hodum
The Effects Of Depth On Microplastics Distribution And Ingestion By A Biological Indicator Species: Mytilus Galloprovincialis, Marlowe Moser, Peter Hodum
Summer Research
Global plastic production rates are currently at the highest that they have ever been and are projected to continue to increase over the next 20 years. Models that have only accounted for surface plastics have severely underestimated actual plastic loads in the world’s oceans, largely due to the distribution of microplastics below the water’s surface. Despite being ingested by organisms at nearly every trophic level and observed in virtually every ocean environment, the complex nature of microplastics’ distribution patterns remains poorly understood. Recent studies have observed distinct depth profiles of microplastics, thereby implying differential bioavailability to biotic communities depending on …