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Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Quantifying The Ecological Effects Of Salix Fragilis On Riparian Habitat In Kittitas County, Washington, Landon Shaffer Jan 2024

Quantifying The Ecological Effects Of Salix Fragilis On Riparian Habitat In Kittitas County, Washington, Landon Shaffer

All Master's Theses

Invasive species threaten plant community structure and function globally. Riparian areas, the zone near streams where water influences vegetation, are especially sensitive to invasive species colonization, suffering large-scale shifts in community composition. Salix fragilis (crack willow) is a nonnative riparian species abundant in the lower elevation tributaries of central Washington. Some speculate whether this willow should be listed as invasive in Washington, despite a lack of regional supporting evidence. I studied riparian communities dominated by either S. fragilis or native species in the Kittitas Valley and measured biodiversity, quantified differences in solar attenuation, and compared leaf decomposition rates to learn …


Effects Of Solar Arrays On Southwestern Desert Thermal Landscapes: Consequences For Terrestrial Ectotherms, Adrian Slade Jan 2023

Effects Of Solar Arrays On Southwestern Desert Thermal Landscapes: Consequences For Terrestrial Ectotherms, Adrian Slade

All Master's Theses

Solar energy development in the Southwestern United States coincides with habitat for many sensitive and endemic species, including reptiles such as Mojave Fringe-toed Lizards and Mojave Desert Tortoises who are threatened by a warming and drying climate. While utility-scale solar energy reduces carbon emissions and should ultimately benefit climate-sensitive species, it locally destroys fragile desert habitat, displaces wildlife, and has been shown to incur local air and surface temperature changes. Mitigation-based translocation of wildlife species in the face of solar development yields mixed results, and the unprecedented pace of solar expansion in the desert highlights the need for alternative practices …


Spatio-Temporal Movement Patterns Of Sub-Adult Adfluvial Bull Trout, Aimee Taylor Jan 2022

Spatio-Temporal Movement Patterns Of Sub-Adult Adfluvial Bull Trout, Aimee Taylor

All Master's Theses

Bull Trout in the Yakima River basin of Washington are primarily adfluvial, often using managed lakes as habitat. Kachess Lake, composed of Big and Little Kachess Lakes, is managed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) for water storage. BOR plans to build a structure that can withdraw an additional 200,000 acre-feet of water in drought years, which would disconnect the two basins for multiple years. This study examined the spatio-temporal movement of sub-adult Bull Trout in Kachess Lake to understand distribution patterns and the effects of environmental variables. We sought to answer 1) does time (week of the year), diel …


Ticks On Lizards: Parasite-Host Interactions Of The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria Multicarinata) In Washington State, Emma Houghton Jan 2020

Ticks On Lizards: Parasite-Host Interactions Of The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria Multicarinata) In Washington State, Emma Houghton

All Undergraduate Projects

I investigated interactions between ectoparasites (ticks) and their host, the southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata). Alligator lizards are capable of complement-mediated killing of the Lyme disease spirochete carried by ticks and may potentially reduce Lyme disease prevalence by cleansing pathogenic organisms from ticks. Despite this, little is known about host-parasite dynamics in alligator lizards. My goals were to 1) assess patterns of tick presence (i.e. parasite load) on alligator lizards and 2) investigate potential negative effects of ticks on alligator lizards. I sampled lizards during the summer of 2019 near Catherine Creek, along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington. …


Ticks On Lizards: Parasite-Host Interactions Of The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria Multicarinata) In Washington State, Emma Houghton Jan 2020

Ticks On Lizards: Parasite-Host Interactions Of The Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria Multicarinata) In Washington State, Emma Houghton

Undergraduate Honors Theses

I investigated interactions between ectoparasites (ticks) and their host, the southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata). Alligator lizards are capable of complement-mediated killing of the Lyme disease spirochete carried by ticks and may potentially reduce Lyme disease prevalence by cleansing pathogenic organisms from ticks. Despite this, little is known about host-parasite dynamics in alligator lizards. My goals were to 1) assess patterns of tick presence (i.e. parasite load) on alligator lizards and 2) investigate potential negative effects of ticks on alligator lizards. I sampled lizards during the summer of 2019 near Catherine Creek, along the Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington. …


Investigating The Avian Species Composition, Diversity, And Abundance Of Engelhorn Pond, Kiana Rose Jan 2020

Investigating The Avian Species Composition, Diversity, And Abundance Of Engelhorn Pond, Kiana Rose

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Central Washington University’s Engelhorn Pond contains important habitats for many organisms, particularly migratory birds, and is a valuable resource for students. However, little information is available about the wildlife inhabiting the pond. The pond’s discrete location means that many people are unaware of its existence. In addition, the pond is threatened by a number of anthropogenic sources, including chemical runoff, garbage, and feral cats. By using point counts, a common ornithological survey technique, I recorded the bird species present at the pond during all seasons of the year. I collected data using point counts during 13 visits from June of …


Effects Of Wildfires On Rattlesnake (Crotalus Oreganus) Growth And Movement In Washington State, Joseph Chase Jan 2017

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 …


Behavioral Response Of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus Tridentatus) To Predator Odors, Laurie L. Porter Jan 2015

Behavioral Response Of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus Tridentatus) To Predator Odors, Laurie L. Porter

All Master's Theses

Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus), a species facing serious threats to their existence, experience a number of challenges in reaching their desired spawning grounds during the adult migratory phase, and predators are suspected to be one of these challenges. Understanding if Pacific lamprey respond to predator odorants may provide a management tool for use in conjunction with attractants in guiding lamprey to suitable spawning habitat and deterring them from poor habitat. Previous research has failed to explore Pacific lamprey response to predator odorants, although much research exists on attractant odorants. In our study, we tested Pacific lamprey response to …


An Investigation Of The Behavior Of Citellus Townsendii Townsendii (Bachman) In Central Washington, Mark Roy Fuller Aug 1971

An Investigation Of The Behavior Of Citellus Townsendii Townsendii (Bachman) In Central Washington, Mark Roy Fuller

All Master's Theses

This study of the behavior of Citellus townsendii townsendii was based on field observations of animals at their northern most distribution. The squirrels' seasonal activity and behavioral repertoire, when considered with environmental parameters, suggest important adaptations for survival. The animals were in torpor from about July to February. Activity generally occurred during the midmorning hours, allowing them to avoid temperature extremes. Quantitative analysis of behavioral observations indicated that most activities occurred in a non-random order.


Food Habits Of Dicamptodon Ensatus And Associated Fish Species Of Maratta Creek, Washington, Authur L. Antonelli Aug 1969

Food Habits Of Dicamptodon Ensatus And Associated Fish Species Of Maratta Creek, Washington, Authur L. Antonelli

All Master's Theses

Three cold-blooded vertebrates, Dicamptodon ensatus, Cottus tenuis, and Salmo gairdneri were investigated as to food habits for a period of one year. The existence of competition between these animals for food was determined by means of stomach analysis. The results were compared relative to each vertebrate and the bottom fauna procurred from the stream. It was shown that the food habits of D. ensatus and S. gairdneri were diverse enough to warrant partial exclusion on the basis of food. C. tenuis demonstrated selectivity and was shown to be under competitive stress from the other two species.


Geographic Variation In Dicamptodon Ensatus (Eschscholtz) With Notes On Life History And Zoogeography, Ronald A. Nussbaum Jul 1968

Geographic Variation In Dicamptodon Ensatus (Eschscholtz) With Notes On Life History And Zoogeography, Ronald A. Nussbaum

All Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper is to present information concerning geographic variation between three northern populations of Dicamptodon, and to add to the meager store of information concerning the life history and biology of the species.


The Distribution Of Three Taxa Of Peromyscus In Central Washington, Gay Harold Engelsen Apr 1967

The Distribution Of Three Taxa Of Peromyscus In Central Washington, Gay Harold Engelsen

All Master's Theses

One aspect of the study was to define the present ranges of all types of Peromyscus in the study area; the other to determine the extent of interfertility of the groups.


Home Range Analysis Of The Montane Vole, Don Rogers Toews Jun 1966

Home Range Analysis Of The Montane Vole, Don Rogers Toews

All Master's Theses

This study on Microtus montanus was divided into three major sections: 1) An examination of nests, burrows, and runways, 2) A comparison of two methods of home range analysis--live trapping and radio-isotope tracing, and 3) A comparison of the home range of Microtus montanus with other species of Microtus as published in the literature.