Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Biology (6)
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (4)
- Forest Sciences (3)
- Plant Sciences (3)
- Arts and Humanities (2)
-
- Biodiversity (2)
- Entomology (2)
- Marine Biology (2)
- Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (2)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (2)
- Botany (1)
- Environmental Law (1)
- Environmental Sciences (1)
- Fine Arts (1)
- Forest Biology (1)
- Forest Management (1)
- History (1)
- Law (1)
- Legal Education (1)
- Legal Profession (1)
- Legal Writing and Research (1)
- Museum Studies (1)
- Oceanography (1)
- Plant Biology (1)
- Population Biology (1)
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (1)
- Institution
- Publication
- File Type
Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Relative Contribution Of Neutral And Deterministic Processes In Shaping Fruit-Feeding Butterfly Assemblages In Afrotropical Forests, Kwaku Aduse-Poku, Freerk Molleman, William Oduro, Samuel K. Oppong, David J. Lohman, Rampal S. Etienne
Relative Contribution Of Neutral And Deterministic Processes In Shaping Fruit-Feeding Butterfly Assemblages In Afrotropical Forests, Kwaku Aduse-Poku, Freerk Molleman, William Oduro, Samuel K. Oppong, David J. Lohman, Rampal S. Etienne
Publications and Research
The unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography has gained the status of a quantitative null model for explaining patterns in ecological (meta)communities. The theory assumes that individuals of trophically similar species are functionally equivalent. We empirically evaluate the relative contribution of neutral and deterministic processes in shaping fruit-feeding butterfly assemblages in three tropical forests in Africa, using both direct (confronting the neutral model with species abundance data) and indirect approaches (testing the predictions of neutral theory using data other than species abundance distributions). Abundance data were obtained by sampling butterflies using banana baited traps set at the forest canopy …
A Historical Floristic Inventory Of Pine Rockland Fabaceae (Leguminosae), Adel L. Pena
A Historical Floristic Inventory Of Pine Rockland Fabaceae (Leguminosae), Adel L. Pena
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The objectives of this study were to investigate temporal changes in the diversity of pine rockland Fabaceae, induced by anthropogenic factors. Herbarium collections spanning 170 years were used to analyze species frequency and richness. The results indicated temporal fluctuations in diversity with frequency of native species highest previous to the year 1920, and exotic-invasive species richness peaking after the 1960s. The accompanying species list resulting from the inventory included 122 Fabaceae species, in 56 genera, with an additional 19 species not previously listed for pine rocklands. The results emphasize the damage caused by early and deliberate introductions of exotic species, …
The Parasite Extinction Assessment & Red List: An Open-Source, Online Biodiversity Database For Neglected Symbionts, Colin J. Carlson, Oliver C. Muellerklein, Anna J. Phillips, Kevin R. Burgio, Giovanni Castaldo, Carrie A. Cizauskas, Graeme S. Cumming, Tad Dallas, Jorge Doña, Nyeema Harris, Roger Jovani, Zhongqi Miao, Heather Proctor, Hyun Seok Yoon, Wayne M. Getz
The Parasite Extinction Assessment & Red List: An Open-Source, Online Biodiversity Database For Neglected Symbionts, Colin J. Carlson, Oliver C. Muellerklein, Anna J. Phillips, Kevin R. Burgio, Giovanni Castaldo, Carrie A. Cizauskas, Graeme S. Cumming, Tad Dallas, Jorge Doña, Nyeema Harris, Roger Jovani, Zhongqi Miao, Heather Proctor, Hyun Seok Yoon, Wayne M. Getz
Faculty Publications
Parasite conservation is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of ecology, epidemiology, parasitology, and public health. The overwhelming diversity of parasitic life on earth, and recent work showing that parasites and other symbionts face severe extinction risk, necessitates infrastructure for parasite conservation assessments. Here, we describe the release of the Parasite Extinction Assessment & Red List (PEARL) version 1.0, an open-access database of conservation assessments and distributional data for almost 500 macroparasitic invertebrates. The current approach to vulnerability assessment is based on range shifts and loss from climate change, and will be expanded as additional data (e.g., host-parasite associations …
Assessing The Vegetative Diversity Of An East Texas Golf Course Using Principles Of Landscape Ecology, Brian P. Oswald, Penny G. Lanham, Hans M. Williams, David Kulhavy
Assessing The Vegetative Diversity Of An East Texas Golf Course Using Principles Of Landscape Ecology, Brian P. Oswald, Penny G. Lanham, Hans M. Williams, David Kulhavy
Faculty Publications
The objectives of this study was to determine the vegetative diversity and the effects of the edge between fairways (introduced patches) and out-of-bounds areas (remnant patches) to determine if such management activities influence plant diversity. This study was conducted at the Pineywoods Country Club in the Pineywoods Region of East Texas near Nacogdoches, TX, USA by assessing the spatial distribution of these matrices and patches and their influence on edge effect composition and structure in the matrix; and, if species diversity and composition differed between these edges and interior of the matrices. Nested plots were placed along transects and canopy …
Phytoplasma Infection Of A Tropical Root Crop Triggers Bottom-Up Cascades By Favoring Generalist Over Specialist Herbivores, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Ignazio Graziosi, Dharani Dhar Burra, Abigail Jan Walter
Phytoplasma Infection Of A Tropical Root Crop Triggers Bottom-Up Cascades By Favoring Generalist Over Specialist Herbivores, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Ignazio Graziosi, Dharani Dhar Burra, Abigail Jan Walter
Entomology Faculty Publications
Global interest on plant-microbe-insect interactions is rapidly growing, revealing the multiple ways in which microorganisms mediate plant-herbivore interactions. Phytopathogens regularly alter whole repertoires of plant phenotypic traits, and bring about shifts in key chemical or morphological characteristics of plant hosts. Pathogens can also cause cascading effects on higher trophic levels, and eventually shape entire plant-associated arthropod communities. We tested the hypothesis that a Candidatus Phytoplasma causing cassava witches’ broom (CWB) on cassava (Manihot esculenta Grantz) is altering species composition of invasive herbivores and their associated parasitic hymenopterans. We conducted observational studies in cassava fields in eastern Cambodia to assess …
A Global Biogeographic Classification Of The Mesopelagic Zone, Tracey Sutton, Malcolm R. Clark, Daniel C. Dunn, Patrick N. Halpin, Alex D. Rogers, John Guinotte, Steven J. Bograd, Martin V. Angel, Jose Angel A. Perez, Karen Wishner, Richard L. Haedrich, Dhugal Lindsay, Jeffrey C. Drazen, Alexander Vereshchaka, Uwe Piatkowski, Telmo Morato, Katarzyna Blachowiak-Samolyk, Bruce H. Robison, Kristina Gjerde, Annelies Pierrot-Bults, Patricio Bernal, Gabriel Reygondeau, Mikko Heino
A Global Biogeographic Classification Of The Mesopelagic Zone, Tracey Sutton, Malcolm R. Clark, Daniel C. Dunn, Patrick N. Halpin, Alex D. Rogers, John Guinotte, Steven J. Bograd, Martin V. Angel, Jose Angel A. Perez, Karen Wishner, Richard L. Haedrich, Dhugal Lindsay, Jeffrey C. Drazen, Alexander Vereshchaka, Uwe Piatkowski, Telmo Morato, Katarzyna Blachowiak-Samolyk, Bruce H. Robison, Kristina Gjerde, Annelies Pierrot-Bults, Patricio Bernal, Gabriel Reygondeau, Mikko Heino
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles
We have developed a global biogeographic classification of the mesopelagic zone to reflect the regional scales over which the ocean interior varies in terms of biodiversity and function. An integrated approach was necessary, as global gaps in information and variable sampling methods preclude strictly statistical approaches. A panel combining expertise in oceanography, geospatial mapping, and deep-sea biology convened to collate expert opinion on the distributional patterns of pelagic fauna relative to environmental proxies (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen at mesopelagic depths). An iterative Delphi Method integrating additional biological and physical data was used to classify biogeographic ecoregions and to identify …
Negative Density Dependence Mediates Biodiversity–Productivity Relationships Across Scales, Joseph A. Lamanna, R Travis Belote, Laura A. Burkle, Christopher P. Catano, Jonathan A. Myers
Negative Density Dependence Mediates Biodiversity–Productivity Relationships Across Scales, Joseph A. Lamanna, R Travis Belote, Laura A. Burkle, Christopher P. Catano, Jonathan A. Myers
Biology Faculty Publications & Presentations
Regional species diversity generally increases with primary productivity whereas local diversity–productivity relationships are highly variable. This scale-dependence of the biodiversity–productivity relationship highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms that govern variation in species composition among local communities, which is known as β-diversity. Hypotheses to explain changes in β-diversity with productivity invoke multiple mechanisms operating at local and regional scales, but the relative importance of these mechanisms is unknown. Here we show that changes in the strength of local density-dependent interactions within and among tree species explain changes in β-diversity across a subcontinental-productivity gradient. Stronger conspecific relative to …
Law Library Blog (May 2017): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law
Law Library Blog (May 2017): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law
Law Library Newsletters/Blog
No abstract provided.
Presence/Absence And Density Data For Epipelagic Tows From 48 Stations In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico From R/V Blazing Seven Cruises Lf2015a And Lf2015b June 2015 And July 2015, Jay R. Rooker, R.J. David Wells
Presence/Absence And Density Data For Epipelagic Tows From 48 Stations In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico From R/V Blazing Seven Cruises Lf2015a And Lf2015b June 2015 And July 2015, Jay R. Rooker, R.J. David Wells
DEEPEND Datasets
Larval catch data after the oil spill is being used to improve our understanding of the causes of temporal variability as it relates to the Deep Water Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Bongo and neuston net tows were conducted at 48 stations in both June and July, 2015 in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Cruise data collected at each site included latitude/longitude, date, time and environmental data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen). The occurrence and density of selected epipelagic (e.g., billfishes, tunas, dolphinfishes, flyingfishes) and deep pelagic (e.g., lanternfishes, bristlemouths, marine hatchetfishes) fish larvae were quantified and are being used to extend …
Vegetative Comunitiy Development Over 30 Years Within Pine Plantations On Reclaimed Mine Land In East Texas., Christy Christian, Brian P. Oswald, Hans M. Williams, Kenneth W. Farrish
Vegetative Comunitiy Development Over 30 Years Within Pine Plantations On Reclaimed Mine Land In East Texas., Christy Christian, Brian P. Oswald, Hans M. Williams, Kenneth W. Farrish
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
An On-Campus Botanical Tour To Promote Student Satisfaction And Learning In A University Level Biodiversity Or General Biology Course, Harish H. Ratnayaka
An On-Campus Botanical Tour To Promote Student Satisfaction And Learning In A University Level Biodiversity Or General Biology Course, Harish H. Ratnayaka
Faculty and Staff Publications
Outdoor, hands-on and experiential learning, as opposed to instruction-based learning in classroom, increases student satisfaction and motivation leading to a deeper understanding of the subject. However, the use of outdoor exercises in undergraduate biology courses is declining due to a variety of constraints. Thus, the goal of this paper is to describe a convenient, no-cost and flexible exercise using an on-campus botanical tour for strengthening specific knowledge areas of major plant groups. Its assessment on conduct and coverage, and student-perceived and actual knowledge gain is also described. Data presented derived from traditional biology undergraduates in sophomore year over nine fall …
Komarekiella Atlantica Gen. Et Sp. Nov. (Nostocaceae, Cyanobacteria): A New Subaerial Taxon From The Atlantic Rainforest And Kauai, Hawaii, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Nicole Pietrasiak, Janaina Rigonato, Marli F. Fiore, Célia Leite Sant’Anna
Komarekiella Atlantica Gen. Et Sp. Nov. (Nostocaceae, Cyanobacteria): A New Subaerial Taxon From The Atlantic Rainforest And Kauai, Hawaii, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Nicole Pietrasiak, Janaina Rigonato, Marli F. Fiore, Célia Leite Sant’Anna
2017 Faculty Bibliography
Six strains of Cyanobacteria sampled in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest and one strain from Kauai, Hawaii, were studied using morphological and molecular approaches, including 16S rRNA gene phylogenies and 16S–23S ITS secondary structures, and are herein described as Komarekilla atlantica gen. et sp. nov.. Morphologically they are similar to Nostoc, Desmonostoc, Halotia, and Mojavia and indistinguishable from Chlorogloeopsis. The parsimony and Bayesian phylogenies of the 16S rDNA show that these strains are close to nostocacean strains, in strongly supported clades and separated from all other genera. The secondary structures of the 16S–23S ITS were very consistent between strains of K. …
Hopeful Monsters - In Defense Of Quests To Rediscover Long-Lost Species, David M. Watson, Robert A. Davis
Hopeful Monsters - In Defense Of Quests To Rediscover Long-Lost Species, David M. Watson, Robert A. Davis
Research outputs 2014 to 2021
Wild goose chase, snipe hunt, fool’s errand—these retorts typify responses of many biologists to news that someone is searching for a species considered extinct. Although these ventures can damage reputations and may offer false hope regarding the finality of extinction, genuine conservation gains often result, even for those quests that prove unsuccessful. As well as enhanced protection for regions where rediscovered species persist and new information of direct management relevance for co-occurring species, well-planned searches for long-lost species represent valuable engagement opportunities to raise awareness in the wider community about biodiversity conservation and science generally. Indeed, we suggest that “Lazarus …
Evaluation Of Filtration And Dna Extraction Methods For Environmental Dna Biodiversity Assessments Across Multiple Trophic Levels, Anni Djurhuus, Jesse Port, Collin Closek, Kevan Yamahara, Ofelia Romero-Maraccini, Kristine Walz, Dawn Goldsmith, Reiko Michisaki, Mya Breitbart, Alexandria Boehm, Francisco Chavez
Evaluation Of Filtration And Dna Extraction Methods For Environmental Dna Biodiversity Assessments Across Multiple Trophic Levels, Anni Djurhuus, Jesse Port, Collin Closek, Kevan Yamahara, Ofelia Romero-Maraccini, Kristine Walz, Dawn Goldsmith, Reiko Michisaki, Mya Breitbart, Alexandria Boehm, Francisco Chavez
Marine Science Faculty Publications
Metabarcoding of marine environmental DNA (eDNA), originating from tissue, cells, or extracellular DNA, offers the opportunity to survey the biological composition of communities across multiple trophic levels from a non-invasive seawater sample. Here we compare results of eDNA metabarcoding of multiple trophic levels from individual seawater samples collected from a kelp forest in Monterey Bay, California in order to establish methods for future cross-trophic level eDNA analysis. Triplicate 1 L water samples were filtered using five different 47 mm diameter membrane filters (PVDF, PES, GFF, PCTE, and NC) and DNA was extracted from triplicates of each filter-type using three widely-used …