Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Asymmetric Root Distributions Reveal Press–Pulse Responses In Retreating Coastal Forests, Tyler C. Messerschmidt, Amy K. Langston, Matthew L. Kirwan
Asymmetric Root Distributions Reveal Press–Pulse Responses In Retreating Coastal Forests, Tyler C. Messerschmidt, Amy K. Langston, Matthew L. Kirwan
VIMS Articles
The impacts of climate change on ecosystems are manifested in how organisms respond to episodic and continuous stressors. The conversion of coastal forests to salt marshes represents a prominent example of ecosystem state change, driven by the continuous stress of sea-level rise (press), and episodic storms (pulse). Here, we measured the rooting dimension and fall direction of 143 windthrown eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) trees in a rapidly retreating coastal forest in Chesapeake Bay (USA). We found that tree roots were distributed asymmetrically away from the leading edge of soil salinization and towards freshwater sources. The length, number, …
It’S Raining Sturgeons: A Likely Occurrence Of Avian Predation Or Scavenging Of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Mitchell, 1815), Eric J. Hilton, Patrick E. Mcgrath
It’S Raining Sturgeons: A Likely Occurrence Of Avian Predation Or Scavenging Of Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser Oxyrinchus Mitchell, 1815), Eric J. Hilton, Patrick E. Mcgrath
VIMS Articles
Predation on the federally-endangered Atlantic Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus), and sturgeons generally is understudied. Most predation is presumed to occur on eggs and larvae, and bethe result of interactions with other aquatic organisms, primarily other fishes. Predation on larger juvenile sturgeon by terrestrial and avian predators remains largely unknown. Here we document the recovery of a juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon carcass (512 mm total length) approximately 120 m inland from the shore of the York River in Gloucester County, Virginia. This individual showed signs of predation by a bird of prey, most likely an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), although a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus …
Effects Of A Natural Precipitation Gradient On Fish And Macroinvertebrate Assemblages In Coastal Streams, Sean Kinard, Christopher J. Patrick, Fernando Carvallo
Effects Of A Natural Precipitation Gradient On Fish And Macroinvertebrate Assemblages In Coastal Streams, Sean Kinard, Christopher J. Patrick, Fernando Carvallo
VIMS Articles
Anthropogenic climate change is expected to increase the aridity of many regions of the world. Surface water ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to changes in the water-cycle and may suffer adverse impacts in affected regions. To enhance our understanding of how freshwater communities will respond to predicted shifts in water-cycle dynamics, we employed a space for time approach along a natural precipitation gradient on the Texas Coastal Prairie. In the spring of 2017, we conducted surveys of 10 USGS-gauged, wadeable streams spanning a semi-arid to sub-humid rainfall gradient; we measured nutrients, water chemistry, habitat characteristics, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish communities. Fish …