Life Sciences Commons^™

Diversity Analysis Of Soil Fungus Communities In Disturbed, Nursery, And Mature Forest Conditions, Dana Whitmore

All Master's Theses

Populations of soil fungi were examined in Derby Canyon Natives, Coeur d’Alene Forest Service nursery, Swamp Lake, and the Keechelus Lake wildlife overcrossing soils. All sampling sites were connected by their relation to the revegetation and native soil plug inoculation of the wildlife overpass. This study was an effort to describe soil fungi communities present on the overpass before plant introduction, those that plants would be bringing in their pots, and the fungi that could be introduced via soil plug transplantation. DNA was extracted from soil samples, then sequenced using next-generation sequencing methods, allowing for the analysis of species richness …

Effects Of Wildfires On Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus) Growth And Movement In Washington State, Joseph Chase

All Master's Theses

Fire is a dominant force in the Pacific Northwest that shapes ecosystems and influences wildlife, yet little is known of its effects on local predators. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) comprise an excellent model to investigate how fire may influence wildlife because they are important predators that contribute to controlling prey populations, but are also unable to readily escape from wildfires. We developed a novel technique to assess growth rates of rattlesnakes by using digital photography to analyze differences in widths of their rattle segments laid down over time. We compared growth rates of rattlesnakes in habitats that …

Activity Patterns, Home Range, And Microhabitat Selection Of A Terrestrial Turtle (Rhinoclemmys Rubida Perixantha) In A Tropical Dry Forest, Taggert G. Butterfield

All Master's Theses

Turtles are in trouble worldwide, with nearly half recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as needing special protection. The Eurasian pond and Neotropical wood turtles of the family Geoemydidae are the most diverse turtles and comprise ¼ of all turtle species yet basic information on their natural history is lacking. Moreover, seasonal tropical dry forest (SDTF), where many geoemydids exist, is considered the most endangered ecosystem in the world. We investigated the activity patterns, home range size, and microhabitat selection of the Mexican Spotted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys rubida perixantha) in its SDTF habitat by …

Provisioning And Its Effects On The Social Interactions Of Tibetan Macaques (Macaca Thibetana) At Mt. Huangshan, China, Brianna I. Schnepel

All Master's Theses

The dispersal patterns of food resources has a significant effect on the composition of primate groups and social interactions within those groups. Humans often alter the dispersal of food. Non-humans often use affiliative behaviors to elicit tolerance or support from other group members. I investigated whether provisioned food resources alter the social interactions and group dynamics of Macaca thibetana. All-occurrence sampling and scan sampling were used for data recorded by camera traps. Trail-cameras were placed at six locations that contain natural and human food resources and recorded 60-second videos. Social behavior and proximity of the monkeys were recorded. I …

Evaluating The Utility Of Beaver Reintroduction Programs For Enhancing Habitat For Rainbow Trout And Steelhead, Jonathan Rodger Hegna

All Master's Theses

Beaver reintroduction programs are increasingly being viewed as a way to enhance salmonid habitat and production. However, the actual effectiveness of using beavers as a habitat enhancement tool for ESA listed steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss populations is unknown. We examined the type of habitat, at both the microhabitat and mesohabitat levels, preferred by steelhead in three small streams in the upper Yakima Basin, WA through standard snorkel surveys and habitat measurements. Our results suggest that steelhead in small streams strongly prefer (relative to availability) microhabitats that have deeper water(> 30 cm), slow stream velocities(< 0 .05 mis), and complex cover types. Habitat partitioning among the size-classes (small< 50 mm, medium 50-90 mm, large> 90 mm total length, TL) principally operated …

A Comparative Investigation Of Understanding Of Ecological Content Between Eighth And Tenth Grade Pupils, David Lee Herbenson

All Master's Theses

The study had two major purposes. One purpose was to determine if Covington Junior High School eighth grade pupils understood the basic ecological ideas and facts presented to them in a teacher-designed one semester course entitled Environmental Concepts Orientation (ECO). The second purpose was to find out the degree of competence attained by the eighth grade pupils as compared to tenth grade pupils taking a one year ecologically oriented course in the nationally developed Green Version BSCS biology series at Camas, Washington.

The Microclimate, Ion And Water Balance Of Larval And Adult Ascaphus Truei Stejneger, Terry L. Mullen

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper is first to describe the microclimate occupied by larval and adult Ascaphus. This microclimate presents certain osmo- and iono- regulatory problems. The second purpose of this paper is to show how Ascaphus meets these osmo- and iono- regulatory problems.

Subalpine Cover Ecology Of Eutamias Amoenus, Eutamias Townsendii And Other Small Mammals In Huckleberry Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Don H. Meredith

All Master's Theses

Little work has been done on the ecology of alpine and subalpine small mammals. They are included in faunal surveys, but little is known of their habits. In the summer of 1969 this study was undertaken in subalpine Huckleberry Park, Mount Rainier National Park, to determine the species of small mammals in the area and some of their relationships with the environment and each other. The relationships between E. amoenus and E. townsendii were of special interest.

An Annotated Check List Of The Land Mammals Of Curry County, Oregon, Paul Emerson Sherrell

All Master's Theses

Curry County merits study for several reasons. Very little work has been done on its mammalian fauna resulting in a limited number of specimens. In turn there is a sparsity of literature; that written is chiefly concerned with the genera Arborimus and Phenacomys. The location of the county places it in an area of scrambled geological history resulting in a diverse mixture of faunal and floral elements. Logging, agriculture, and grazing activities have altered and continue to alter the natural habitats. These interests have permanently changed both the floristic and faunistic composition of the county.

The aims of this study …