Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
- Institution
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The Role Of Teleost Grazers In A Relatively Pristine Seagrass Ecosystem, Cindy Bessey
The Role Of Teleost Grazers In A Relatively Pristine Seagrass Ecosystem, Cindy Bessey
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Trophic downgrading of ecosystems necessitates a functional understanding of trophic cascades. Identifying the presence of cascades, and the mechanisms through which they occur, is particularly important for seagrass meadows, which are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Shark Bay, Western Australia provides a model system to investigate the potential importance of top-down effects in a relatively pristine seagrass ecosystem. The role of megagrazers in the Shark Bay system has been previously investigated, but the role of macrograzers (i.e., teleosts), and their importance relative to megagrazers, remains unknown. The objective of my dissertation was to elucidate the importance of teleost …
Effects Of Multiple Ecological Drivers On Recruitment And Succession Of Coral Reef Macroalgal Communities, Alain Duran
Effects Of Multiple Ecological Drivers On Recruitment And Succession Of Coral Reef Macroalgal Communities, Alain Duran
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The study evaluated the effects of herbivory pressure, nutrient availability and potential propagule supply on recruitment and succession of coral reef macroalgal communities. Recruitment and succession tiles were placed in a nutrient-herbivory factorial experiment and macroalgal abundances were evaluated through time. Proportional abundances of macroalgal form-functional groups on recruitment and succession tiles were similar to field established communities within treatments, evidencing possible effects of adult macroalgae as propagule supply. Macroalgal abundance of recruitment tiles increased with nutrient loading and herbivory reduction combined whereas on succession tiles nutrient loading increased abundance of articulated-calcareous only when herbivores were excluded. Macroalgal field established …
Effects Of Herbivory As An Ecological Constraint Of Willow Growth At A Restored Riparian Corridor, Jacqueline A. Mccrory
Effects Of Herbivory As An Ecological Constraint Of Willow Growth At A Restored Riparian Corridor, Jacqueline A. Mccrory
Master's Theses
A critical component of nearly all riparian restoration projects is the rapid successful recovery of native vegetation. The dynamic conditions and diverse biotic community supported by riparian ecosystems can present numerous constraints to restoration efforts. This study investigated stunted growth of arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) cuttings planted along the banks of Redwood Creek as part of the National Park Service’s Muir Beach Restoration Project to restore habitat for special status species in California. Based on observations of deer browsing, as well as signs of extensive biomass removal, I designed a field experiment using exclusionary fencing to test the significance of …
Herbivory By Parma Mccullochi (Pomacentridae) : Its Role As An Ecosystem Engineer In Temperate Algal-Dominated Reefs, Frederico Vitelli
Herbivory By Parma Mccullochi (Pomacentridae) : Its Role As An Ecosystem Engineer In Temperate Algal-Dominated Reefs, Frederico Vitelli
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Pomacentridae is one of the most representative families of herbivorous fishes inhabiting both tropical and temperate reefs, yet the vast majority of studies examining feeding within this family have been undertaken in tropical rather than temperate regions. Despite the high abundances of the pomacentrid Parma mccullochi in temperate waters of Western Australia, and their likely importance in removing algae from reefs in the region, there is a lack of information on their diet and their impact on the reef algal community. This study aims to determine the role of Parma mccullochi as an ecosystem engineer on temperate algal-dominated reefs in …
Modeling Simultaneous Selection For Resistance And Tolerance In Goldenrod (Solidago Altissima) Across A Range Of Spittlebug Population Densities, Michael J. Wise, Warren G. Abrahamson Ii
Modeling Simultaneous Selection For Resistance And Tolerance In Goldenrod (Solidago Altissima) Across A Range Of Spittlebug Population Densities, Michael J. Wise, Warren G. Abrahamson Ii
Warren G. Abrahamson, II
Plant defenses against herbivory include two main strategies: resistance (to minimize the amount of damage) and tolerance (to minimize the fitness impact of that damage). Recent studies have emphasized the need to consider both strategies simultaneously for a fuller understanding of the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of plant defense against herbivores. We used a combination of a garden study, a greenhouse experiment, and mathematical modeling to investigate resistance to and tolerance of spittlebug damage in the goldenrod Solidago altissima. In contrast to traditional expectations, the genetic correlation between resistance and tolerance was highly positive. Selection gradients indicated that directional selection …