Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Comparisons In Morphology, Reproductive Status, And Feeding Ecology Of Plethodon Cinereus At High And Low Elevations In West Virginia, Mizuki Takahashi

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

To develop effects of elevation on morphological features, reproductive status, and feeding ecology of Plethodon cinereus in West Virginia, overall comparisons between high (>4000 ft) and low (<1260 ft) elevation populations were made. Adult P. cinereus from high elevations were smaller in SVL (female: p=0.003, male: p<0.001), but stored larger amounts of fat (female: p=0.041, male: p=0.006) in their tails than fromlow elevations. Larger amounts of tail fat could be an adaptation to harsh environments at high elevations. It was determined that in West Virginia, where as females at low elevations oviposit annually, females at high elevations oviposit biennially. Stomach content analysis revealed that salamanders at high elevations were confronted by food shortage. Because of less prey availability and longer winters at high elevations, salamanders at high elevations attained the smaller body size than at low elevations and could not obtain sufficient energy in 1 year to yolk a clutch.

A Cladistic Analysis And Taxonomic Revision Of The Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia), F. Robin O’Keefe

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

The Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) is a group of Mesozoic marine reptiles known from abundant material, with specimens described from all continents. The group originated very near the Triassic–Jurassic boundary and persisted to the end- Cretaceous mass extinction. This study describes the results of a specimen-based cladistic study of the Plesiosauria, based on examination of 34 taxa scored for 166 morphological characters. The Pliosauroidea is found to by polyphyletic due to the inclusion of the Polycotylidae; this second clade is instead a member of the Plesiosauroidea, and thus more closely related to elasmosaurs than to other ‘pliosaurs’. Characters of body proportion …

Intraintestinal Sites Of Infection For The Trematode Species Plagitura Salamandra Holl 1928 And Plagitura Parva Stunkard 1933 In Red-Spotted Newts Notopthalmus V. Viridescens (Rafinesque), Jeremy T. Clay

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The red-spotted newt, Notopthalmus v. viridescens (Rafinesque) is a common salamander in the eastern United States. Studies on the parasites are available, however these studies examined total parasite fauna. This study examines two species, Plagitura salamandra Holl 1928 and Plagitura parva Stunkard 1933 found in the small intestine of the red-spotted newt. A total of 225 newts was collected and examined for the two Plagitura species. No difference was found in prevalence of infection, mean intensity, SVL, and weight between male and female newts. Plagitura parva was found in 24.4 % of the newts while P. salamandra was found in …

Natural History Of The Four-Toed Salamander, Hemidactylium Scutatum, In West Virginia, Sandra L. Kilpatrick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A 2-year study was conducted to determine the reproductive and nesting habits, embryonic and larval development, and tolerance to acid conditions of Hemidactylium scutatum in West Virginia. Five study sites located in or adjacent to the Otter Creek National Wilderness Area, Monongahela National Forest, Randolph County, West Virginia, were monitored to determine nesting habits and length of incubation and larval periods in Hemidactylium Time of breeding was determined by spermatogenic wave analysis and time of egg deposition was determined by examination of ovarian follicles and field observations of gravid females migrating to nest sites. Breeding occurred in autumn and again …

Meteorological Factors Controlling The Emergence Of The Eastern Spadefoot Toad, Scaphiopus Holbrooki Holbrookii Harlan, Larry Judy

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Scaphiopus holbrooki holbrookii, the Eastern Spadefoot, can exist in an area for many years before it is detected. Its apparent scarcity can be explained by its secretive, fossorial habitat, protective coloration, and nocturnal behavior. Spadefoots are present at the surface locally in small numbers on any one night. They emerge only when conditions are optimum. One authority has suggested that temperature, moisture, and barometric pressure exert control over emergence.

It was the purpose of this research to discover the most important meterorological parameters and investigate how they control the behavior of Scaphiopus.

Initially the response, emergence to breed was distinguished …