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Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Natural Regeneration Dynamics And Survival Influenced By Abiotic And Biotic Factors In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Lydia J. Voth Rurup
Natural Regeneration Dynamics And Survival Influenced By Abiotic And Biotic Factors In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Lydia J. Voth Rurup
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Riparian ecosystems are vital to the landscape, providing critical services including water filtration and purification, flood and erosion control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and aesthetic value. Bottomland hardwood forests, however, are threatened by invasive species, land loss/conversion, inconsistent or absence of harvesting disturbances, and altered hydrological patterns, leading to reduced success of desired, native species. This research assessed regeneration dynamics and one-year survival in a seasonally-flooded bottomland hardwood forest at Boggy Slough Conservation Area in East Texas to identify abiotic and biotic factors important for successful establishment of native regeneration. Areas sampled included two that were previously treated with herbicide …
Vertical Habitat Gradients: Comparing Phytoplankton Dynamics In Lakes With Low To Moderate Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration, Matthew J. Farragher
Vertical Habitat Gradients: Comparing Phytoplankton Dynamics In Lakes With Low To Moderate Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration, Matthew J. Farragher
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased across lakes of Maine for several decades before stabilizing or decreasing in recent years. To investigate the seasonal effects of DOC on phytoplankton habitat structure, I assessed vertical gradients of temperature, oxygen, light, and chlorophyll in four lakes in Acadia National Park from under ice through fall turnover in 2020. Lake DOC concentrations ranged from low (~2 mg L-1) to moderate (~4 mg L-1). Low-DOC lakes were clearer, with greater mean Secchi depths (9-15 m) than moderate-DOC lakes (5-6 m). Moderate-DOC lakes experienced hypolimnetic anoxia in the summer and had more variable concentrations …
Environmental Dna Monitoring Of Non-Native Mudpuppy (Necturus Maculosus) And Transient Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax), Vaughn Holmes
Environmental Dna Monitoring Of Non-Native Mudpuppy (Necturus Maculosus) And Transient Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax), Vaughn Holmes
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Whether considering an expanding non-native species or a priority native species with a dwindling local population, the monitoring of low-abundance, sporadically distributed, or otherwise elusive populations, can prove difficult. In separate studies, we tested the viability of environmental DNA (eDNA) for monitoring a species in both of the above circumstances, the common mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus), a spreading non-native species, and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), a declining species of concern. Mudpuppy are fully aquatic salamanders that were introduced to the Belgrade region of central Maine in 1939 and again in 1940. Though they had been present for nearly 80 years when …
Acting Out Of Lyme: Characterizing The Human Dimensions Of Lyme Disease Interventions, Katherine C. Perry
Acting Out Of Lyme: Characterizing The Human Dimensions Of Lyme Disease Interventions, Katherine C. Perry
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Lyme disease (LD), a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most commonly occurring tick-borne illness in the United States with the majority of cases concentrated in the Northeast. In Maine, as well as the rest of North America, LD is transmitted to humans via infected black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). As the life cycle of the black-legged tick is tightly coupled with forest ecosystems, prevalence of the disease is common in endemic forest landscapes, and individuals spending time in these areas face an increased risk of exposure to LD as well as other tick-borne diseases. While …
Energetic Impacts Of Passage Delays In Migrating Adult Atlantic Salmon, Sarah R. Rubenstein
Energetic Impacts Of Passage Delays In Migrating Adult Atlantic Salmon, Sarah R. Rubenstein
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
For any migratory organism, habitat connectivity is critical for population stability. Structures that impede movement between necessary habitats can be damaging to population persistence. In riverine systems, dams act as migratory barriers, altering ecosystems and delaying, injuring, or otherwise impairing migratory fish movement into essential habitat. Critically endangered Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations in Maine have been on the decline since the 1800s. Because most Atlantic salmon rivers are now highly dammed systems, hydropower dams have been cited as causal to the decline in returning adult populations. Previous studies have demonstrated that Atlantic salmon experience substantial delays below dams while …
Using Predator Vocalizations To Deter Raccoon Predation On Nests Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin), Colleen Elizabeth Naeger
Using Predator Vocalizations To Deter Raccoon Predation On Nests Of Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin), Colleen Elizabeth Naeger
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Community Structure And Dynamics Of Benthic Macroinvertebrates In A Recreated Headwater Stream System On A Valley Fill In A Retrofitted Watershed Located In The Appalachian Coalfields Of Southeastern Kentucky (U.S.A.), Steven W. Bailey
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The extraction of coal from steep-gradient surface mining sites such as in the Appalachian Coalfields of the U.S. produces excess debris that is often placed in adjacent valleys resulting in the creation of valley fills. Not only are headwater streams buried in the process, but watershed functions are either destroyed outright, or become fragmented and disconnected from adjacent ecosystems resulting in adverse effects to downstream biological communities. In this dissertation, the dynamics of stream macroinvertebrate community structure, composition, diversity, and biotic integrity are assessed at a “proof of concept” stream system recreated on a retrofitted valley fill. For comparison, two …
Migration And Winter Movement Ecology Of Red-Throated Loons (Gavia Stellata) In Eastern North America, Carrie E. Gray
Migration And Winter Movement Ecology Of Red-Throated Loons (Gavia Stellata) In Eastern North America, Carrie E. Gray
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Migratory animals exploit multiple habitats across the extent of their range and conditions experienced can have considerable effects on individual survival and population size. Understanding where species are exposed to survival risks and evolutionary selection pressures and how connected are different portions of the range requires defining a complete annual movement network with all major seasonal sites—e.g., breeding, migratory stopovers, staging, and wintering—and describing where populations may or may not overlap in space and time. I used movement data collected from satellite-tagged Red-throated Loons (Gavia stellata) to provide new and more accurate information about spatial use during the full annual …
Pheasant Ecology In An Agricultural Landscape Of South Dakota, Sprih Harsh
Pheasant Ecology In An Agricultural Landscape Of South Dakota, Sprih Harsh
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Habitat loss and fragmentation are the greatest threats to wildlife conservation. Grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. The large-scale conversion of North American grasslands to cultivation has been strongly associated with declines of grassland bird populations. The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a common grassland bird which is negatively impacted by the conversion of grassland to cropland. Though pheasants are non-native to South Dakota, they have become naturalized in most of the state. However, with increases in agricultural intensification in South Dakota, indices of pheasant abundance from brood route surveys suggest that pheasant populations have declined to historically …
Using New And Long-Term Multi-Scale Remotely Sensed Data To Detect Recurrent Fires And Quantify Their Relationship To Land Cover/Use In Indonesian Peatlands, Yenni Vetrita
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Indonesia has committed to reducing its greenhouse gases emissions by 29% (potentially up to 41% with international assistance) by 2030. Achieving those targets requires many efforts but, in particular, controlling the fire problem in Indonesia’s peatlands is paramount, since it is unlikely to diminish on its own in the coming decades. This study was conducted in Sumatra and Kalimantan peatlands in Indonesia. Four MODIS-derived products (MCD45A1 collection 5.1, MCD64A1 (collection 5.1 and 6), FireCCI51) were initially assessed to explore long-term fire frequency and land use/cover change relationships. The results indicated the product(s) could only detect half of the fires accurately. …
Effects Of Harvest Regulations And Post-Release Hooking Mortality On Walleye Populations In South Dakota, Cade Lyon
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Harvest regulations are commonly implemented to manipulate fisheries stocks. By regulating the size and number of fish that are harvested by anglers, managers are able to meet the goals and needs of regions. However, these management actions come with the potential for negative consequences. Overexploitation due to less restrictive harvest regulations can cause collapses in fisheries populations. In addition, indirect consequences such as hooking mortality brought on by length-based regulations can also be detrimental to populations. In this study, I investigated the effects of various harvest regulations on Walleye populations in three western South Dakota irrigation reservoirs: Angostura, Belle Fourche, …
Evaluating St. Catherines Island's Shoreline, Vegetation Line, And The Locations Of Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nests, Sydney O. Davis
Evaluating St. Catherines Island's Shoreline, Vegetation Line, And The Locations Of Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nests, Sydney O. Davis
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
St. Catherines Island is a highly dynamic barrier island on the Georgia coast that is also federally listed critical nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles. Understanding how St. Catherines’ shoreline and vegetation is changing over time is geographically important as a potential template for other barrier islands. Measuring sea turtle nest locations will provide insight into their natural patterns and how they adjust those locations on a changing barrier island. Analyzing Moving Boundaries Using R (AMBUR) is implemented in this research to assess the movement of the vegetation and shorelines from 2005-2017 using the End Point Rate (EPR) and Linear …
Assessing Habitat Suitability Of Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia Demissa) In Georgia Salt Marshes By Examining Predicted Mussel Densities And Mussel Population Parameters, William K. Annis Jr
Assessing Habitat Suitability Of Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia Demissa) In Georgia Salt Marshes By Examining Predicted Mussel Densities And Mussel Population Parameters, William K. Annis Jr
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Geukensia demissa (ribbed mussel) is an ecology important bivalve that has the potential to contribute to salt marsh restoration. Understanding the factors that contribute to the distribution of mussels can help inform managers on choosing locations to optimize the survivorship of mussels in restoration projects. This study sought to model mussel densities across the coast of Georgia and to compare predicted mussel densities with mussel population parameters as means to gauge habitat suitability. Mussel densities were collected through field surveys across a range of salt marshes along the coast of Georgia and were compared with spatial data such as distance …
Macroinvertebrate Responses To Hydrological Variation In Experimental Wetlands., Sergio A. Sabat-Bonilla
Macroinvertebrate Responses To Hydrological Variation In Experimental Wetlands., Sergio A. Sabat-Bonilla
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Predicted increases in the frequency of intense storms and periods of severe drought due to climate change represent a threat to wetland macroinvertebrate communities through alterations to the hydrological regime. I used experimental ponds to assess the effects of water permanence (i.e., duration of flooding) on the communities of aquatic macroinvertebrates. I predicted that permanent ponds would harbor higher diversity of longer-lived taxa whereas temporary ones will favor colonization by quick turnover, short-lived taxa and support lower consumer diversity. Results show differences in macroinvertebrate communities between permanent and temporary ponds can be mostly explained by hydrology and the amount of …