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Trophic Ecology Of Mesopelagic Fish Larvae And Juveniles In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Emily Gipson

Master's Theses

The deep-pelagic environment encompasses ocean waters below 200 m depth, and comprises 90% of the volume of the Gulf of Mexico. Deep-pelagic fishes are important prey for many oceanic consumers, but relatively little is known about their early life history, including larval fish trophic ecology. An understanding of the role deep-pelagic fish larvae have in oceanic food webs is important in the development of ecosystem models that examine the connectivity (via vertical migrations) between the deep-pelagic and epipelagic environments with respect to trophic interactions, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. In this study, archived plankton samples collected during 2010 and 2011 …

Effects Of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations Of 4-Methyl-1- Cyclohexanemethanol (Mchm) On General Esterase And Glutathione-S-Transferase Activity In Fathead Minnows (Pimephales Promela), Emily De Wind

Research in Biology

Abstract

In 2014, several thousand gallons of coal-processing chemicals, which included 4-methyl-1- cyclohexanemethanol (MCHM), spilled into the Elk River in West Virginia. The location of this spill in West Virginia’s chemical valley is historically significant in defining the exploitations of people residing in this area. The concentration of crude MCHM in the river was approximated at 0.15 µg/L. Although some initial studies did consider the effects of MCHM exposure on humans, little attention has been given to aquatic wildlife. In this project, I will expose fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, an environmentally relevant species, to concentrations of MCHM between zero …

First Record Of Palonica Viridia (Ball, 1903) (Hemiptera: Membracidae) In Utah, Lawrence Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Palonica viridia (Hemiptera: Membracidae) is reported from Utah for the first time. Ecological and trapping information is also provided.

The genus Palonica Ball, 1931 contains seven species, four of which occur in the United States (Deitz and Wal­lace 2012; Wallace 2015). Palonica nogalana Ball is found only in Arizona while P. pyramidata (Uhler) and P. tremulata (Ball) have wide distributions across much of the United States and parts of Canada (Deitz and Wallace 2012). Palonica viridia (Ball) ranges west from Arizona, north to British Columbia and east to Texas and New York into Quebec. Presented is the first record of …

First Record Of Phaenops Obtusa (Horn) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) In Massachusetts, Lawrence Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Phaenops obtusa (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is reported from Massachusetts for the first time. Eco­logical and trapping information is also provided.

The genus Phaenops Dejean, 1833 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), sometimes treated as a subgenus of Melanophila Eschscholtz (e.g. Bright 1987), contains 15 species in North America, five which occur in the northeast (Nelson et al. 2008; Paiero et al. 2012). Phaenops obtusa (Horn) is primarily distributed in southeastern United States from Louisiana to Florida and South Carolina, with a disjunct occurrence reported from New York (Nelson et al. 2008). Presented here is the first record of P. obtusa from Massachusetts, extending its disjunct …

Feeding Ecology Of Elusive Caribbean Killer Whales Inferred From Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models And Whalers’ Ecological Knowledge, Jeremy J. Kiszka, Michelle Caputo, Paula Méndez-Fernandez, Russell Fielding

Honors College Faculty Publications

Investigating the feeding ecology of marine predators is critical for understanding their roles and functional importance in ecosystems. However, assessing the diet of large and wide-ranging predators can be challenging, particularly in the case of rare and elusive species. Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are large apex predators in global oceans, but very little is known about their feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems, particularly in the Caribbean Sea. Killer whales are distributed throughout the Caribbean, and are a regular target of artisanal whalers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (West Indies). Here we investigate the feeding ecology of Caribbean killer whales …

A Baseline Documentation Report For The Delta Wind Birds Sky Lake Nature Reserve, James Dubberly

Honors Theses

The purpose of this baseline documentation is to conduct a report on our subject property and discuss the findings. A conservation easement is established by upholding a certain standard of a property’s current condition which makes a baseline documentation necessary for an easement to be enacted. Baseline documentation reports are used as a resource to monitor and enforce the legal agreements of the conservation easement. The subject property is currently owned by the Delta Wind Birds organization. In our scenario, this documentation report will serve to aid in the conversion of our subject property into a conservation easement in which …

Density Of Free-Roaming Cats Related To Feeding Stations On Hayden Island, Oregon, Olivia Helback, Joe Liebezeit

University Honors Theses

Free-roaming cats have a devastating impact on wildlife populations with stray/feral cats being the most problematic. In some areas, community members provide these cats with food, water, and shelter often in conjunction with a trap, neuter, return (TNR) program. Hayden Island located north of Portland, Oregon is home to a managed colony of feral and stray cats. Some island residents provide feeding stations for the cats and actively participate in population management. To determine how feeding stations might affect cat spatial distribution, camera traps were placed at 19 different stations in urban and natural areas on Hayden island. Additional annual …

Outline - Coyote Population Dynamics, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to begin thinking about the interactions between animals in an environment and the ways in which those interactions affect each animal. Students will learn about predator/prey dynamics and ecosystem biodiversity through the lens of coyotes and other city predators, primarily cats, by learning about their diets and movement patterns. They will then be asked to consider the impacts of humans and feral cat colonies on urban environments. Students will learn through discussion and interactive activities before presenting their findings via a management plan presentation.

Powerpoint - Coyote Population Dynamics, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Outline - Coyote Traits, Adaptations & Behavior, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

The purpose of this lesson is to facilitate student acquisition of background knowledge on topics related to Canid speciation and evolution. This will focus on unique physical and behavioral characteristics of coyotes from other Canids as well as those adaptations that have allowed them to become so widely distributed through North America, though not quite as well distributed as dogs, which will also be a focus of this lesson. Students will research and present their findings via a Project Based Learning (PBL) poster.

Powerpoint - Coyote Traits, Adaptations & Behavior, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Outline - Coyote Biodiversity, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

The purpose of this lesson is to facilitate student acquisition of background knowledge on topics related to human and coyote impacts on biodiversity. This will focus on how humans impact biodiversity in urban areas, how coyotes fit into the urban food web, and how the two species interact with one another. Students will research and present their findings via a Project Based Learning (PBL) poster.

Coyote Risk Assessment Backyard Survey, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 1, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 2, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 3, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 4, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 5, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

Science Probe - Wildlife Management Scenario Group 6, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 12: Urban Wildlife

No abstract provided.

2018 Student Hummingbird Poster, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 11: Bird Migration

No abstract provided.

Urban Birds - January 2019, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 11: Bird Migration

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan: Observing Seasonal Expression Of Migratory Behavior In Pine Siskins, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 11: Bird Migration

The purpose of this lesson is to teach students how to observe migratory bird behavior, using videos of Pine siskins (Spinus pinus) in a laboratory setting. Students will learn how to apply the scientific method to make predictions, observe behaviors, collect data, formulate questions, test hypotheses, draw conclusions, and communicate findings.

Powerpoint - The Pine Siskin, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 11: Bird Migration

No abstract provided.

Powerpoint - Ethograms, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 11: Bird Migration

No abstract provided.

Lesson Plan: Trees In My City, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 08: Urban Environmental Action

Students have seen how people can actively work to improve the environment. Students will determine current tree / green coverage and why this information is important when planning for change. Students will learn the impacts trees can have on cities and will use understanding to identify tree species and plan future tree plantings in following lessons.

Lesson Plan: Seven Generations, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 08: Urban Environmental Action

In this lesson, students will consider the benefits and trade-offs of their action plans over an extended period of time. Students will consider and discuss a quote attributed to the Great Law of the Iroquois and predict and complete a timeline of the benefits and tradeoffs of their action plan for ecological communities (human and non-human) seven “generations” into the future. This lesson allows you and your students to consider the future impact of their action plans, and allows your students to consider making any modifications to their action plans.

Student Pages - From Action Plan To Seven Generations, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 08: Urban Environmental Action

No abstract provided.

Reading - The Science Of Biodiversity, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 06: Urban Biodiversity

No abstract provided.

Reading - The Challenge Of Measuring Biodiversity, Center For Urban Resilience

Module 06: Urban Biodiversity

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Effects Of Temperature And Time Of Day On The Activity Of Captive Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla Gorilla Gorilla), Jennifer Ryan, William Volpe, Emily Mauser, Laura Dehart, Angela Perretti, Maddy Vandevere

Anthropology & Sociology Student Work

Research on captive animals reaps substantial benefits for conservation, education, and enrichment efforts. As more species become displaced in their natural habitats, it is the job of the researcher to better understand how these animals behave in captivity. To contribute to these efforts, we have been observing the activity budgets of a group of captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) (1 adult male, 2 subadult males, 2 adult females, 2 infant/juveniles) at the Philadelphia Zoo. Over a period of 16 non-consecutive months, we conducted 30-minute focals with 2-minute scan samples on the gorillas (54.66 hours), recording time of day, …