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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Blue Carbon In Freshwater / Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia Aboveground Net Primary Productivity And Carbon Pools, Emily Caitlin Adams
Blue Carbon In Freshwater / Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia Aboveground Net Primary Productivity And Carbon Pools, Emily Caitlin Adams
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
"Blue carbon" is a relatively new concept describing carbon distributed tidally and sequestered via net production within coastal ecosystems, including seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and salt-water marshes. These systems sequester carbon at least 10 times faster than terrestrial systems. Fresh to brackish wetlands that receive irregular tidal influence due to overwash and storm events have not been typically studied as blue carbon systems. My objective was to quantify carbon pools within four interdunal fresh to brackish marshes on Hog Island, Virginia to determine their blue carbon potential. Marshes 1 and 2 were farthest from the ocean, below and above a …
Blue Carbon In Coastal Freshwater/Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia: Belowground Carbon Dynamics, Nathan M. Sedghi
Blue Carbon In Coastal Freshwater/Brackish Marshes On The Barrier Islands Of Virginia: Belowground Carbon Dynamics, Nathan M. Sedghi
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Some coastal ecosystems sequester substantially more carbon (blue carbon) than land locked systems due to high net primary production and deposition associated with oceanic influences. Most blue carbon research has focused on mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes. Studies on blue carbon potential of coastal freshwater marshes are less common. Barrier islands frequently flood, with seawater reaching interior ecosystems. I examined brackish/freshwater marshes on Virginia barrier islands for possible roles as blue carbon systems. I studied four interior marshes on Hog Island, which varied in proximity to a direct overwash path and protection by a trail berm that divides northern …
Carrion Beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Carcass Selection: Effects Of Carcass Mass And Site Fidelity, Jonathan M. Schmude
Carrion Beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Carcass Selection: Effects Of Carcass Mass And Site Fidelity, Jonathan M. Schmude
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
This study investigated reproductive behaviours of the carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of southeastern Virginia. Carrion beetles have been known to have ranges of carcass masses used for reproductive behaviors. In this study, pitfall traps were baited with 25g, 50g, or 75g of a cat food/mackerel mixture and left to decay and attract beetles for one week to investigate if any Silphidae species prefer a single mass over another. This study investigated the carcass bait mass that is used on the subfamily and species level, and how the beetle mass plays a role in preference. The study also investigated the effect …
Thresholds Of Change In Decomposition Rate Along A Dune/Swale Transect On A Virginia Barrier Island, Dominic J. Graziani
Thresholds Of Change In Decomposition Rate Along A Dune/Swale Transect On A Virginia Barrier Island, Dominic J. Graziani
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Aboveground and belowground decomposition rates were determined along a barrier island dune/swale transect located on the Virginia Coast Reserve-Long Term Ecological Research Site using litterbags and wooden dowels. The objective was to determine the influence of fine scale changes in the environment on decomposition to identify any potential thresholds affecting decomposition rate. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera L. Small) leaves and dowels of southern yellow pine wood were used as standard substrates to evaluate environmental influences on decay. Aboveground (F=6.494, p < 0.0001) and belowground (F=5.705, p < 0.0001) decay rates (yr-1) showed significant variation among litterbag/dowel locations. Aboveground decay rates (yr-1) ranged from 0.339 (Upper Dune station) …
Life History Of Stranded Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In Virginia, Margaret Cook Lynott
Life History Of Stranded Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In Virginia, Margaret Cook Lynott
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Little is known about the life history and overall ecology of bottlenose dolphins that strand in Virginia. In this study, I examined archived life history samples and stranding data from bottlenose dolphins found in Virginia waters to (1) develop growth curves based on ages from sectioned teeth, (2) document characteristics of male and female reproductive organs, and (3) define the relationship between age/length and presence of neonatal characteristics during the first year of life. The Gompertz growth model provided the best fit of growth data for stranded T. truncatus in Virginia. Length at birth and asymptotic length for males were …
Effects Of The Parasitic Dinoflagellate Hematodinium Sp. On Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Activity Predation And Habitat Selection, John M. Tiggelaar Ii
Effects Of The Parasitic Dinoflagellate Hematodinium Sp. On Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Activity Predation And Habitat Selection, John M. Tiggelaar Ii
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The blue crab Callinectes sapidus occurs along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, and in high salinity regions, they are subject to lethal infection by the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium. In Virginia's seaside estuaries, the prevalence of Hematodinium infection of C. sapidus can sometimes exceed 50%, threatening the commercial fishery for this species. Indeed, other commercially important crustacean fisheries have approached collapse due to Hematodinium infections. Most studies of this host-parasite interaction have focused on epidemiology, host-pathogen dynamics, and pathogen transmission, and little is known about the impact of the parasite on host behavior and population dynamics. …
The Ecology Of The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus Horridus) In Southeastern Virginia, Scott M. Goetz
The Ecology Of The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus Horridus) In Southeastern Virginia, Scott M. Goetz
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Few studies have examined the relationship between forest canopy structure and the ecology of the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). I used radiotelemetry to compare the movements, activity range sizes and behaviors of timber rattlesnakes before and after a large-scale natural disturbance that opened a previously closed canopy. The disturbance was Hurricane Isabel which made landfall in northeast North Carolina and southeastern Virginia in 2003. Isabel created gaps in the canopy through tree blowdown, resulting in a 16.6% opening in the forest canopy at my study site, in southeastern Virginia. I compared six years of female tracking data from …
Rats As Forest Pests In Southeastern Virginia: Girdling By The Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon Hispidus As A Significant Source Of Mortality Of Loblolly Pines (Pinus Taeda) In A Successional Pine Forest, Robyn M. Nadolny
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) is a common field rodent throughout the southeastern US, where volunteer loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda) invade open space and begin the process of ecological succession from field to pine forest. Recent analysis of the diet of S. hispidus indicates that loblolly pine bark is stripped and eaten during the winter months. In this study, we explored the extent of rodent girdling on a 1.23 ha grid in a successional pine forest in southeastern Virginia. During the winter of 2005 we observed damage to 65% of trees in our study area, with 98% …
The Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Fauna Of The Blackwater Ecological Preserve: Effects Of Prescribed Burns And Habitat Type On Mosquito Abundance And Distribution, Norman A. Grefe Lll
The Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Fauna Of The Blackwater Ecological Preserve: Effects Of Prescribed Burns And Habitat Type On Mosquito Abundance And Distribution, Norman A. Grefe Lll
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
While mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are among the most studied of insect groups, much remains unknown about their distribution and response to environmental impacts such as prescribed burns. Blackwater Ecological Preserve, located near Zuni, Virginia, is a relict long leaf pine barren, parts of which undergo periodic prescribed burns to maintain and restore this fire-dependent ecosystem. To assess the impact of prescribed burns on mosquito activity and to determine associations between seasonal patterns of adult mosquito activity and habitat type, CDC light traps baited with dry ice were set (rom late April through October at Blackwater Ecological Preserve during the 2005 …
Carrion Beetles Of The Blackwater Ecologic Preserve: Community Structure Seasonal Patterns And Habitat Use, Amy L. Simons
Carrion Beetles Of The Blackwater Ecologic Preserve: Community Structure Seasonal Patterns And Habitat Use, Amy L. Simons
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Carrion beetles (Silphidae) are important in the decomposition of carcasses in ecosystems. Two subfamilies, Nicrophorinae and Silphinae, differ in reproductive behaviors. The Nicrophinae, burying beetles, bury small carcasses to serve as food for the adults and their offspring. The Silphinae oviposit near larger carcasses. There is intense competition among all carrion beetles and other carrion feeders for carcasses, and beetle species have evolved seasonal activity patterns that minimize competition, such as when they are active and when they reproduce. Northern Silphidae communities are more diverse than southern communities, probably due to increased competition for carrion in the south.
This research …
Modeling Habitat And Environmental Factors Affecting Mosquito Abundance In Chesapeake, Virginia, Alan Scott Bellows
Modeling Habitat And Environmental Factors Affecting Mosquito Abundance In Chesapeake, Virginia, Alan Scott Bellows
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The models I present in this dissertation were designed to enable mosquito control agencies in the mid-Atlantic region that oversee large jurisdictions to rapidly track the spatial and temporal distributions of mosquito species, especially those species known to be vectors of eastern equine encephalitis and West Nile virus. I was able to keep these models streamlined, user-friendly, and not cost-prohibitive using empirically based digital data to analyze mosquito-abundance patterns in real landscapes.
This research is presented in three major chapters: (II) a series of semi-static habitat suitability indices (HSI) grounded on well-documented associations between mosquito abundance and environmental variables, (III) …
An Examination Of Seasonal Growth And Survivorship Of Sigmodon Hispidus In Southeastern Virginia, Heather Alyssa Green
An Examination Of Seasonal Growth And Survivorship Of Sigmodon Hispidus In Southeastern Virginia, Heather Alyssa Green
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
A reexamination of specific population dynamic aspects of Sigmodon hispidus, the hispid cotton rat, is necessary in order to gain additional knowledge and perspective on this species in its northernmost distribution on the east coast of the United States. Previous studies of Virginia cotton rats were based on data from necropsies, which do not allow for the determination of certain population characteristics, such as density, growth, and survival. General population trends and rates of growth and survival in males and females throughout the seasons in Virginia will also provide a basis for comparison with populations of cotton rats in …
The Effect Of Nitrogen Fertilization On Short-Term Fine Root Dynamics In A Barrier Island Dune Community, John Walter Hutton
The Effect Of Nitrogen Fertilization On Short-Term Fine Root Dynamics In A Barrier Island Dune Community, John Walter Hutton
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Fine root dynamics are an important yet poorly understood component of terrestrial ecosystems. In recent years a number of researchers have focused on fine root dynamics; their work has looked at patterns across one or multiple growing seasons on a scale of monthly measures. The purpose of this study was to add to the overall understanding by looking at fine root dynamics on a shorter temporal scale. Minirhizotron observation tubes were used to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilization on short-term fine root dynamics in a nutrient limited, barrier island dune system. Root length elongation and mortality rates followed expected …
Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages Of Five Ephemeral Ponds In York County, Virginia, Michelle R. Kokolis
Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages Of Five Ephemeral Ponds In York County, Virginia, Michelle R. Kokolis
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Five ephemeral ponds were identified in and around the Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve, approximately 56 km north of the City of Norfolk, Virginia. These ponds, which are filled seasonally by precipitation and groundwater discharge, range from 0.1 ha to 2 ha in size and from 4 cm to 3 meters in depth. Ponds for the study were chosen based on variations in their size, depth, basin cover material, canopy openness, and historical inundation period. The purpose of this study is to relate differences in the phytoplankton assemblages to the physical and chemical characteristics of the ponds. All five ponds …
An Analysis Of Migratory Behavior Physiological Condition And Life History Strategy In The Salamanders Ambystoma Mabeei And A. Opacum In Southeastern Virginia, Michael W. Mccoy
An Analysis Of Migratory Behavior Physiological Condition And Life History Strategy In The Salamanders Ambystoma Mabeei And A. Opacum In Southeastern Virginia, Michael W. Mccoy
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Ambystoma mabeei is listed as threatened in Virginia due to its rarity and susceptibility to urbanization and poor forestry practices. The goal of this study was to identify factors that may affect the persistence of A. mabeei in Virginia by studying the life history and ecology of A. mabeei and its syntopic congener A. opacum. This information will contribute to the knowledge of life history variation within Ambystomatidae and will be critical for the development of a comprehensive management plan for A. mabeei. Population sizes of the two species and the proximate factors responsible for initiating breeding migrations were determined …
Benthic Community Analysis Of Hog Island Bay, Virginia, David James Lewis
Benthic Community Analysis Of Hog Island Bay, Virginia, David James Lewis
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The benthic infaunal macroinvertebrate communities of Hog Island Bay of the Virginia Eastern Shore were quantitatively sampled at 30 locations on August 31 and September 1, 1995. The primary objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the subtidal macroinfaunal benthic communities of Hog Island Bay, (2) to examine relationships between abiotic factors and the macroinfaunal communities and (3) to characterize the environmental condition of the system using the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) (Weisburg et al. 1997) and the EMAP Benthic Index for the Virginian Province (Strobel et al. 1995).
The ecological condition of Hog Island Bay appears …
Ecology Of The Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon P. Piscivorus) At Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: A Comparative Study Of Natural And Anthropogenic Marsh Habitats, Chad Lee Cross
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Mark-recapture sampling and radiotelemetry were used to investigate populations of the eastern cottonmouth, Agkistrodon p. piscivorus, in both natural and anthropogenic marsh habitats at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR), Virginia Beach, Virginia from autumn 1995 to late spring 1998. Mark-recapture subjects were captured, marked by ventral scale-clipping, and released back into the population. A modified Schnabel Census estimator was used to estimate population sizes and corresponding densities in both marsh systems based on a total of 244 captures of 222 individuals. Most snakes were found >0.05 in from water, but it was apparent that proximity to water played …
Comparison Of Sapling Community Structure In Created And Natural Forested Wetlands In Southeastern Virginia, Sharon Ann Haines
Comparison Of Sapling Community Structure In Created And Natural Forested Wetlands In Southeastern Virginia, Sharon Ann Haines
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Forested wetlands are being destroyed at a rapid rate. Wetlands are valuable for flood control, aquifer recharge, and for their role in denitrification and storage of global carbon. When wetlands are lost, their functions and value to humans are lost as well. One response to the continued development of wetlands has been the artificial creation of new wetlands. This study compared the species density, relative density, coverage and frequency of occurrence of the woody vegetation in two southeastern Virginia created wetlands with that in two reference wetlands, also in southeastern Virginia, to determine the structural similarity of their respective communities. …
The Distribution Of Rice Rats (Oryzomys Palustris) And Meadow Voles (Microtus Pennsylvanicus) In Tidal Marsh Communities On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Allison L. Sowell
The Distribution Of Rice Rats (Oryzomys Palustris) And Meadow Voles (Microtus Pennsylvanicus) In Tidal Marsh Communities On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia, Allison L. Sowell
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Two tidal marsh sites were selected for live trapping of small mammals on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Trap grids were established at site and animals were trapped and tagged each month for one year. Habitat variables were measured at the peak of the growing season and again in late winter when vegetation was at its least luxuriant. ANOVA and multiple regressions were used to analyze the relationships between rice rats and meadow voles and associated variables related to habitat structure.
ANOVA revealed where rice rats and meadow voles differed in habitat preferences. Meadow voles were consistently captured in association …
Benthic Community Responses To Hypoxic Conditions In The Lower Rappahannock River, Virginia, Mary Elaine Smith
Benthic Community Responses To Hypoxic Conditions In The Lower Rappahannock River, Virginia, Mary Elaine Smith
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The effects of seasonal low dissolved oxygen conditions upon benthic macroinvertebrate communities were studied in the lower Rappahannock River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Benthic communities were sampled during March, June, August, and September 1993 at five equidistant depths (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 m) extending upwards from the deepwater Virginia Benthic Biological Monitoring Station LE3.4 located in the deep basin just inside the mouth of the Rappahannock River. Infaunal species diversity, richness, biomass, and density were measured along with the vertical depth distribution of organisms within the sediment. Significant sediment differences were found between the shallowest, 5 …
The Role Of Nitrogen Availability, Hydroperiod And Litter Quality In Root Decomposition Along A Barrier Island Chronosequence, Christine Elizabeth Conn
The Role Of Nitrogen Availability, Hydroperiod And Litter Quality In Root Decomposition Along A Barrier Island Chronosequence, Christine Elizabeth Conn
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The decomposition of organic matter regulates carbon and nutrient flux between biotic and abiotic pools. Traditional research emphasizes above ground decomposition processes and, by inference, extends these findings to below ground systems. The study, conducted along a southeastern Atlantic Coast barrier island dune and swale chronosequence (Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research site), addressed how hydroperiod, litter quality and nitrogen availability influenced below ground root decay in response to gradients associated with site age and topographic position and in the context of a nitrogen limited ecosystem. Effects on rates of mass loss and nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics during decomposition …
Evaluation Of Long Term Changes In The Macrobenthic Community Of The Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River, Virginia, William S. Hunley
Evaluation Of Long Term Changes In The Macrobenthic Community Of The Southern Branch Of The Elizabeth River, Virginia, William S. Hunley
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Long-term changes in the macrobenthos of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Virginia were investigated by comparing the present study of community structure with that described ten years earlier by Hawthorne (1980). The results indicated that dominant organisms remained relatively constant in composition but exhibited considerable fluctuation in density. Differences in diversity and spatial distribution of fauna were also observed relative to the previous decade.
Multivariate statistical analyses indicated the macrobenthos exhibited significant spatial and seasonal patterns. Sediments characterized as silts and clays predominated down river while sandier sediment types were most common farther upriver. The spatial distributions of …
Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages In The Nansemond River, Virginia, Cindy Eleanor Shomers
Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages In The Nansemond River, Virginia, Cindy Eleanor Shomers
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
A monthly phytoplankton study was conducted on the Nansemond River from November 1984 to October 1985. Light microscopy was utilized to characterize the resident populations, their cell concentrations and to provide a general comparison to other regional studies of river systems considered more polluted. The results divided the flora into two major categories. The first group was a pico-nanoplankton component composed of Cyanobacteria and Chlorophycean cells 1-10 um in diameter. The second group was a microplankton assemblage of Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanobacteria and Euglenophyceae. The pico-nanoplankton had a unimodal abundance pattern with peak concentrations occurring in spring. The microplankton …
An Annual Study Of Phytoplankton Composition And Associated Environmental Conditions Of Lake Trashmore, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Seba B. Sheavly
An Annual Study Of Phytoplankton Composition And Associated Environmental Conditions Of Lake Trashmore, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Seba B. Sheavly
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
A 12 month study of Lake Trashmore was conducted on phytoplankton composition, inorganic nutrients and their seasonal associations. The dominant phytoplankton groups observed were diatoms, chlorophyceans and cyanobacteria. Phytoplankton assemblage patterns were coupled with pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrites and silicates. Diatoms dominated during periods of high nutrient concentrations, cooler temperatures and an unstable water column. Cyanobacteria forms dominated during periods of warmer temperatures, higher pH and decreased nitrogen and dissolved oxygen concentrations. A seasonal community shift occurred from cyanobacterial dominance to chlorophycean dominance when pH levels decreased. The lake is eutrophic based on indices of chlorophyll a concentrations, transparency …
A Taxonomic Survey Of The Family Gyrinidae (Coleoptera) Of The State Of Virginia, Jerrold R. Harris
A Taxonomic Survey Of The Family Gyrinidae (Coleoptera) Of The State Of Virginia, Jerrold R. Harris
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The aquatic insect fanua of Virginia is not very well known. This is especially true of the order Coleoptera. There are few taxonomic studies on the families of Coleoptera found within the state, and one of the least known is the family Gyrinidae. It is the intent of this study to determine what species of Gyrinidae are found within the state and where they are found. Collections of the beetles were made throughout the state from March to December.
Twenty-one species of Gyrinidae were identified in Virginia, nine species of Dineutus and 12 species of Gyrinus. The family is distributed …
Short Term Temporal And Spatial Variability Of Phytoplankton In The Elizabeth River, Robert L. O'Reilly
Short Term Temporal And Spatial Variability Of Phytoplankton In The Elizabeth River, Robert L. O'Reilly
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
This study was designed to evaluate short-term temporal and spatial components of phytoplankton variability within a tidal estuarine system, in reference to natural changes in the local environment.
Multiple water samples were collected weekly from October to December 1984 at 4 stations in different branches, or sections, of the Elizabeth River. Collection of chlorophyll~ data was structured to fit an analysis of variance, while the phytoplankton species and their environmental relationships were analyzed using multivariate techniques.
Lower chlorophyll a concentrations from 0.75 to 2.87 ug/1 were characteristic of the Main Stem and Southern Branch, while higher values of 1.27 …
Organic Matter Budgets And Models For Four Plant Communities In The Great Dismal Swamp, J. Patrick Megonigal
Organic Matter Budgets And Models For Four Plant Communities In The Great Dismal Swamp, J. Patrick Megonigal
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Budgets and models of organic matter dynamics were developed for one mesic and three seasonally flooded plant communities in the Dismal Swamp. Components included aboveground parts, belowground parts, litter and soil organic matter (SOM).
Net primary- production was significantly greater on them flooded sites. Comparisons show that the Dismal Swamp is highly productive despite relatively low nutrient inputs.
Budget calculations showed that over 65% of the total input to SOM comes from roots. Leaves contributed about 70% of the aboveground inputs.
The model predicted that species composition, aboveground biomass and turnover rates on the cedar site will become quite similar …
Life History Aspects Of Reithrodontomys Humulis In Southeastern Virginia, Michelle Cawthorn Chandler
Life History Aspects Of Reithrodontomys Humulis In Southeastern Virginia, Michelle Cawthorn Chandler
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Reithrodontomys humulis, the eastern harvest mouse, is a small cricetid rodent which is common in old field communities in the eastern U.S. A live-trapping study was conducted in Suffolk, Virginia from March 1983 through February 1984 in order to learn the details of its life history and the vegetational characteristics which best describe its microhabitat. Specifically, population densities, trap-revealed survival times, home ranges, plant species composition of the study area, and vegetational structure were examined. In order to trap as many Reithrodontomys as possible, special traps which excluded animals weighing over 20 g were constructed. Densities of harvest mice …
Homing And Ecology In The Southern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys Volans In Southeastern Virginia, Sherrie Lynn Sawyer
Homing And Ecology In The Southern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys Volans In Southeastern Virginia, Sherrie Lynn Sawyer
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine whether homing occurred in the southern flying squirrel, Glauaomys volans, and if so, the greatest homing distance. Information on the squirrel's ecology, reproductive biology and use of artificial nest boxes was also obtained. The study was conducted from November 1978 through March 1981, using nest boxes placed in a deciduous forest in southeastern Virginia.
For the homing experiments, twenty squirrels were released a total of 29 times along three lines at distances of 250 m to 1.6 km from the homesites. Squirrels were found to home successfully up to 1,000 m.
The …
A Quantitative Study Of The Aquatic Macroinvertebrates In An Irregularly Flooded Salt Marsh, Smith Island, Virginia, Leon L. Robert Jr.
A Quantitative Study Of The Aquatic Macroinvertebrates In An Irregularly Flooded Salt Marsh, Smith Island, Virginia, Leon L. Robert Jr.
Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations
Little is known about the aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure in coastal salt marshes. This study investigated the aquatic macroinvertebrate community structure in a coastal Virginia salt marsh. Sixteen samples were taken weekly from two different sites on Smith Island, Virginia, from April to mid-October 1982. Bimonthly samples were taken during the months March and November due to low density of organisms and reduced growth rates at these times.
A total of 46 taxa were collected with 17 occurring regularly, indicating a relatively diverse fauna. Wide fluctuations in the physical parameters were observed; however, temporal changes in the macroinvertebrate community cannot …