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The Influence Of Topographic And Dynamic Cyclic Variables On The Distribution Of Small Cetaceans In A Shallow Coastal System, Marijke N. De Boer, Mark P. Simmonds, Peter J.H. Reijnders, Geert Aarts Dec 2014

The Influence Of Topographic And Dynamic Cyclic Variables On The Distribution Of Small Cetaceans In A Shallow Coastal System, Marijke N. De Boer, Mark P. Simmonds, Peter J.H. Reijnders, Geert Aarts

Mark P. Simmonds, OBE

The influence of topographic and temporal variables on cetacean distribution at a fine-scale is still poorly understood. To study the spatial and temporal distribution of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena and the poorly known Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus we carried out land-based observations from Bardsey Island (Wales, UK) in summer (2001–2007). Using Kernel analysis and Generalized Additive Models it was shown that porpoises and Risso’s appeared to be linked to topographic and dynamic cyclic variables with both species using different core areas (dolphins to the West and porpoises to the East off Bardsey). Depth, slope and aspect and a low variation …


Habitat Use Of The Key Largo Woodrat (Neotoma Floridana Smalli), Lauren J. Barth Nov 2014

Habitat Use Of The Key Largo Woodrat (Neotoma Floridana Smalli), Lauren J. Barth

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Key Largo woodrats are an endangered subspecies with an extremely limited habitat. This study sought to understand woodrat habitat preferences in order to guide management. Woodrats build stick nests from natural and artificial materials, so nest distribution and nest occupancy were used as indicators of preference. Distribution was determined by nest surveys, and remote cameras were used to assess occupancy. Forest structure, human disturbance, nest, and animal presence metrics were also collected. More nests were found along abandoned roads than along forest transects and more artificial nests were occupied than natural nests. These findings indicate that woodrats prefer areas with …


Comparing Population Density Estimation Techniques For Columbia Black-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus Columbianus): Fecal Standing Crop And Distance Sampling Methods, Jubilee D. Brenneman Jun 2014

Comparing Population Density Estimation Techniques For Columbia Black-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus Columbianus): Fecal Standing Crop And Distance Sampling Methods, Jubilee D. Brenneman

Honors Projects

I estimated deer density and population size on Blakely Island, WA, using the fecal standing crop (FSC) method described by Martin et al. (2011). I compared the FSC method with a well established and broadly applicable estimation method, distance sampling. Additionally, architecture of a commonly browsed shrub, Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor), was measured as an indicator of browsing pressure. Fecal standing crop was estimated by counting pellet groups along 26, 100 x 2m line transects. Deer density was estimated using these data and the equation derived by Martin et al. (2011). Distance sampling consisted of recording perpendicular distance …


Turtle Town: Creating A Self-Sustainable Ecosystem Using An Ecological Approach To Turtle Aquarium Design, Sheena K. O'Donnell May 2014

Turtle Town: Creating A Self-Sustainable Ecosystem Using An Ecological Approach To Turtle Aquarium Design, Sheena K. O'Donnell

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

Typical pet turtle tank setups do not utilize the complete nutrient cycle seen in a functional natural ecosystem. This dysfunction results in waste and nutrient buildup, which is currently managed by water changes and regular tank cleaning. This type of maintenance can be costly and time-consuming -- not to mention unpleasant and hazardous to the aquarium owner's health. This study tested the effectiveness of using plants as part of a proposed ecological tank design to minimize waste buildup by utilizing nutrients. Wastewater from a dirty turtle tank was transferred to a tank setup containing three plants (Experimental Batch 1), while …


Movement Patterns And Catch-And-Release Impacts Of Striped Bass In A Tidal Coastal Embayment In Massachusetts, Heather M. Tyrrell Jan 2014

Movement Patterns And Catch-And-Release Impacts Of Striped Bass In A Tidal Coastal Embayment In Massachusetts, Heather M. Tyrrell

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

An investigation into the spatial ecology and effects of catch-and-release angling on the physiology and behavior of striped bass was conducted. Fine-scale behavior was assessed by tagging fish with acoustic transmitters equipped with pressure and tri-axial accelerometer sensors and tracking them within a fixed array (n=34 receivers) in a Massachusetts estuary. Activity space changed significantly over the course of the season and increased with water temperature. Striped bass most frequently exhibited low levels of locomotory activity representing 67% of total activity measurements, with occasional high activity and burst swimming, often within the upper 3 m of the water column. Depth …


Herpetofauna Of The Vicinity Of Akşehir And Eber (Konya, Afyon), Turkey, Durmuş Ci̇han, Cemal Varol Tok Jan 2014

Herpetofauna Of The Vicinity Of Akşehir And Eber (Konya, Afyon), Turkey, Durmuş Ci̇han, Cemal Varol Tok

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this research, 29 species of 11 amphibian and reptile families were detected in the endorheic basin of Akşehir and Eber. Of these species, 5 are anurans, 1 is a tortoise, 1 is a turtle, 9 are lizards, and 13 are snakes. In addition, the chorotype classification of the species recorded in the study area and their distributions depending on plants are also provided. It was established that specimens of subspecies Ophisops elegans macrodactylus and O. e. centralanatolia were sympatrically found in the vicinity of Ortaköy and Tuzlukçu. Moreover, in addition to the species determined in previous studies, Platyceps najadum …


Natural History Of A Population Of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) In West Virginia, Jessica Curtis Jan 2014

Natural History Of A Population Of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) In West Virginia, Jessica Curtis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is listed as vulnerable in West Virginia and only occurs in the Eastern Panhandle. The study population is unique in West Virginia because it occurs at a much higher mean elevation than other Wood Turtle populations in the state. The primary objective of this study was to determine if, and to what extent, altitude affected this population’s ecology. Turtles were located with opportunistic surveys and captured by hand. I located 31 turtles: 18 males, and 13 females. Turtles were captured a total of 68 times. Ratio of males to females did not differ significantly from …


The Natural Life History Of Cambarus (Puncticambarus) Smilax, The Greenbrier Crayfish, Paul William Hughes Jan 2014

The Natural Life History Of Cambarus (Puncticambarus) Smilax, The Greenbrier Crayfish, Paul William Hughes

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The natural life history of Cambarus (Puncticambarus) smilax, the Greenbrier Crayfish, was studied in West Fork of the Greenbrier River and in Thorny Creek, a tributary of the main stem of the Greenbrier River. The Greenbrier Crayfish gets its name from the Greenbrier River watershed where it is thought to occur exclusively. Among described members of the subgenus Puncticambarus, C. smilax is a sister taxon most similar to Cambarus (Puncticambarus) robustus. Monthly collections were made within the two study sites, from August 2010 to July 2011. Collecting techniques included dip-netting, seine-netting, and hand collecting. Cambarus smilax and all other species …


Taxonomy, Distribution, And Ecology Of Crustacean Zooplankton In Trough Waters Of Ankara (Turkey), Eli̇f Başak, Cem Aygen, Okan Külköylüoğlu Jan 2014

Taxonomy, Distribution, And Ecology Of Crustacean Zooplankton In Trough Waters Of Ankara (Turkey), Eli̇f Başak, Cem Aygen, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Troughs are one of the main components of villages in Turkey. They are constructed by converting springs or underground waters. Until now, there has been no extensive study investigating the composition and diversity of trough zooplankton species. In order to contribute knowledge on the zooplanktons in troughs, 142 troughs were randomly sampled from 17 districts in Ankara Province between 22 June and 3 July 2011. A total of 18 zooplanktons including 11 Copepoda and 7 Cladocera species were determined. Twelve of the 18 (Paracyclops chiltoni, Paracylops fimbriatus, Paracyclops imminutus, Tropocyclops prasinus, Diacyclops bisetosus, Acanthocyclops vernalis, Canthocamptus staphylinus, Attheyella crassa, Bryocamptus …


Breeding Ecology And Behaviour Of The Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus Arundinaceus, In Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey, Ali̇ Uzun, Zehra Ayyildiz, Faruk Yilmaz, Belgi̇n Uzun, Mehmet Sağiroğlu Jan 2014

Breeding Ecology And Behaviour Of The Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus Arundinaceus, In Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey, Ali̇ Uzun, Zehra Ayyildiz, Faruk Yilmaz, Belgi̇n Uzun, Mehmet Sağiroğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, the breeding ecology and behaviour of the Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, was studied at Poyrazlar Lake, Turkey. The breeding period started in the first week of May. The incubation period lasted 14 days. As clutch size increased, the diameter of the nests became larger (r = 0.65). Diameters of nests containing different clutch sizes varied significantly from one another (P < 0.01). However, their height did not change (r = 0.24). There was no significant height difference between nests containing different clutch sizes (P > 0.05). As the nests became farther from the shore, the clutch size and the egg weight increased, because mature adults built their nests on the reeds in deeper areas (r = 0.59, r = 0.73). On …