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Full-Text Articles in Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The Biogeographic Origins And Trophic Ecology Of Maine’S Island Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon Cinereus), Nikko-Ideen Shaidani May 2017

The Biogeographic Origins And Trophic Ecology Of Maine’S Island Red-Backed Salamanders (Plethodon Cinereus), Nikko-Ideen Shaidani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Island populations of terrestrial species have an increased potential, compared to mainland populations, to adapt and diverge, as these populations often are isolated with respect to gene flow from other populations and may be subjected to novel pressures. Indeed, extended isolation of individuals can elicit dramatic changes within populations and is recognized as a common driver of speciation. It is for these reasons that island populations are often a priority for conservation. Plethodontid salamanders are among the most terrestrial of Maine’s amphibians and are not tolerant of prolonged exposure to seawater, and yet, they are found on a number of …


Measuring Fertilization In Populations Of Sea Scallop (Placopecten Magellanicus): Developing And Testing Methods In The Laboratory And Field, Skylar Bayer May 2017

Measuring Fertilization In Populations Of Sea Scallop (Placopecten Magellanicus): Developing And Testing Methods In The Laboratory And Field, Skylar Bayer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Most marine organisms are broadcast spawners, releasing their sperm and eggs into the water column. Methods of measuring in situ fertilization have proven successful with a few model species, which are reviewed in my introductory chapter. However, many commercially exploited species, such as the sea scallop Placopecten magellanicus, have been neglected. Sea scallop populations have greatly increased from fishing closures, but the mechanism behind this response is uncertain, particularly in regard to fertilization. In this dissertation I developed a methodology of measuring fertilization success and spawning events of P. magellanicus, tested it in laboratory and field settings, and …


Mind The Gap: Effects Of Habitat And Climate On Northern Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon) Distribution In Maine, Anthony J. Pawlicki May 2017

Mind The Gap: Effects Of Habitat And Climate On Northern Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon Sipedon) Distribution In Maine, Anthony J. Pawlicki

Honors College

Northern water snakes (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) have a disjunct geographic range in the northeastern part of their distribution, specifically in Maine with one occupied region about 125 kilometers from any other known population. This gap could be due to a number of factors with some currently affecting the species including dispersal and habitat characteristics, while some factors may have historically affected their distribution, such as retreating glaciers and climate change. We assessed the effects of lake characteristics and bioclimatic variables on the range of N. s. sipedon within Maine using a logistic regression built from a generalized liner model. Lake …