Life Sciences Commons^™

Nutrient Capital Sequestration In Pioneer Plant Communities On Surface-Mine Spoil, Gary Leon Wade

Doctoral Dissertations

Biomass production and nutrient capital sequestration of four pioneer plant communities on a surface-mine spoil were compared. A Chenopodium album-dominated community (Treatment 4) produced the greatest amount of biomass. Next were a community derived from a forest topsoil seed bank spread over mine spoil (Treatment 2), a seed bank community with common reclamation species seeded into it (Treat­ ment 3 ) , and a mix of grasses and Lespedeza commonly used in reclama­tion (Treatment 1).

Treatments 1, 2, and 3 sequestered N in aboveground biomass in an amount approximately equal to that added as fertilizer, but Treat­ment 4 sequestered 237 …

A Biogeographic Study Of Amphibians In Tennessee, William H. Redmond Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

Range maps and descriptive, taxonomic, and habitat information are provided for 20 species of frogs and 41 species of salamanders. The environmental setting of Tennessee is described in terms of geology, physiography, climate, drainages, soils, vegetation, and ecoregions. For the purposes of the analyses, a grid cell pattern containing 122 sampling units is used, and the amphibian fauna is organized into three faunal groups. These groups are frog species, salamander species, and all species grouped together as amphibians. The results of a G-test for the frequency distribution of range limits fitted to a Poisson distribution suggest a clumped dispersion pattern …

A Biochemical And Genetic Analysis Of The American Shad Alosa Sapidissima Migrating Into The Chesapeake Bay, Edward Norbert Sismour

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Seven enzymes extracted from heart and liver tissues of American shad Alosa sapidissima captured during migrations into the Chesapeake Bay and Nansemond River were electrophoretically surveyed. Malate dehydrogenase and nonspecific esterase displayed polymorphic loci. The esterase polymorphism was used as a biochemical genetic marker to analyze the shad migration through the southern Chesapeake Bay. The genetic composition of the shad migration changed significantly over time indicating that this migration is probably composed of multiple, genetically divergent spawning populations. Results of this study are subject to differing interpretations. Observed temporal heterogeneity may result from separation of northern and James River stocks …

The Relationship Between Habitat Structure And Small Mammal Communities In Southeastern Virginia And Northeastern North Carolina, Roger Keith Everton

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

A variety of terrestrial habitats was pitfall trapped in the vicinity of the Great Dismal Swamp of eastern Virginia and North Carolina to evaluate the small mammal community within the region. Habitat variables were measured at the end of the growing season on 21 0.25 ha grids. Four multivariate tests were used to examine the small mammal communities, their relationship with habitat structure, and the role of habitat selection in community structure.

Cluster and ordination analysis revealed the existence of two distinct associations of small mammals, and their habitat types, within the region. The small mammal associations were interpreted as …

The Distribution Of Ceratia Over The Mid-Atlantic Bight, Paul V. Zimba

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The distribution and concentration of Ceratium species, between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and Long Island, New York ls discussed in relation to specific physical factors and the development of a phytoplankton bloom. The progression of high Ceratium counts Is discussed for the Bight areas of New York, Delaware, and the Chesapeake Bay (April through June). The concentration of Ceratium species declined after June, with highest concentrations along the New York and Delaware coast-lines. Coastal regions (less than 12 km from shore) were associated with high concentrations of several species. Path and regression analysis were used to relate physical factors and …

Investigations Of Balsam Woolly Aphid - Fraser Fir Interaction: Feeding Site Characteristics And Wound Response, Christopher Eagar

Doctoral Dissertations

Young, vigorously growing Fraser firs have exhibited a lower degree of susceptibility to balsam woolly aphid infestations than mature, mixed stands. This study investigated the relationship between balsam woolly aphid feeding site preference and bark morphological features, plus how these morphological features varied with stem size, age, growth rate, percent live crown and stand structure characteristics. Investigations were also conducted on the wound healing processes within the bark of Fraser fir as well as on how the aphid might interfere with these processes. Sampling was performed in the stands considered to be representative of anticipated conditions for the next generation …

Growth And Water Relations Of Mountain Big Sagebrush On Reclaimed Mine Soils In Southwestern Wyoming, Alan T. Carpenter

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mined-land reclamation practices in shrub-steppe ecosystems can be augmented by planting seedlings of locally dominant shrubs, e.g., mountain big sagebrush. Dispersion pattern could affect sagebrush performance by influencing amounts of windborne snow, soil and litter which accumulate around shrubs and by influencing water withdrawal by roots. Mountain big sagebrush seedlings were planted in plots on a reclaimed coal strip mine in two dispersion patterns: singly and in clumps of four at the same overall density.

Performance of mountain big sagebrush was monitored during two growing seasons. Measures included plant survival, end-of-growing season aboveground biomass, leaf water potential components, soil water …

Behavioral Response Of Desert Bighorn Sheep To Human Harassment: A Comparison Of Disturbed And Undisturbed Populations, Michael M. King

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) response to human disturbance was evaluated in southeastern Utah from 1981-1983. Bighorn response was compared between the Red Canyon area, an area with relatively high levels of human disturbance, and the White Canyon area, an area with relatively low levels of human disturbance. Bighorn were deliberately harassed by vehicles and hikers and immediate response and distance fled were recorded. When bighorn remained in the presence of the harassing stimuli, actual time spent in and proportion of animals engaged in various behaviors were recorded to determine group wariness and activity budgets under harassed …

Temporal And Spatial Partitioning Of The Soil Water Resource Between Two Agropyron Bunchgrasses And Artemisia Tridentata, Halldor Thorgeirsson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dynamics of soil water use by two cool-season Agropyron bunchgrasses during the warm season depletion of soil water reserves were monitored for two years in experimental plots in the field. Agropyron desertorum, an introduced, competitive species from Eurasia, extracted more water from the deeper ( > 50 cm) soil layers than the native, less competitive Agropyron spicatum. Agropyron desertorum both extracts this water earlier and to lower soil water potentials than Agropyron spicatum. From the water extraction dynamics of the grasses in monocultures and in their two-way (50:50) mixtures with a shrub they commonly co-occur with, Artemisia tridentata …

Seasonal Feeding Behavior And Forage Selection By Goats In Cleared And Thinned Deciduous Woodlands In Northeast Brazil, Roberto Cesar Magalhaes Mesquita

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The seasonal feeding behavior, forage preferences and body weight responses of goats were studied under three densities of woodland (called caatinga), and under three stocking rates. The experiment was located in the semi-arid tropics of northeastern Brazil at 3 42' South latitude, and 40 21' West longitude at an elevation of 75 meters. Mean annual precipitation of the area is 832 mm.

Removing the shrubs and trees increased yields of herbaceous only on partially-cleared sites. Goats gained body weight (kg BW/ha) during the wet season, with the cleared treatment showing the best body weight response per unit of land. However …

The Acarau Valley In Northeast Brazil: Vegetation, Soils And Land Use., Joao Stacishin De Queiroz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to describe and characterize the principal kinds of land in the mid-portion of the Acarau Valley, Ceara State, Northeast Brazil. The specific aims were: (1) to develop a specific-purpose soil classification; (2) to investigate vegetation-environment relationships; (3) to develop hypotheses about short-term vegetation dynamics; and (4) to evaluate the usefulness of computer processed multispectral-scanner (MSS) data for mapping rangeland resources in Northeast Brazil.

Fifty-one soil profiles were described and ocular estimates of vegetation cover by species were made at each subjectively selected site. Two Landsat scenes were used to assess the usefulness of MSS …

Some Factors Affecting Male Back Space Availability In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Amanda M. Vandenburgh

Masters Theses

Various factors affecting the availability of male back space in the giant water bug, Belostoma flumineum Say, are described herein and interpreted in a manner consistent with natural selection theory. Newly emerged males are observed to breed and accept eggs sooner than newly emerged females develop an egg clutch: furthermore, newly emerged males were shown to contain motile sperm on the day of adult emergence. Newly emerged females did not contain any mature eggs until approximately six days old. It was also found that newly emerged females manufacture eggs at a linear rate of 4.8 eggs per day. Egg length …

Box Turtles, Terrapene Carolina, As Potential Seed Dispersers: Effects Of Passage Through Digestive Tracts On Seed Germination, Joanne Braun

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.