Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Isolation Effects Of Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation On Greenside (Etheostoma Blennioides) And Fantail (Etheostoma Flabellare) Darters, Rita M. Klein

Masters Theses

Aquatic habitat fragmentation is defined as the lack of connectivity between upstream and downstream populations and can occur along two gradients, the longitudinal gradient and the lateral gradient. The longitudinal gradient focuses on objects within the stream and is concerned with the disruption of stream flow, which is normally brought about by the presence of dams and bridges. Fragmentation along the lateral gradient, on the other hand, examines factors outside of the stream and is related to any loss or modification of the surrounding riparian zone.

In Illinois within the last 100 years, stream habitats have become increasingly fragmented by …

Managing Wetland Vegetation For Marsh Birds And Waterfowl At Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area, Il, Matthew W. Bowyer

Masters Theses

The high cost of restoring and managing wetlands warrants careful assessment of their management potential. We designed this study to provide basic information on how seed banks and hydroperiod influence the development of habitat for migratory birds in restored wetlands at Carlyle Lake Wildlife Management Area (CLWMA). The objectives were to: (1) survey the composition of the seed banks; (2) investigate the effects of early- vs. late-drawdowns on the germination and growth of these plants; and (3) monitor the use of these communities by wetland birds during migration and the breeding season. The study was conducted on a marsh complex …