Systematics And Comparative Genomics Of The Petaluridae (Odonata: Anisoptera), 2024 The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Systematics And Comparative Genomics Of The Petaluridae (Odonata: Anisoptera), Ethan R. Tolman
Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
The Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata), or dragonflies exhibit diverse life histories and diversification patterns, with the family Petaluridae standing out as particularly unique. Comprising only 11 extant species, all of which inhabit increasingly threatened fen habitats, Petaluridae are known for their longevity, which can exceed five years, semi-terrestrial lifestyle, and remarkable physical size, ranking among the largest insects on Earth. Despite the evolutionary peculiarities of this family, no previous genomic studies have investigated the Petaluridae. This work presents two high-quality genome sequences and a targeted enrichment dataset to explore the chromosome architecture of Petaluridae, identifies genomic adaptations associated with their distinctive …
Lyme Disease In The Northeast: The Unintended Consequence Of Suburban Development, 2024 Fordham University
Lyme Disease In The Northeast: The Unintended Consequence Of Suburban Development, Hayden Neubert
Student Theses 2015-Present
This paper addresses the role of suburban development in the suburbs of the Northeastern United States in increasing human Lyme disease infection. Over the past 50 years, Lyme disease has become the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. In 2021, the two states with the most Lyme disease cases were New York and New Jersey, with a collective 6,524 cases, with Connecticut still representing 541 total cases. It is not a coincidence that case numbers are concentrated in suburban areas with high forest fragmentation. Chapter 1 of this essay analyzes how human land development disrupts bioregulatory ecosystem actors …
Multi-Type Branching Processes In Time-Varying Environments, 2024 Columbia University
Multi-Type Branching Processes In Time-Varying Environments, Arash Jamshidpey
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Exploring The Evolution Of Altruistic Punishment Using A Pde Model For Multilevel Selection, 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University
Exploring The Evolution Of Altruistic Punishment Using A Pde Model For Multilevel Selection, Daniel Cooney
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Mathematically Modeling Stoichiometric Drivers Of Nitrogen Fixation, 2024 Haverford College
Mathematically Modeling Stoichiometric Drivers Of Nitrogen Fixation, Rebecca Everett, Corday Selden, Mohamed Hatha Abdulla, Jabir Thajudeen, James Powell, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Luca Schenone, Renn Schipper, Megan Berberich, Halvor Halvorson, Robinson Fulweiler, Amy Marcarelli, Thad Scott
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Spawning Ecology And Spawning Site Fidelity Of Alligator Gar, Atractosteus Spatula, In The Fourche Lafave River: Implications For River-Floodplain Management And Alligator Gar Conservation, 2024 Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas
Spawning Ecology And Spawning Site Fidelity Of Alligator Gar, Atractosteus Spatula, In The Fourche Lafave River: Implications For River-Floodplain Management And Alligator Gar Conservation, S. Reid Adams, Thomas E. Inebnit, Lindsey C. Lewis, Christopher J. Naus, Edward Kluender, Geoffry G. Spooner
Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings
We studied the spawning ecology of Alligator Gar, Atractosteus spatula, in the Fourche LaFave River (FLR) of Arkansas to better understand their reproductive ecology and spawning resource requirements. Evidence of spawning was only observed in floodplain tributary habitats, particularly the small, adventitious headwater stream West Fork Mill Creek (WFMC). A mid-May to mid-June spawning season was observed for Alligator Gar in the FLR that corresponded with rising water levels (mostly due to backflooding from the Arkansas River) and increased water temperatures (> 20°C). Direct spawning observations at WFMC were made on 17 June 2007, 15 June 2008, 23 May …
Relationship Between Trunk Cross-Sectional Area Growth And Water Stress In Garry Oaks (Q. Garryana): A Species Of Conservation Concern, 2024 Western Oregon University
Relationship Between Trunk Cross-Sectional Area Growth And Water Stress In Garry Oaks (Q. Garryana): A Species Of Conservation Concern, John Cochrane
Student Research Symposium
In the Pacific Northwest, Quercus garryana (Garry oak trees) support over 627 native species. Garry oak natural habitat was originally maintained by indigenous practices but has been reduced to 5-10% of its range due to change in land management strategies. To support oak conservation, we need to understand heat and water affect the growth and physiology of this species. In this study, we created a fixed linear model of trunk cross-sectional growth with water stress (Ψ), photosynthetic water-use efficiency (δ13C), and leaf Carbon-Nitrogen ratio. We collected branch samples from the canopies of 47-64 mature Garry oaks in the …
Selection During Reproduction In Mimulus Guttatus, 2024 Portland State University
Selection During Reproduction In Mimulus Guttatus, Desmond C. Willson, Karla De Lima Berg, Mitch Cruzan
Student Research Symposium
A lack of genomic studies examining gametophytic selection and selective embryo abortion—which occur during the reproduction of angiosperms—leaves questions regarding the adaptive and evolutionary effects of these processes. Analyzing deviations from Mendelian segregation offers an avenue for identifying loci targeted by GS and SEA, and their contributions to purging of genetic load. However, other selective processes such as meiotic drive and cytonuclear interactions, as well as pollen and ovule abortion, can cause distortion. To distinguish the effects of GS and SEA from other causes of distortion, we will perform reciprocal crosses between highly homozygous and highly heterozygous individuals of Mimulus …
Phytoplankton Community Dynamics In The Northern California Current System, 2024 Portland State University
Phytoplankton Community Dynamics In The Northern California Current System, Kristin Forgrave
Student Research Symposium
The Northern California Current system is a productive coastal ecosystem that encompasses a variety of temporal and spatial features. The photosynthetic microbial community plays a crucial role in supporting the rich ecosystem and economically important fisheries. My research integrates data across distance and two years to investigate the community composition of two major phytoplankton groups in this system: picocyanobacteria and picoeukaryotes. The abundances and sizes of the phytoplankton were measured using flow cytometry. Picoeukaryotes were found to be present at similar concentrations in both summer and winter. Abundances of both cell types were comparable in the winter, but picocyanobacteria were …
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Prosperity: Harnessing Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Revitalize Australia's Economy, Environment, And Human Wellbeing, 2024 Fordham University
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Prosperity: Harnessing Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Revitalize Australia's Economy, Environment, And Human Wellbeing, Annabelle L. Baulch
Student Theses 2015-Present
This paper explores the traditional knowledge of Australia’s Indigenous people and how it can improve Australia's environment, health, and economic prosperity to shape a more sustainable future. Indigenous Australians managed the land for thousands of years; however, being forced off the land following European colonization resulted in terrible cultural, social, and environmental disruption for Aboriginal Australians and made conservation efforts difficult. Wildfires, imported species, mining, and agriculture is steadily destroying the Australian ecosystem, contributing to climate change, species extinction, and gaps in our cultural and ancestral knowledge. Chapter One overviews Australia's environmental issues; it uses quantitative data to explore the …
Reef Ecosystem Conservation For The Hawaiian Islands: The Impacts Of Ocean Warming And Acidification On Benthic Reef Populations, 2024 Fordham University
Reef Ecosystem Conservation For The Hawaiian Islands: The Impacts Of Ocean Warming And Acidification On Benthic Reef Populations, Samantha Roberts
Student Theses 2015-Present
This paper explores the anthropogenic effects of rapid climate change and ocean acidification on benthic coral populations along the Hawaiian archipelago. Moreover, the reliance of Hawaiian coastal communities on coral reefs for sustenance and economic prosperity is evaluated to determine the importance of reef ecosystem conservation for the prosperity of Hawaii. Chapter 1 introduces the importance of coral and supplies quantitative data on declining coral populations traditional to Hawaii, as a result of ocean warming and acidification. Empirical data from prior, prominent studies, combined with my own, will be discussed. Chapter 2 outlines the ecology of Hawaiian reef ecosystems, the …
Riparian Expansion Post-Restoration Efforts Along The Upper Clark Fork River, 2024 Montana Technological University
Riparian Expansion Post-Restoration Efforts Along The Upper Clark Fork River, Makena Tanko
Graduate Theses & Non-Theses
Floodplain restoration is an intricate process aimed at promoting water quality, biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. However, mapping vegetation patterns on a restored floodplain can be challenging due to different geomorphic locations across a river sections, including flooding regimes, sediment characteristics, elevation, and ground water availability. This study investigates the drivers of vegetation succession in floodplains post-restoration along the Upper Clark Fork River, encompassing Phases 1, 2, 3, and 5. We analyzed key factors influencing vegetation response, including total canopy cover and woody vegetation health, in comparison to soil compaction, geomorphic location, distance from streambank, time post-restoration, and metal levels …
New Records Of Mesobuthus Rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 In Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae), 2024 Marshall University
New Records Of Mesobuthus Rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 In Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Zhale Baghernavesi, Zahra Taherkhani, Parsa Akbari, Mohammad Moradi
Euscorpius
Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was so far known only from the type locality in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. We give a list of numerous new records of this species from the same province. A map and detailed illustrations are provided.
Experimental Nonnative Wood Addition Enhances Instream Habitat For Native Fishes And Investigating Dryland River Alterations, 2024 Utah State University
Experimental Nonnative Wood Addition Enhances Instream Habitat For Native Fishes And Investigating Dryland River Alterations, Benjamin J. Miller
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
The rivers of the Colorado River Basin (CRB) have been degraded by human activities such flow regulation, water overallocation, and the introduction of invasive riparian vegetation (primarily tamarisk tamarix spp. and Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia). These stressors have resulted in widespread habitat loss and simplification, which is a major contributor to the endangerment of native fishes in the CRB.
The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the effectiveness of enhancing native fish habitat by experimentally adding cut wood from nonnative Russian olive to the San Juan River, a highly degraded dryland river, and 2) determine the …
Examining Population Structure Of Cismontane And Desert Populations Of Zebra-Tailed Lizards (Callisaurus Draconoides) Using Mitochondrial And Nuclear Intron Dna., 2024 California State University, San Bernardino
Examining Population Structure Of Cismontane And Desert Populations Of Zebra-Tailed Lizards (Callisaurus Draconoides) Using Mitochondrial And Nuclear Intron Dna., Lauren Nicole Morrison
Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations
Callisaurus draconoides, also known as the Zebra-Tailed lizard, belongs to the family Phrynosomatidae family (Pianka, et al. 1972). C. draconoides is a widespread desert lizard found western North America. In California, this species can be found in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. There are currently several populations that reside in the San Bernardino basin on the cismontane side of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges. These mountain ranges have the potential to have isolated the cismontane populations from their typical desert ranges. In addition, geological passes have the potential to serve as migration corridor between the Deserts and cismontane regions. The …
Revegetation Strategies For Native Wetland Plant Restoration In The Face Of Phragmites Australis Reinvasion And Hydrologic Extremes, 2024 Utah State University
Revegetation Strategies For Native Wetland Plant Restoration In The Face Of Phragmites Australis Reinvasion And Hydrologic Extremes, Maddie Houde
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Reestablishing native plant communities in degraded habitats through seeding or planting ("revegetation") is a necessary step to restore ecosystems and their functions (e.g., supporting biodiversity, nutrient cycling, etc.). Globally, wetlands have suffered high rates of degradation and also experience numerous invasions. Invasive species are those that cause environmental, economic, or societal harm. Phragmites australis is a widespread invasive species that outcompetes native plants and reduces habitat diversity. Reestablishing native plant communities can limit P. australis invasion, yet effective methods to do so remain somewhat untested in wetlands. Additionally, stressful environmental conditions can increase plant mortality in revegetation efforts. In semi-arid …
Causes And Consequences Of Space-Use Behavior Under Predation Risk In A Free-Living System, 2024 Utah State University
Causes And Consequences Of Space-Use Behavior Under Predation Risk In A Free-Living System, Brian J. Smith
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Predators can have important ecological effects through killing and eating their prey, the so-called consumptive effect, but predators can also have a nonconsumptive effect (NCE) on their prey – this happens when the risk of predation itself causes prey to alter their behaviors or other traits and these alterations ultimately reduce prey survival, reproduction, or population size. While scientists understand the consumptive effects of predators well, we are still unsure whether NCEs are important in free-living systems. In this dissertation, I sought to better understand the potential NCEs of predators (wolves and cougars) on elk in northern Yellowstone National Park …
Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Disease: Social And Environmental Drivers Of Movement, Connectivity, And Disease Transmission In Bighorn Sheep, 2024 Utah State University
Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Disease: Social And Environmental Drivers Of Movement, Connectivity, And Disease Transmission In Bighorn Sheep, Lauren E. Ricci
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Movement is a fundamental component of animal ecology. Animals move in order to access resources and avoid risk. Movement decisions aggregated across time determine how individuals use space, contact dynamics between individuals within a population, and connectivity across a species range. These patterns that emerge from movement decisions have downstream implications for many ecological processes and a mechanistic understanding of movement can help answer broader questions about ecology.
Disease dynamics are intrinsically tied to movement. Understanding the mechanisms that drive movement can elucidate how disease will spread and impact host populations. In this vein, I employed a suite of movement …
Movement Behavior And Habitat Selection Of Juvenile Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) During Three Behavioral States Of Dispersal, 2024 Utah State University
Movement Behavior And Habitat Selection Of Juvenile Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) During Three Behavioral States Of Dispersal, John F. Randolph
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present
Juvenile dispersal, the act of moving from their natal range to the place where they eventually reproduce and establish an adult home range is hazardous. Juveniles must travel and find food across unfamiliar landscapes, where they must also cross roads, avoid harvest, and navigate developed landscapes. Despite the inherent dangers of dispersal, this demographic process is important for finding suitable mates and reducing inbreeding depression. Wildlife conservation concerns arise when individuals are unable to disperse due to a loss of connectivity, as this can negatively impact population demographics and genetic diversity. We explored the effects of hunting and human-developed landscapes …
Analyzing Phototaxis And Related Visual Behaviors Among Diverse Species Of Drosophila, 2024 University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Analyzing Phototaxis And Related Visual Behaviors Among Diverse Species Of Drosophila, Madeline M. Hill
Honors Theses
Phototaxis and related visual behaviors can vary between species, and thus members of the genus Drosophila make an excellent study system to examine the evolution of vision. While some existing research points to these phototactic behaviors arising due to mating requirements or due to their species-specific ecology or environmental factors, there exists a lack of understanding as to why striking behavioral differences can exist between closely related species, or between members belonging to the same genus. The present research seeks to uncover the specifics regarding these discrepancies in visual evolution and aims to provide a foundation of knowledge about visual …