Effect Of The 2013-2015 California Drought On Small Mammal Abundance And Diversity In Chaparral, Oak Woodland And Riparian Habitats,
2016
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Effect Of The 2013-2015 California Drought On Small Mammal Abundance And Diversity In Chaparral, Oak Woodland And Riparian Habitats, Nicole Desideri
Biological Sciences
Long-term biodiversity surveys are a useful tool for assessing the impacts of stochastic events on wildlife and their communities. A recent stochastic event to affect the state of California is the historic 2013-2015 drought. This drought, described as a one-in-one-thousand year event, brought precipitation to a historic low; the statewide rainfall reaching 34% below average (Swain et al. 2014). While humans are feeling the impact of this water shortage, the effects on native ecosystems and wildlife populations are poorly documented. Baseline small mammal biodiversity data collected in 2011, before the drought, allows us the opportunity to study the impacts of …
Influence Of Rock-Pool Characteristics On The Distribution And Abundance Of Inter-Tidal Fishes,
2016
Macquarie University
Influence Of Rock-Pool Characteristics On The Distribution And Abundance Of Inter-Tidal Fishes, Gemma E. White, Grant C. Hose, Culum Brown
Culum Brown, PhD
Rock pools can be found in inter-tidal marine environments worldwide; however, there have been few studies exploring what drives their, fish species composition, especially in Australia. The rock-pool environment is highly dynamic and offers a unique natural laboratory to study the habitat choices, physiological limitations and adaptations of inter-tidal fish species. In this study rock pools of the Sydney region were sampled to determine how the physical (volume, depth, rock cover and vertical position) and biological (algal cover and predator presence) parameters of pools influence fish distribution and abundance. A total of 27 fish species representing 14 families was observed …
Anticipating Elimination Of Mosquito-Borne Diseases,
2016
National Institute of Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS)
Anticipating Elimination Of Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Suzanne M. O'Regan, Jonathan Lillie, John M. Drake
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
The Influence Of Temperature Variation On Dengue Fever: A Model-Based Investigation,
2016
University of New Mexico
The Influence Of Temperature Variation On Dengue Fever: A Model-Based Investigation, Michael A. Robert, Paula D. Weber, Rebecca C. Christofferson, Christopher N. Mores, Helen J. Wearing
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Dynamics Of Two Pathogens In A Single Tick Population,
2016
Old Dominion University
Dynamics Of Two Pathogens In A Single Tick Population, Alexis White
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Growth Dynamics For Pomacea Maculata,
2016
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Growth Dynamics For Pomacea Maculata, Lihong Zhao, Karyn L. Sutton, Jacoby Carter
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Movement And Dynamics Of Norway Rats In An Urban Landscape,
2016
Tulane University of Louisiana
Movement And Dynamics Of Norway Rats In An Urban Landscape, Rosalyn Rael, Caz Taylor
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Tropical Trees As Islands: Diversity Accumulation Of Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) On Trees As A Function Of Forest Age,
2016
University of San Diego
Tropical Trees As Islands: Diversity Accumulation Of Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) On Trees As A Function Of Forest Age, Hannah Shapiro
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) are some of the most invasive insects in the world. These cryptic plant parasites are most often encountered in managed agricultural ecosystems, but very little is known about their distribution, abundance, and diversity in tropical rainforest canopies, where they are likely to have their highest diversity. Because these ubiquitous insects are extreme generalists with undirected dispersal, their diversity (alpha and beta) accumulation can conceivably be modeled according to tenets derived from island biogeography theory. For example, one expectation is that older established trees should boast a higher species diversity and abundance than younger ones. Other …
Assessment Of A Hatchery Based Rainbow Smelt Supplementation Effort,
2016
Department of Wildlife Ecology
Assessment Of A Hatchery Based Rainbow Smelt Supplementation Effort, Andrew O'Malley
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax) are an important fish distributed throughout northeastern North America with both anadromous and landlocked populations. Abundance, size at age, and maximum size vary widely among populations and life histories. In order to compare anadromous and landlocked populations, we collected spawning adults in 2014 from four anadromous and three landlocked populations. Scales and otoliths from the anadromous fish were examined and compared for estimates of bias and precision in ageing. Analysis of both scales and otoliths provided age estimates that were acceptable, but estimates from scales were more precise and had less bias. Otoliths were …
The Origin And Expansion Of The Eastern Red Fox,
2016
University of New Orleans, New Orleans
The Origin And Expansion Of The Eastern Red Fox, Adrienne Egge Kasprowicz
University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
When new populations are first identified in a region there are multiple potential sources: introduction of a non-native species, extra-range expansion of a nearby population, or demographic growth of a previously unnoticed species. Red foxes were absent or rare in the mid-eastern portion United States until the late 1800s. Their origins potentially include natural population increase/expansion, translocations from Europe, and, eventually, 20th century fur farming. In this study I attempt to identify the relative impact of native expansion versus human mediated introductions of both colonial era European foxes and early 20th century fur-farm foxes on the establishment of red …
Population Projection And Habitat Preference Modeling Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina),
2016
James Madison University
Population Projection And Habitat Preference Modeling Of The Endangered James Spinymussel (Pleurobema Collina), Marisa Draper
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
The James Spinymussel (Pleurobema collina) is an endangered mussel species at the top of Virginia’s conservation list. The James Spinymussel plays a critical role in the environment by filtering and cleaning stream water while providing shelter and food for macroinvertebrates; however, conservation efforts are complicated by the mussels’ burrowing behavior, camouflage, and complex life cycle. The goals of the research conducted were to estimate detection probabilities that could be used to predict species presence and facilitate field work, and to track individually marked mussels to test for habitat preferences. Using existing literature and mark-recapture field data, these goals were accomplished …
Investigation Of The Enviromental Factors Associated With The Temporal Abundance Of Lutzomyia Anthophora On A Ranch Near Poth, Texas,
2016
University of the Incarnate Word
Investigation Of The Enviromental Factors Associated With The Temporal Abundance Of Lutzomyia Anthophora On A Ranch Near Poth, Texas, Maha Alshhrany
Theses & Dissertations
Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with protozoan parasites within the genus Leismania transmitted by the bites of female sand flies within the genus Lutzomyia in the New World. This study investigated the seasonal abundance of sand flies and evaluated the correlation of temperature with abundance data. Sand flies were collected at the Garrison ranch near Poth, Texas (28° 57’ 10” N; 98° 7’ 28” W) from May in 2014 through October, 2015. Recorded highest abundance of sand flies in 2014 was in October, 2 females Lu.anthophora and 5 males Lu.anthophora were captured producing 0.58 sand flies /trap night, while, mean …
Urbanization Impacts On Land Snail Community Composition,
2016
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Urbanization Impacts On Land Snail Community Composition, Mackenzie N. Hodges
Masters Theses
Urbanization has tremendous impacts on most native species. Urban ecosystems are becoming increasingly prevalent, while urban ecology is a relatively underdeveloped field. This is especially true for terrestrial mollusks, which are a surprisingly understudied organism. Due to their low mobility and dispersal potential, land snails are valuable indicators of ecosystem disturbance. For this study, land snails were collected in 54 city parks along an urban gradient to understand influences of urbanization on snail communities. Sampled parks include small extensively landscaped downtown parks, neighborhood and community parks, district parks, and large nature parks, each with variable vegetation, soil characteristics, disturbance regimes, …
Modeling Feral Hogs In Great Smoky Mountains National Park,
2016
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Modeling Feral Hogs In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Benjamin Anthony Levy
Doctoral Dissertations
Feral Hogs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive species that have occupied the Great Smoky Mountains National Park since the early 1900s. Recent studies have revitalized interest in the pest and have produced useful data. The Park has kept detailed records on mast abundance as well as every removal since 1980 including geographic location and disease sampling. Data obtained via Lidar includes both overstory as well as understory vegetation information. In this dissertation, three models were created and analyzed using the detailed data on vegetation, mast, and harvest history. The first model is discrete in time and space and …
Fishery And Population Dynamics Of Mississippi’S Spotted Seatrout,
2016
University of Southern Mississippi
Fishery And Population Dynamics Of Mississippi’S Spotted Seatrout, David Arthur Dippold
Master's Theses
Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is the most popular recreational inshore fishery in Mississippi coastal waters. Because of the popularity of Spotted Seatrout in Mississippi as a recreational target and the magnitude of harvest, quantitative approaches to describe the population and fishery dynamics of the Mississippi stock are needed to continue the sustainability of the stock. Quantitative approaches to describing stock dynamics are useful because they can help describe population characteristics, assess the current status of the stock, and be used to evaluate alternative management strategies. In this thesis, I use a suite of quantitative methods to describe, evaluate, …
Estimating Avian Populations With Passive Acoustic Technology And Song Behavior,
2016
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Estimating Avian Populations With Passive Acoustic Technology And Song Behavior, Stephanie C. Prevost
Masters Theses
The need for improvements in avian wildlife monitoring efficiency, accuracy, and scope has led to use of new technologies such as autonomous recording units (ARUs). As a monitoring tool, passive acoustic recording has numerous benefits, but it is still limited to use in human-accessible areas. There is also need for monitoring technologies in areas that are inaccessible. Military installations, which host a disproportionately large number of threatened, endangered, and at-risk species compared to other federal lands, pose the accessibility problem with sizeable impact areas that are too hazardous for humans to access. This thesis introduces the Balloon Aerial Recording System …
Population Size, Trend, And Immigration In A Tennessee Population Of Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus Turcicus),
2016
University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Population Size, Trend, And Immigration In A Tennessee Population Of Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus Turcicus), Jacob L. Wessels
Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects
No abstract provided.
Depression In Thermal Performance Of Age-Structured Spirodela Polyrhiza Due To The Presence Of Rhopalosiphum Nymphaeae,
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Depression In Thermal Performance Of Age-Structured Spirodela Polyrhiza Due To The Presence Of Rhopalosiphum Nymphaeae, Mitchell Matis, Chad Brassil, Colby J. Tanner
UCARE Research Products
Thermal performance curves are keys components of population ecology. We performed this study to determine the effects of aphids on duckweed age-structured models across temperature. Results show a depression in birth rates and maturation of rates of duckweed in the presence of aphids. Regression analysis shows that this depression in maturation and birth is directly proportional to aphid growth rates across temperatures. This hints of the idea of modeling duckweed and aphid growth via nested thermal performance curves.
The Joint Effect Of Phenotypic Variation And Temperature On Predator-Prey Interactions,
2016
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The Joint Effect Of Phenotypic Variation And Temperature On Predator-Prey Interactions, Jean P. Gibert
School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Understanding the factors underpinning to food web structure and stability is a long-standing issue in ecology. This is particularly important in a context of global climate change, where rising environmental temperatures may impact the way species interact, potentially leading to changes in food web structure and to secondary extinctions resulting from cascading effects. In order to understand and predict these changes, we need to hone our comprehension on the way predators and their prey interact. Recent studies suggest that, in order to do so, we need to focus on the traits controlling those interactions, such as body size. Mean body …
Insights Into The Introduction Histories And Population Genetic Dynamics Of The Nile Monitor (Varanus Niloticus) And Argentine Black And White Tegu (Salvator Merianae) In Florida.,
2016
University of Louisville
Insights Into The Introduction Histories And Population Genetic Dynamics Of The Nile Monitor (Varanus Niloticus) And Argentine Black And White Tegu (Salvator Merianae) In Florida., Jared Price Wood
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation examines the population genetic dynamics of two Florida invasives: the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) and Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae). I also provide insights into the introduction histories of both species. This study was developed as part of a collaborative effort with the Florida Wildlife Commission to expand our knowledge of these highly detrimental, invasive lizards. All research activities involving animals and animal tissues were approved by the University of Louisville’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC Proposal #: 12024). I start with a brief introduction into what makes invasive species …
