Life Sciences Commons^™

On The Border Of Extinction And Speciation, Polygala Seyfegoluensis (Polygalaceae), A New Species From Marshy Habitat, Central Türkiye: Under The Threat Of Climate Change, Water Retreat, And Subsequent Degradation, Ali̇ Aslan Dönmez, Zübeyde Uğurlu Aydin, İbrahi̇m Sirri Yüzbaşioğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

Polygala seyfegoluensis Dönmez, Uğurlu & Yüzb. (Polygalaceae) is herein described and illustrated as a new species from Kırşehir Province around Seyfe Lake in Central Türkiye. This new species is similar to P. pruinosa and P. supina is distinctly characterized by its prostrate habit, nearly glabrous and smaller flower parts, and an unwinged capsule. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted to show the placement of the new species within selected Polygala taxa using the trnL-F and rbcL markers. Based on the field observation, an evolutionary scenario is proposed for the new species under the driving forces of climate change, the shrinking of …

Determination Of The Genetic Diversity, Population Structure, And Some Ecological Preferences Of The Endemic Muscari Adilii, Ali̇ Murat Keser, Ahmet Emre Yaprak, Gül Ni̇lhan Tuğ

Turkish Journal of Botany

The population structure and genetic diversity of M. adilii and some edaphic and climatic preferences of the species were investigated. Although the chemical characteristics such as pH, EC, and gypsum were similar for the three subpopulations, the physical qualities and lime content of the soil were different from each other. In terms of bioclimate, the Nallıhan station (Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary) has a lower annual average temperature and precipitation value, and monthly average values during the germination and flowering periods, than the Beypazarı station (Hırkatepe and Çoban Ahmet Fountain). Amplification with 16 ISSR markers produced 377 bands from 84 individuals belonging …

Lichens Of Iller Creek: A Checklist For The Iller Creek Unit, A Division Of Dishman Hills Conservation Area, Spokane Valley, Wa, Devin M. Mumey, Giovanna Bishop, Jessica L. Allen

2023 Symposium

The field of biodiversity documentation encompasses a broad range of research including new species discovery and description, compilation of species present in a given area, and investigation of interspecies interaction. In an era of increasingly devastating and rapid environmental change, documenting biodiversity has become increasingly important. Anthropogenic effects on urban-adjacent natural areas are especially significant, as they can cause numerous, often drastic, responses in ecosystems. Our objective here was to document the lichen biodiversity in a large urban-adjacent protected area: the Iller Creek Unit of the Dishman Hills Conservation Area in Spokane Valley, Washington. This unit encompasses a diversity of …

The Assessment Of Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Endemic Scutellaria Yildirimlii (Lamiaceae) For Conservation Purposes, Merve Yildirim, Gül Ni̇lhan Tuğ, Ahmet Emre Yaprak

Turkish Journal of Botany

Scutellaria yildirimlii is an endangered perennial endemic species from Turkey and belongs to the family Lamiaceae, which has a high number of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is crucial to determine genetic diversity and population structure of this species for its conservation measures; therefore, 111 individuals from five natural populations of S. yildirimlii were investigated by using 15 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL), Nei?s gene diversity (H), and Shannon?s information index (I) at the species and population-level were determined as 93.9%, 0.183, 0.292 and 56.5%, 0.158, 0.242, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance …

Bison Movements Change With Weather: Implications For Their Continued Conservation In The Anthropocene, Nicholas A. Mcmillan, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Barney Luttbeg, Laura E. Goodman, Craig A. Davis, Brady W. Allred, Robert G. Hamilton

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Animal movement patterns are affected by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic landscape conditions, and these patterns are being altered by weather variability associated with a changing climate. Some animals, like the American plains bison (Bison bison L.; hereafter, plains bison), are considered keystone species, thus their response to weather variability may alter ecosystem structure and biodiversity patterns. Many movement studies of plains bison and other ungulates have focused on point-pattern analyses (e.g., resource-selection) that have provided information about where these animals move, but information about when or why these animals move is limited. For example, information surrounding the …

Flora Of Doe Mountain Recreation Area, Johnson County, Tennessee, Benjamin Mccullough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A botanical inventory of Doe Mountain Recreation Area (DMRA) in northeastern Tennessee was conducted to help guide conservation-based management. A total of 484 species were found in DMRA, comprising 94 families, and 285 genera, 10 species listed in the state rare plant list, and 76 exotic species. Two species, Liatris virgata and Lycopodiella inundata, were new state records. Water in the Lycopodiella seep was an order of magnitude more acid than at other sites. An analysis of the wildland-urban interface showed that only 13% of the area was classified as uninhabited. The inventory-invasion index, introduced to quantify the relative …

Contribución A La Conservación De La Orquídea Rodriguezia Granadensis(Lindl.) Rchb.F. En La Hacienda Betania (Fusagasugá, Colombia), Arlette Ivonne Gil Clavijo, Jenny Paola Moreno López, Laguandio Del Cristo Banda Sánchez

Ciencias Agropecuarias

Esta cartilla presenta a la comunidad la información generada en el proyecto de investigación denominado “Aproximación a la ecología de orquídeas nativas en el ecosistema hacienda Betania con proyección a su conservación, manejo y producción”, el cual fue desarrollado por el Grupo de Investigación PROSAFIS de la Universidad de Cundinamarca. Este manuscrito es una contribución al manejo, tuvieron y valoración de las orquídeas nativas, destacando la orquídea Rodriguezia granadensis, presente en ciertos relictos agroecológicos en áreas de influencia de Fusagasugá. Los resultados obtenidos en la investigación mostraron la preferencia o alta adaptación de R. granadensis a los forofitos de cítricos …

Leveraging Herbaria Specimens: A New 3d Imaging Protocol And Analyses Of Diversity Of West Virginia Rosids, Zachary Scott Shamblin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Herbaria are repositories of plant natural history, whose data can provide insights into the life histories of plant taxa over space and time. Recent initiatives to digitize herbarium data have made studies over broad geographic and taxonomic extents possible, with the ability of scientists to access data from large databases of herbaria. Most of the digitization initiatives have focused on flat 2D herbaria sheets, but herbaria also include 3D collections, such as fungi, mosses, lichens, and dry fruits. In Chapter 1 we propose an easy and cost-effective workflow that uses free photogrammetry software to produce 3D images of 3D herbaria …

Detection And Confirmation Of Diagnostic Microsatellite Loci In Populus Nigra And Populus Deltoides To Identify Their Hybrids (P. × Canadensis), Asi̇ye Uluğ

Turkish Journal of Botany

Poplar cultivation has economic, social, ecological, and environmental importance in Turkey. Even though, Populus × canadensis hybrids play an important role for the commercial poplar cultivation with good growth performance and adaptability, hybrid clones introduced the different region of Turkey have started to replace the native stands of Populus nigra gradually. To continue sustainable cultivation of poplar and to conserve the native stands of P. nigra at the same time, genetic identification, and registration of the Populus cultivars from different origins are essential in breeding programs. Genetic identification and characterization of a natural population of P. nigra growing along the …

Lepidopteran Granivory Reduces Seed Counts In A Rare Species Of Riparian Scour Prairies, Cheyenne Moore, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Scott Schuette, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

In Pennsylvania Baptisia australis var. australis is found along only four waterways: the Allegheny River, Youghiogheny River, Clarion River, and Red Bank Creek. Because of its limited distribution and small number of extant populations, the species is considered state-threatened in Pennsylvania. In addition, the riparian prairie habitat that Pennsylvania Baptisia australis var. australis is restricted to is also in decline and considered vulnerable. Because of these conservation concerns, insights into the natural history of the taxon in the state is valuable and will inform conservation efforts. Field surveys and fruit collections along the Allegheny River and herbarium collections were used …

Investigation Into The Genetic Provenance Of Three Rare Plants With East-West Disjunction Patterns In Pennsylvania., Scott Schuette, Christopher T. Martine

Other Faculty Research and Publications

Rare plant conservation relies on an understanding of the natural history, biology and ecology, and real and potential threats to their populations to inform state regulations that serve to protect the species from extirpation. This work often involves extensive field surveys over several years to determine population sizes and whether those populations are seeing reductions in number of individuals necessary to maintain the genetic diversity within and between those populations. Species and populations with high genetic diversity are better equipped to withstand sudden changes to their habitats that derive from land use changes and changing climate. There are a variety …

Genetic Diversity & Connectivity Of Chasmanthium Latifolium (Poaceae) In Pennsylvania & The Effect On Conservation Status Of A Rare Species, Jonathan D. Hayes

Honors Theses

Chasmanthium latifolium (Michx.) Yates (Poaceae) is a loosely colonial, rhizomatous, perennial grass species that lives in riparian habitats, making it fittingly referred to as river oats. Native to the southern Midwest and the eastern half of the United States, C. latifolium reaches the northeastern edge of its range in Pennsylvania. Within Pennsylvania, eleven extant C. latifolium populations are found along four waterways: the Monongahela River, the Susquehanna River, and two tributaries to the Susquehanna River. This limited state distribution exhibits an east-west disjunct distribution, where western populations are largely separated from eastern populations with one centrally located population. Between the …

Impacts Of Invasive Rats On Hawaiian Cave Resources, Francis G. Howarth, Fred D. Stone

International Journal of Speleology

Although there are no published studies and limited data documenting damage by rodents in Hawaiian caves, our incidental observations during more than 40 years of surveying caves indicate that introduced rodents, especially the roof rat, Rattus rattus, pose significant threats to vulnerable cave resources. Caves, with their nearly constant and predictable physical environment often house important natural and cultural features including biological, paleontological, geological, climatic, mineralogical, cultural, and archaeological resources. All four invasive rodents in Hawai‘i commonly nest in cave entrances and rock shelters, but only the roof rat (Rattus rattus) habitually enters caves and utilizes areas …

The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary: An Exploration Of Changing The Discourse On Conservation, Arielle Ben-Hur

Pitzer Senior Theses

In 2015, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council submitted a National Marine Sanctuary Nomination to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary– a means by which to ensure the protection of one of the most culturally and biologically diverse coastlines in the world. On October 5, 2015, John Armor of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded to the nomination, adding it to the inventory of areas NOAA may consider in the future for national marine sanctuary designation.

In my thesis, I explore how the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary acts as a platform from which Traditional …

History Of Grass Breeding For Grazing Lands In The Northern Great Plains Of The Usa And Canada, Kenneth P. Vogel, John Hendrickson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

• In the early 1930s there were millions of acres of extensively degraded grazing lands and abandoned and eroded cropland in the Northern Plains of the United States and Canada.

• Grass breeding and plant materials programs were established by both the US and Canadian governments and cooperating universities to develop revegetation materials.

• Efforts of a small number of research locations and people resulted in grass cultivars or varieties that were used to revegetate and preserve the soil on millions of acres of land.

• This is a brief history of the people, agencies, and universities that developed these …

Assessing Impacts Of Climate Change On Campanula Yaltirikii H.Duman (Campanulaceae), A Critically Endangered Endemic Species In Turkey, Canan Dülgeroğlu, Ahmet Aksoy

Turkish Journal of Botany

Ecological niche models (ENMs) provide information to assess the effects of environmental and climatic conditions on species distribution. The purpose of this study was to predict the impact of climate change on a critically endangered species, Campanula yaltirikii H.Duman. It is a local endemic chasmophyte from Mt Çığlıkara (Antalya, Turkey), restricted to cracks in calcareous rocks and threatened by goat overgrazing. Current and future ENMs of C. yaltirikii were predicted with a maximum entropy (Maxent) algorithm. The MIROC5 (Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate) climate change scenario for the year 2070 was used for projecting the future ENM of the …

Competition Or Facilitation: Examination Of Interactions Between Endangered Sida Hermaphrodita And Invasive Phragmites Australis, Samantha N. Mulholland

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Virginia Mallow (Sida hermaphrodita) is a perennial herb of the Malvaceae family that is native to riparian habitats in northeastern North America. Throughout most of its geographical distribution however, it is considered threatened and only two populations are known from Canada. The biology and ecology of S. hermaphrodita are still poorly understood and although few studies have been performed to determine the factors that contribute to the species rarity, it is considered threatened potentially due to the loss of habitat caused by exotic European Common reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis) invasion. Allelopathic and phytotoxic conditioning of …

Monitoring An Endangered And Rare Plant: Population Growth And Viability Oflotus Kunkelii (Esteve) Bramwell And Davis (Gran Canaria - Canary Islands), Agustin Naranjo Cigala, Marcos Salas, Francisco Javier Diaz, Aday Miguel Gonzalez-Garcia, Ana Ramos, Jose Ramon Arevalo Sierra

Turkish Journal of Botany

Species monitoring is a valuable tool that can be used to answer a wide range of questions directly related to species conservation, management, and population improvement. We monitored the only remaining population of Lotus kunkelii on a monthly basis over 3 years to reveal important characteristics of the population that could help protect it. In this study, the main hypothesis to be tested is whether the population of L. kunkelii is stable or not. The study site is located in Gran Canaria. Monthly censuses of the population recording size (height and diameter), mortality, regeneration, and presence of reproductive structures in …

Habitat Effects And Differences In The Reproductive Success Oforchis Punctulata And Orchis Purpurea (Orchidaceae), Spyros Tsiftsis, Vladan Djordjevic

Turkish Journal of Botany

The pollination success of two nonrewarding orchids in two coarse habitats was examined. The comparative results of Orchis punctulata and O. purpurea showed a significant differentiation. The fruit set of O. purpurea was significantly greater compared to O. punctulata, whereas both species also had significantly higher fruit set in the grassland compared to the forest. Although the pollination success of O. purpurea was not significantly correlated with plant height, inflorescence size, or nearest neighbor distance, these factors were found to be significantly correlated to the pollination success of O. punctulata. Among these factors, the nearest neighbor distance had the highest …

Investigating The Ecology Of A Rare Species On St. John, Usvi: Reintroducing Solanum Conocarpum In Light Of Climate Change, Cecilia Rogers

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Approximately two thirds of St. John is National Park territory. However, the land has been threatened with tourism and development, greatly impacting island biodiversity. One species that may become extinct due to this degradation is Solanum conocarpum. S. conocarpum is a rare shrub, endemic to the dry tropical forests of St. John, USVI. This plant is a species of conservation concern and is one of very few native and endemic plants on this island. Very little is known about the ecology and reproduction of S. conocarpum. Most plants are found on the southern half of the island. Recent observations …

The Population Genetics Of Morro Bay Eelgrass (Zostera Marina), Julia Gardner Harencar

Master's Theses

Seagrass populations are in decline worldwide. Zostera marina (eelgrass), one of California’s native seagrasses, is no exception to this trend. In the last 8 years, Morro Bay, California has lost 95% of its eelgrass. Eelgrass is an ecosystem engineer, providing important ecosystem services such as sediment stabilization, nutrient cycling, and nursery habitats for fish. The failure of recent restoration efforts necessitates a better understanding of the causes of eelgrass decline in this estuary. Previous research on eelgrass in California has demonstrated a link between population genetic diversity and eelgrass bed health, ecosystem functioning, and resilience to disturbance and extreme climatic …

Differentiating The Neches River Rose Mallow (Hibiscus Dasycalyx) From Its Congeners By Means Of Phylogenetics And Population Genetics, Julia Norrell

Biology Theses

This study used molecular phylogenetic methods to attempt to resolve the taxonomic status of the federally threatened East Texas-endemic wildflower, the Neches River Rose Mallow (Hibiscus dasycalyx). Hibiscus dasycalyx co-occurs with two other closely related congeners that are currently not of conservation concern: the halberdleaf rose mallow (H. laevis); and the crimson-eyed rose mallow (H. moscheutos). This study assessed the phylogeny of these three Hibiscus species, and attempted to determine if there is possible hybridization occurring between them. To this end, Restriction Site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-Seq), a Next Generation Sequencing method, was used …

The Effect Of Insects On Seed Set Of Ozark Chinquapin, Castanea Ozarkensis, Colton Zirkle

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ozark chinquapin (Castanea ozarkensis), once found throughout the Interior Highlands of the United States, has been decimated across much of its range due to accidental introduction of chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica. Efforts have been made to conserve and restore C. ozarkensis, but success requires thorough knowledge of the reproductive biology of the species. Other Castanea species are reported to have characteristics of both wind and insect pollination, but pollination strategies of Ozark chinquapin are unknown. Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of insects on successful pollination of C. ozarkensis, as measured by production of burs and seeds. Exclosure treatments …

Ultramafic Geoecology Of South And Southeast Asia, M.L. Galey, A. Van Der Ent, M.C.M. Iqbal, N. Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

Globally, ultramafic outcrops are renowned for hosting foras with high levels of endemism, including plants with specialised adaptations such as nickel or manganese hyperaccumulation. Soils derived from ultramafic regoliths are generally nutrient-deficient, have major cation imbalances, and have concomitant high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic trace elements, especially nickel. The South and Southeast Asian region has the largest surface occurrences of ultramafic regoliths in the world, but the geoecology of these outcrops is still poorly studied despite severe conservation threats. Due to the paucity of systematic plant collections in many areas and the lack of georeferenced herbarium records and databased information, …

Ultramafic Geoecology Of South And Southeast Asia, Nishanta Rajakaruna, M. Galey, Van Der Ent, M. Iqbal

Faculty Publications, Biological Sciences

Globally, ultramafic outcrops are renowned for hosting floras with high levels of endemism, including plants with specialised adaptations such as nickel or manganese hyperaccumulation. Soils derived from ultramafic regoliths are generally nutrient-deficient, have major cation imbalances, and have concomitant high concentrations of potentially phytotoxic trace elements, especially nickel. The South and Southeast Asian region has the largest surface occurrences of ultramafic regoliths in the world, but the geoecology of these outcrops is still poorly studied despite severe conservation threats. Due to the paucity of systematic plant collections in many areas and the lack of georeferenced herbarium records and databased information, …

Evaluating The Utility Of Rbcl In Identifying Nigerian Speciesof The Genus Afzelia Sm. (Fabaceae; Caesalpinioideae), Aramide Oshingboye, George Nodza, Temitope Onuminya, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

Turkish Journal of Botany

The genus Afzelia Sm. (Fabaceae) represents one of the most useful tree species in tropical Africa. These trees have huge socioeconomic and ecological importance, but are under serious threat from incessant exploitation. This has caused a decline of the species in the wild; several species are now registered as threatened and endangered in the IUCN red list. However, conserving this species for posterity has been hampered by the complexity of morphological characters that exist among Afzelia species. In our study, we evaluated the utility of rbcL as a single barcode region, exploring its performance to accurately identify Nigerian Afzelia species …

Tomus Nominum Eriastri: The Nomenclature And Taxonomy Of Eriastrum (Polemoniaceae: Loeselieae), Sarah J. De Groot

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

A revised taxonomy for the genus Eriastrum is presented, including type information, synonymy, descriptions, and keys for identification. The nomenclature of Hugelia lanata, Gilia floccosa, and Gilia virgata var. yageri is clarified. Additionally, issues pertaining to August Brand’s, Thomas Nuttall’s, and Asa Gray’s names in Eriastrum are reviewed. An illustrated glossary of important descriptive terms is provided, along with photographs and illustrations of taxa and features. Lectotypes are proposed for 14 taxa. There is further discussion about the nomenclature and type localities for each taxon, comparison of circumscriptions from previous authors, and some field observations. Discussion of identifying …

Historic Distribution And Ecology Of Tall-Grass Prairie In Western Canada, Darcy C. Henderson, Nicola Koper

The Prairie Naturalist

Rapid settlement and agricultural development of western Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s nearly eliminated the tall-grass prairie, and pre-empted a detailed description by ecologists. A combination of literature review and historical ecological analysis of soils, climate, and composition data are applied to estimate the historic distribution, and area occupied by tall-grass prairie in southern Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. The resulting area estimate of 20,830 km² is more than three times any previously reported value. Some confusion of terms from the first half of the 1900s, and the impact of invasive species on vegetation patterns observed …

Monteverde: Ecology And Conservation Of A Tropical Cloud Forest - 2014 Updated Chapters, Nalini M. Nadkarni, Nathaniel T. Wheelwright

Bowdoin Scholars' Bookshelf

The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has captured the worldwide attention of biologists, conservationists, and ecologists and has been the setting for extensive investigation over the past 40 years. Roughly 40,000 ecotourists visit the Cloud Forest each year, and it is often considered the archetypal high-altitude rain forest. “Monteverde: Ecology and Conservation of a Tropical Cloud Forest”, edited by Nalini Nadkarni and Nathaniel T. Wheelwright (Oxford University Press, 2000 and Bowdoin’s Scholar’s Bookshelf. Book 1 ), features synthetic chapters and specific accounts written by more than 100 biologist and local residents, presenting in a single volume everything known in 2000 about …

The Interaction Of Climate Change, Land Cover, And Political Representation In The Usa, Brady W. Allred, Dirac L. Twidwell, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The difficulties in tackling climate change are inherently complex and primarily centered on political and social values. This is evident in the United States where political divisions and polarizations are fundamental barriers to advancing national policies, which in turn hinder international agreements, mitigation, and adaptation. Within the United States, the vast majority of agricultural and natural resource lands are projected to incur significant climate departures and are represented by the Republican Party. The resources and economic sectors that will be directly affected by climate change are represented by national leadership that is unlikely to accept policies to prevent or adapt …