Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Climate change (9)
- Conservation (9)
- Invasive species (9)
- Apoidea (5)
- Energy (5)
-
- Sustainability (5)
- Abundance (4)
- Ecosystem services (4)
- Invasive plant (4)
- Management (4)
- Massachusetts (4)
- Biological control (3)
- Climate Change (3)
- Groundwater (3)
- Gulf of Maine (3)
- Habitat (3)
- Land Use (3)
- Soil (3)
- Sustainable (3)
- Adaptation (2)
- African elephant (2)
- Agroforestry (2)
- BIODIVERSITY (2)
- Bee conservation (2)
- Biodiversity (2)
- Bird (2)
- Bombini (2)
- Bombus perplexus (2)
- Bombus sandersoni (2)
- Bombus vagans (2)
- Publication Year
- Publication
-
- Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series (92)
- Masters Theses (30)
- Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 (10)
- Scott D. Jackson (10)
- Doctoral Dissertations (9)
-
- Bethany Bradley (3)
- Environmental Conservation Educational Materials (3)
- Sustainability Education Resources (3)
- Alexander Haro (2)
- Student Showcase (2)
- Center for Economic Development Technical Reports (1)
- Environmental Conservation Datasets (1)
- Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Studio and Student Research and Creative Activity (1)
- Massachusetts GIS Day (1)
- Microbiology Educational Materials (1)
- Publications (1)
- Research (1)
- School of Public Policy Capstones (1)
- Sustainability Reports & Plans (1)
- Water Fact Sheets (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 174
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
A Multi-Regional Assessment Of Eastern Whip-Poor-Will (Antrostomus Vociferus) Occupancy In Managed And Unmanaged Forests Using Autonomous Recording Units, Jeffery T. Larkin
A Multi-Regional Assessment Of Eastern Whip-Poor-Will (Antrostomus Vociferus) Occupancy In Managed And Unmanaged Forests Using Autonomous Recording Units, Jeffery T. Larkin
Masters Theses
State and federal agencies spend considerable time and resources to enhance and create habitat for wildlife. Understanding how target and non-target species respond to these efforts can help direct the allocation of limited conservation resources. However, monitoring species response to habitat management comes with several logistical challenges that are exacerbated as the area of geographic focus increases. I used autonomous recording units (ARUs) to mitigate these challenges when assessing Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) response to forest management. I deployed 1,265 ARUs across managed and unmanaged public and private forests from western North Carolina to southern Maine. I then …
Heat Flow In The Southern Margin Of Salar De Atacama: Deep Groundwater Temperature Distributions And The Implications For Subsurface Flow And Land Surface Energy Budgets, Graham Thomas
Masters Theses
Salar de Atacama (SdA) located in Northern Chile is home to one of the planet’s largest salar systems and lithium resources. Managing groundwater resources in salars is not obvious due to the lack of scientific understanding on the connectivity between the freshwater and brine systems. Using heat as a tracer in SdA provides a cost-effective method to further investigate groundwater flow in salars. This study employs 372 temperature-depth profiles from 90 boreholes between 2013-18 to understand the distinct thermal zones and flow between them in SdA. Three thermal zones exist within the southern margin of SdA’s thermal regime, at higher …
Conservation Value Of Suburban Woodlands For A Declining Songbird, Melanie L. Klein
Conservation Value Of Suburban Woodlands For A Declining Songbird, Melanie L. Klein
Doctoral Dissertations
Urbanization and suburbanization (hereafter, used interchangeably) can create some of the most drastically altered habitats of all anthropogenic land uses. Despite this, many wildlife species, including roughly 20% of the world’s birds, can be found in cities. Furthermore, research has shown that suburban forest patches can have important conservation value for birds. As urbanized areas rapidly grow, in terms of both geographical extent and human population, and as numerous bird species experience population declines, understanding how avian species fare in these areas has never been more vital. Not only is this knowledge timely for avian conservation, but for the human …
The Use Of Biological Soil Health Indicators To Quantify The Benefits Of Cover Crops, Alexander Wu
The Use Of Biological Soil Health Indicators To Quantify The Benefits Of Cover Crops, Alexander Wu
Masters Theses
Soils provide many essential functions that support the world. With a decline in soil health, these functions also decrease in efficiency, and can threaten the health of billions of people around the world. Typically, soil health tests do not use biological indicators, however microbes drive and perform vital functions to increase soil health. One way to increase soil health is through the use of cover crops to reduce soil erosion during fallow periods, increasing soil organic matter, as well as collecting nutrients from soil into their biomass. These cover crops are then terminated through various methods such as herbicides, disk …
Modeling Spatial Distributions Of Tidal Marsh Blue Carbon Using Morphometric Parameters From Lidar, Bonnie Turek
Modeling Spatial Distributions Of Tidal Marsh Blue Carbon Using Morphometric Parameters From Lidar, Bonnie Turek
Masters Theses
Tidal marshes serve as important “blue carbon” ecosystems that accrete large amounts of carbon with limited area. While much attention has been paid to the spatial variability of sedimentation within salt marshes, less work has been done to characterize spatial variability in marsh carbon density. Driven by tidal inundation, surface topography, and sediment supply, soil properties in marshes vary spatially with several parameters, including marsh platform elevation and proximity to the marsh edge and tidal creek network. We used lidar to extract these morphometric parameters from tidal marshes to map soil organic carbon (SOC) at the meter scale. Fixed volume …
The Relative Effects Of Functional Diversity And Structural Complexity On Carbon Dynamics In Late-Successional, Northeastern Mixed Hardwood Forests, Samantha Myers
Masters Theses
Late-successional forests provide a unique opportunity to explore adaptive management approaches that mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels through carbon storage while also enhancing ecological resilience to novel climate and disturbances. Typical benchmarks for adaptive forest management include species diversity and structural complexity, which are widely considered to increase ecosystem stability and productivity. However, the role of functional trait diversity (e.g., variation in leaf and stem traits) in driving forest productivity and ecosystem resilience remains underexplored. We leveraged existing continuous forest inventory (CFI) data and collected local functional trait observations from CFI plots within late-successional forests in western Massachusetts to explore …
Using A Novel Biologging Approach To Assess How Different Handling Practices Influence The Post-Release Behaviour Of Northern Pike Across A Wide Range Of Body Sizes, Luc Larochelle, Declan Burton, Jamie C. Madden, Sascha Clark Danylchuk, Steven J. Cooke, Andy J. Danylchuk
Using A Novel Biologging Approach To Assess How Different Handling Practices Influence The Post-Release Behaviour Of Northern Pike Across A Wide Range Of Body Sizes, Luc Larochelle, Declan Burton, Jamie C. Madden, Sascha Clark Danylchuk, Steven J. Cooke, Andy J. Danylchuk
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
There is a growing body of research focused on how angled fish respond to catch-and-release (C&R). However, most of those studies do not span a wide range of body sizes for the targeted species. Physical injury and physiological responses to C&R can be size-dependent, and methods used for landing fish of different sizes vary. As such, studying the response to C&R across a range of fish sizes may help inform best practices that improve outcomes for released fish. Northern Pike (Esox lucius) widely ranges in body size. Anglers may land them by hand, cradle, or net, and they …
Pest Control Services On Farms Vary Among Bird Species On Diversified, Low-Intensity Farms, Samuel J. Mayne, David I. King, Jeremy C. Andersen, Joseph S. Elkinton
Pest Control Services On Farms Vary Among Bird Species On Diversified, Low-Intensity Farms, Samuel J. Mayne, David I. King, Jeremy C. Andersen, Joseph S. Elkinton
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Avian species provide pest control services in some agricultural systems, which may incentivize farmers to conserve natural habitats for native biodiversity. A critical component of this equation, however, is verifying that avian species are consuming potential pest species in the agricultural ecosystems. We used a DNA metabarcoding approach to determine the frequency of pest presence in songbird fecal samples collected from birds caught on diversified, low-intensity farms in New England, USA, during the bird breeding season. Twelve species of insect pest were identified in fecal samples, and across all songbird species 12.6% of samples included DNA from at least …
Habitat Associations Of Golden-Winged Warblers And Blue-Winged Warblers During The Non-Breeding Season, David I. King, Michael E. Akresh, David A. Murillo, Ruth E. Bennett, Richard B. Chandler
Habitat Associations Of Golden-Winged Warblers And Blue-Winged Warblers During The Non-Breeding Season, David I. King, Michael E. Akresh, David A. Murillo, Ruth E. Bennett, Richard B. Chandler
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
The Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chyrsoptera) and Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) are both Neotropical migratory species of elevated conservation concern that overlap in distribution on their Central American wintering grounds, yet the extent to which they overlap in terms of habitat use is unknown, potentially hindering conservation efforts. We surveyed these two species along habitat and elevational gradients within a coffee-growing landscape during 2016 and 2017 in Yoro, Honduras. We used playback with a mobbing track known to enhance detections of female warblers, since examining sexual habitat segregation was another objective of our study. Habitat occupied by …
Dosel Abierto Integrado (Dai) En Cultivos De Café Coffea Arabica Como Herramienta De Conservación De Aves Migratorias Neártico-Neotropicales Y Aves Residentes En Yoro, Honduras, David Alexander Murillo, Dario Arnaldo Alvarado, Fabiola Vásquez, Caz Taylor, David King
Dosel Abierto Integrado (Dai) En Cultivos De Café Coffea Arabica Como Herramienta De Conservación De Aves Migratorias Neártico-Neotropicales Y Aves Residentes En Yoro, Honduras, David Alexander Murillo, Dario Arnaldo Alvarado, Fabiola Vásquez, Caz Taylor, David King
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Honduras cuenta con 349,510 hectáreas cultivadas con café Coffea arabica, que son en su mayoría cultivos tradicionales (café sombra y café sol), y en menor escala cultivos con sistema Dosel Abierto Integrado (DAI). El sistema de café DAI consiste en plantaciones de café rodeadas por bosque en una proporción ≥ 1:1, lo que permite la preservación y la restauración de ecosistemas nativos. El objetivo de nuestra investigación fue evaluar el sistema DAI en cultivos de café como una alternativa de conservación para las aves migratorias neártico-neotropicales y aves residentes. Evaluamos características ecológicas, como la riqueza y abundancia de especies, …
Condition And Postrelease Mortality Of Angled Northern Pike Temporarily Retained On Stringers, Jamie C. Madden, Luc Larochelle, Declan Burton, Andy J. Danylchuk, Sean J. Landsman, Steven J. Cooke
Condition And Postrelease Mortality Of Angled Northern Pike Temporarily Retained On Stringers, Jamie C. Madden, Luc Larochelle, Declan Burton, Andy J. Danylchuk, Sean J. Landsman, Steven J. Cooke
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Anglers typically use stringers to keep fish intended for harvest from spoiling or for high-grading purposes (i.e., culling). However, relatively few studies have examined the effects of temporary stringer retention on the physical condition and postrelease mortality of fish. In this study, our objective was to investigate the lethal and sublethal effects of temporarily retaining Northern Pike Esox lucius on stringers.
Geographic And Taxonomic Variation In Adaptive Capacity Among Mountain-Dwelling Small Mammals: Implications For Conservation Status And Actions, Kelly Klingler, Et. Al.
Geographic And Taxonomic Variation In Adaptive Capacity Among Mountain-Dwelling Small Mammals: Implications For Conservation Status And Actions, Kelly Klingler, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Contemporary climate change is modifying the distribution, morphology, phenology, physiology, evolution, and interspecific interactions of species. Effects of climate change are mediated not only through the magnitude of change experienced (exposure) and an animal's sensitivity to such changes, but also through the ability of the population or species to adjust to climatic variability and change genetically, behaviorally, or spatially (via its distribution) (i.e., adaptive capacity; AC). Here, we used an attribute-based framework to systematically evaluate and compare the AC of American pikas (Ochotona princeps) against four other mountain-dwelling small mammals of North America to determine whether pikas …
Divergent Sensory And Immune Gene Evolution In Sea Turtles With Contrasting Demographic And Life Histories, Blair P. Bentley, Shreya M. Banerjee, Lisa M. Komoroske, Et. Al.
Divergent Sensory And Immune Gene Evolution In Sea Turtles With Contrasting Demographic And Life Histories, Blair P. Bentley, Shreya M. Banerjee, Lisa M. Komoroske, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Sea turtles represent an ancient lineage of marine vertebrates that evolved from terrestrial ancestors over 100 Mya. The genomic basis of the unique physiological and ecological traits enabling these species to thrive in diverse marine habitats remains largely unknown. Additionally, many populations have drastically declined due to anthropogenic activities over the past two centuries, and their recovery is a high global conservation priority. We generated and analyzed high-quality reference genomes for the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles, representing the two extant sea turtle families. These genomes are highly syntenic and homologous, but localized …
Shifting Hotspots: Climate Change Projected To Drive Contractions And Expansions Of Invasive Plant Abundance Habitats, Bethany A. Bradley, Et. Al.
Shifting Hotspots: Climate Change Projected To Drive Contractions And Expansions Of Invasive Plant Abundance Habitats, Bethany A. Bradley, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
No abstract provided.
Motivating The Formation Of Partnerships By Small Water Systems, Anita Milman, Olivia Ashjian James, Cameron Macuch
Motivating The Formation Of Partnerships By Small Water Systems, Anita Milman, Olivia Ashjian James, Cameron Macuch
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Small community water systems (CWS) often have difficulty maintaining high-quality service provision. Partnerships can help alleviate these problems, yet may not be attainable or pursued. This research examines the perspectives of U.S. state agencies with drinking water primacy regarding the benefits of water systems partnerships and the points of leverage that can induce water systems to partner. It assesses the benefits, drawbacks, and barriers to five common forms of partnerships as well as the approaches states can use to encourage small CWS partnerships. Findings indicate that while partnerships hold significant potential, in many contexts, there are inherent limitations to their …
Identifying New England’S Underutilized Seafood Species And Evaluating Their Market Potential In A Changing Climate, Amanda G. Davis, Michelle D. Staudinger, Katherine E. Mills
Identifying New England’S Underutilized Seafood Species And Evaluating Their Market Potential In A Changing Climate, Amanda G. Davis, Michelle D. Staudinger, Katherine E. Mills
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Developing and diversifying market opportunities for lesser known yet abundant seafood species has been a successful strategy for seafood businesses in the Northeast United States. Since climate change and other stressors are currently threatening the economic vitality of New England’s seafood industry, it is important to identify if there are lesser-known species that could simultaneously support additional market opportunities and remain resilient in a warming climate. We developed a quantitative definition for the term “underutilized species’’ based on five criteria derived from science-based sustainable fishing metrics. Using this definition, we evaluated 47 stocks in the Northeast United States during the …
One Health Approach To Globalizing, Accelerating, And Focusing Amphibian And Reptile Disease Research—Reflections And Opinions From The First Global Amphibian And Reptile Disease Conference, Molly C. Bletz, Et. Al.
One Health Approach To Globalizing, Accelerating, And Focusing Amphibian And Reptile Disease Research—Reflections And Opinions From The First Global Amphibian And Reptile Disease Conference, Molly C. Bletz, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
The world’s reptiles and amphibians are experiencing dramatic and ongoing losses in biodiversity, changes that can have substantial effects on ecosystems and human health. In 2022, the first Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference was held, using One Health as a guiding principle. The conference showcased knowledge on numerous reptile and amphibian pathogens from several standpoints, including epidemiology, host immune defenses, wild population effects, and mitigation. The conference also provided field experts the opportunity to discuss and identify the most urgent herpetofaunal disease research directions necessary to address current and future threats to reptile and amphibian biodiversity.
Release Of Live Baitfish By Recreational Anglers Drives Fish Pathogen Introduction Risk, Margaret C. Mceachran, Janice Mladonicky, Catalina Picasso-Risso, D. Andrew R. Drake, Nicholas B.D. Phelps
Release Of Live Baitfish By Recreational Anglers Drives Fish Pathogen Introduction Risk, Margaret C. Mceachran, Janice Mladonicky, Catalina Picasso-Risso, D. Andrew R. Drake, Nicholas B.D. Phelps
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Emerging diseases of wildlife are an existential threat to biodiversity, and human-mediated movements of live animals are a primary vector of their spread. Wildlife disease risk analyses offer an appealing alternative to precautionary approaches because they allow for explicit quantification of uncertainties and consideration of tradeoffs. Such considerations become particularly important in high-frequency invasion pathways with hundreds of thousands of individual vectors, where even low pathogen prevalence can lead to substantial risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the landscape-level dynamics of human behavior-mediated pathogen introduction risk in the context of a high-frequency invasion pathway. One such pathway …
Assessing The Host Range Of Anastatus Orientalis, An Egg Parasitoid Of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma Delicatula) Using Eastern U.S. Non-Target Species, Joseph S. Elkinton, Danielle B. Pitt, Shannon C. Davis, Et. Al.
Assessing The Host Range Of Anastatus Orientalis, An Egg Parasitoid Of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma Delicatula) Using Eastern U.S. Non-Target Species, Joseph S. Elkinton, Danielle B. Pitt, Shannon C. Davis, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), an invasive planthopper discovered in Pennsylvania, U.S. in 2014, has spread to many surrounding states despite quarantines and control efforts, and further spread is anticipated. A classical (importation) biological control program would contribute to the long-term management of L. delicatula in the eastern U.S. In its native range of China, Anastatus orientalis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), an egg parasitoid, causes significant mortality. Anastatus orientalis consists of multiple haplotypes that differ in important biological parameters. To delineate the physiological host range of A. orientalis Haplotype C, we completed no-choice and choice testing. No-choice testing of non-target …
Cryptic Genetic Diversity And Associated Ecological Differences Of Anastatus Orientalis, An Egg Parasitoid Of The Spotted Lanternfly, John J. Mccormack, Corrine A. Losch, Marjorie Z. Palmeri, Et. Al.
Cryptic Genetic Diversity And Associated Ecological Differences Of Anastatus Orientalis, An Egg Parasitoid Of The Spotted Lanternfly, John J. Mccormack, Corrine A. Losch, Marjorie Z. Palmeri, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Anastatus orientalis, native to northern China, is an egg parasitoid wasp of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and is being tested as a potential biological control agent for invasive L. delicatula in the United States. As a component of these evaluations, live A. orientalis collected from Beijing and Yantai in China were reared in containment in the U.S. These specimens showed different responses in diapause behaviors to rearing conditions used previously by other researchers. To understand the primary mechanism potentially driving discrepancies in important life history traits, we used molecular tools to examine the genetic composition of …
Black Family Forest Owners In The Southeastern United States: A Case Study In Six Counties, Amanda Robillard, Cassandra Johnson Gaither, John Schelhas, Brett J. Butler
Black Family Forest Owners In The Southeastern United States: A Case Study In Six Counties, Amanda Robillard, Cassandra Johnson Gaither, John Schelhas, Brett J. Butler
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
The USDA Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey asks family forest owners (FFOs) about their attitudes and intentions regarding their forestland. Historically, the number of responses from Black or African American FFOs has been very low, but it is uncertain whether this is because of nonresponse bias or that there are relatively few Black FFOs. To get a better understanding of these FFOs and to test a method to increase response rates, an intensified survey effort was conducted in three southern states: Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Analyses indicate that Black FFOs have slightly different objectives, activities, and ownership …
Key Issues In Assessing Threats To Sea Turtles: Knowledge Gaps And Future Directions, Lisa M. Komoroske, Et. Al.
Key Issues In Assessing Threats To Sea Turtles: Knowledge Gaps And Future Directions, Lisa M. Komoroske, Et. Al.
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Sea turtles are an iconic group of marine megafauna that have been exposed to multiple anthropogenic threats across their different life stages, especially in the past decades. This has resulted in population declines, and consequently many sea turtle populations are now classified as threatened or endangered globally. Although some populations of sea turtles worldwide are showing early signs of recovery, many still face fundamental threats. This is problematic since sea turtles have important ecological roles. To encourage informed conservation planning and direct future research, we surveyed experts to identify the key contemporary threats (climate change, direct take, fisheries, pollution, disease, …
Identifying New Invasives In The Face Of Climate Change: A Focus On Sleeper Populations, Ayodelé C. O'Uhuru
Identifying New Invasives In The Face Of Climate Change: A Focus On Sleeper Populations, Ayodelé C. O'Uhuru
Masters Theses
Sleeper populations are established populations of a non-native species whose population growth is limited by one or more abiotic or biotic conditions, such as climate change. While the northeastern US is predicted to be a hotspot for future invasions, identifying potential sleeper populations before they become invasive can inform proactive, climate-smart invasive species management. I focused on 169 introduced species that are established in one or more northeastern states. I used the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) framework to systematically identify and review the peer-reviewed literature for these candidate species to quantify their negative ecological and socioeconomic impacts. …
Utilizing Climate Change Refugia For Climate Change Adaptation And Management In The Northeast, Sara A. Wisner
Utilizing Climate Change Refugia For Climate Change Adaptation And Management In The Northeast, Sara A. Wisner
Masters Theses
To account for the effects of climate change, management plans in the northeast need to incorporate climate adaptation. Conserving climate change refugia is one adaptation strategy. Climate change refugia are areas buffered by climate change that enable the persistence of valued physical, ecological, and cultural resources; preserving these areas could be a potential adaptation strategy. Using a translational ecology approach where researchers and managers from the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, the University of Massachusetts, and elsewhere worked together, we focused on identifying refugia for tree, herbaceous plant, mammal, and bird species in order to prioritize them for conservation …
Perceptions Of Historical Climate Change And Park Policy: The Impact On The Fremont Cottonwood In Zion National Park, Kathleen Kavarra Corr
Perceptions Of Historical Climate Change And Park Policy: The Impact On The Fremont Cottonwood In Zion National Park, Kathleen Kavarra Corr
Doctoral Dissertations
Despite its “natural” appearance and the Organic Act 1916 mandate for preservation of the natural environment in National Parks, the Virgin River as it flows through Zion National Park’s Zion Canyon was transformed through massive flood control re-engineering projects in the 1930s. The armoring of the river has had significant impacts on riparian vegetation, particularly on the stands of native Fremont Cottonwood trees that once filled the narrow valley. What was the motivation for this massive flood control project carried out in an arid region with less than 15 inches of rain per year? This dissertation explores the motivations which …
Assessment Of The Economic And Ecosystem Service Contributions Of Usda Forest Service Landowner Assistance Programs In The Conterminous United States, Jacqueline S. Dias
Assessment Of The Economic And Ecosystem Service Contributions Of Usda Forest Service Landowner Assistance Programs In The Conterminous United States, Jacqueline S. Dias
Masters Theses
Forests provide immense goods and services to both local and regional communities. The USDA Forest Service’s, State and Private Forestry program administer multiple landowner assistance programs aimed at helping private forest owners while supporting the continued supply of ecosystem services (e.g., timber harvesting, recreation, carbon sequestration and storage). The two landowner assistance programs assessed in this study are the Forest Legacy Program (FLP) and the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP). A majority of the nation’s forests are privately owned, many of which are facing deleterious impacts like wildfires, invasive species, development pressures, and other adverse effects from climate change. The goal …
Pride In Our Prides: Mitigating Human-Lion Conflict In The Okavango Delta, Botswana, Eric G. Leflore
Pride In Our Prides: Mitigating Human-Lion Conflict In The Okavango Delta, Botswana, Eric G. Leflore
Doctoral Dissertations
Humans are having marked effects on the natural world, directly contributing to biodiversity declines around the globe. Large carnivores are disproportionately affected as they are wide-ranging, occur in low population densities, and are typically in conflict with humans. Large carnivores are now rare or absent from many ecosystems as their populations have plummeted and human-carnivore conflicts over livestock remain a main contributing factor. The situation is especially acute for the African lion (Panthera leo) as the species is in decline across Africa and has been extirpated from >80% of its historic range. Estimates show the population has decreased …
The Sustainability Of Decarbonizing The Grid: A Multi-Model Decision Analysis Applied To Mexico, Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez, Erin Baker
The Sustainability Of Decarbonizing The Grid: A Multi-Model Decision Analysis Applied To Mexico, Rodrigo Mercado Fernandez, Erin Baker
Publications
Mexico recognizes its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, increasing average temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and changes to the hydrological cycle. Because of these concerns Mexico has a vested interest in developing sustainable strategies for mitigating climate change as it develops its electricity grid. In this study, we use a set of sustainability criteria to evaluate a number of model-derived pathways for the electricity grid aimed at meeting Mexico's climate goals. We use a multi-step approach, combining pathways from multiple large scale global models with a detailed electricity model to leverage geographic information …
Sporti: The Species Originality And Rarity Index Combines Phylogenetic And Functional Originality With Rarity Metrics To Provide A New Perspective On Species Rarity, Michael Cunningham-Minnick, Joan Milam, David I. King
Sporti: The Species Originality And Rarity Index Combines Phylogenetic And Functional Originality With Rarity Metrics To Provide A New Perspective On Species Rarity, Michael Cunningham-Minnick, Joan Milam, David I. King
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Methods used to assign rarity among species are fundamental to our ecological understanding and conservation of species that are most vulnerable to extinction or extirpation. Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) are at the forefront of declines in pollinator diversity and a comprehensive understanding of their conservation requirements in any landscape is essential. Rarity is generally defined in terms of numerical abundance and geographical distribution, though aspects of species life history, such as degree of specialization and taxonomic relatedness, are also widely recognized as important. Incomplete information on the life histories of many taxa obliges ecologists to rely on species-level classifications of …
Breaking Down Barriers To Consistent, Climate-Smart Regulation Of Invasive Plants - A Case Study Of Northeast States, Bethany A. Bradley, Evelyn M. Beaury, Emily Fusco, Lara Munro, Carrie Brown-Lima, William Coville, Benjamin Kesler, Nancy Olmstead, Jocelyn Parker
Breaking Down Barriers To Consistent, Climate-Smart Regulation Of Invasive Plants - A Case Study Of Northeast States, Bethany A. Bradley, Evelyn M. Beaury, Emily Fusco, Lara Munro, Carrie Brown-Lima, William Coville, Benjamin Kesler, Nancy Olmstead, Jocelyn Parker
Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series
Efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of new invasive plants are most effective when regulated species are consistent across jurisdictional boundaries and proactively prohibit species before they arrive or in the earliest stages of invasion. Consistent and proactive regulation is particularly important in the northeast U.S. which is susceptible to many new invasive plants due to climate change. Unfortunately, recent analyses of state regulated plant lists show that regulated species are neither consistent nor proactive. To understand why, we focus on two steps leading to invasive plant regulation across six northeast states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, …