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Checklists Of Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, And Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) From Iran, Michael C. Thomas, Hassan Ghahari Jan 2016

Checklists Of Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, And Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) From Iran, Michael C. Thomas, Hassan Ghahari

Insecta Mundi

The Iranian fauna of Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, and Silvanidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) are summarized

in this paper. In total 2 species of Cucujidae (1 genus: Pediacus Shuckard), 6 species of Laemophloeidae (3 genera:

Cryptolestes Ganglbauer, Laemophloeus Dejean, and Placonotus MacLeay) and 7 species of Silvanidae (6 genera:

Uleiota Latreille, Psammoecus Latreille, Ahasverus Gozis, Nausibius Lentz, Oryzaephilus Ganglbauer, Psammoecus

Latreille, and Silvanus Latreille) are listed in this paper. Synonymies and distribution data are given.


Enoclerus Gahan: Predators Of Chemically Protected Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Cleridae And Coccinellidae), Jacques Rifkind Jan 2016

Enoclerus Gahan: Predators Of Chemically Protected Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Cleridae And Coccinellidae), Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Four species of the genus Enoclerus (Coleoptera: Cleridae) are reported to prey on chemically protected Coccinellidae in North America. The possibility that aposematically colored Enoclerus also mimic prey ladybird species is discussed, and the further possibility that clerid predators acquire chemical protection through sequestration of ladybird prey’s toxic alkaloids is suggested as an important avenue of investigation. The data presented are primarily based on photographs taken by non-specialists, discovered through Internet search. The crowdsourcing of natural history observations can reveal aspects of animal behavior heretofore unreported and even unsuspected.


The Cuba-Florida Plant-Pest Pathway, Cory Penca, Damian C. Adams, Jiri Hulcr Jan 2016

The Cuba-Florida Plant-Pest Pathway, Cory Penca, Damian C. Adams, Jiri Hulcr

Insecta Mundi

Recent shifts in US policies towards Cuba suggest a relaxation or lifting of the embargo may occur in the

near future. With the prospects of open travel and trade with Cuba come concerns over the introduction of agricultural

pests. In an effort to assess these concerns the distribution-based introduction risk of pests listed in the 2015 Cooperative

Agricultural Pest Survey’s (CAPS) list of priority pests of economic and environmental importance is reviewed. Of

the 59 pests on the CAPS priority pest list, 20 have been recorded in the literature as being present in the Caribbean

Basin, South America and Central …


Five New Species Of Bakerius Bondar (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Aleurodicinae) From The Americas And Vietnam, John W. Dooley, Allan Smith-Pardo Jan 2016

Five New Species Of Bakerius Bondar (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Aleurodicinae) From The Americas And Vietnam, John W. Dooley, Allan Smith-Pardo

Insecta Mundi

Five new species of Bakerius Bondar (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae: Aleurodicinae) are described and illustrated from the Americas and Vietnam based on the adult, nymph, and pupal stages: Bakerius asiaticus, Bakerius colombianus, Bakerius hondurensis, Bakerius leei and Bakerius peruvianus. The following six species: Bakerius attenuatus Bondar 1923, Bakerius calmoni Bondar 1928, Bakerius marmoratus (Hempel 1923), Bakerius phrygilanthi Bondar 1923, Bakerius sanguineus Bondar 1928, and Bakerius sublatus Bondar 1928 are re-described. An identification key to the New World genera of the subfamily Aleurodicinae, and a key to the adults and the puparia of Bakerius species are provided.

Se describen e ilustran cinco …


A New Record Of The Armored Scale Genus Carulaspis Macgillivray (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) From Korea And Its Aphelinid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Soo-Jung Suh, Gregory A. Evans Jan 2016

A New Record Of The Armored Scale Genus Carulaspis Macgillivray (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) From Korea And Its Aphelinid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Soo-Jung Suh, Gregory A. Evans

Insecta Mundi

Carulaspis juniperi (Bouché) is newly documented as occurring in the Korean fauna of armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). The characters of this genus and species are redescribed based on specimens collected in Korea. In addition, four species of aphelinids (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) associated with C. juniperi were collected in Korea during the survey. Of these, Aphytis japonicus DeBach and Azim and Encarsia explorata (Silvestri) are recorded for the fi rst time from C. juniperi.


New Records Of Chionaspis Armored Scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) In Korea, Soo-Jung Suh Jan 2016

New Records Of Chionaspis Armored Scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) In Korea, Soo-Jung Suh

Insecta Mundi

Chionaspis acer (Takagi and Kawai) and Chionaspis wistariae Cooley, occurring respectively on Acer

and Wisteria plants, are newly reported in the Korean fauna of armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). The characters

of these species are briefl y redescribed with illustrative photographs and information on distribution and

hosts. A dichotomous key to species of Chionaspis Signoret in Korea is provided for correct species identifi cation.


Absence Of Mate Choice And Postcopulatory Benefits In A Species With Extreme Sexual Size Dimorphism, Marie-Claire Chelini, Eileen A. Hebets Jan 2016

Absence Of Mate Choice And Postcopulatory Benefits In A Species With Extreme Sexual Size Dimorphism, Marie-Claire Chelini, Eileen A. Hebets

Eileen Hebets Publications

Most hypotheses related to the evolution of female-biased extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD) attribute the differences in the size of each sex to selection for reproduction, either through selection for increased female fecundity or selection for male increased mobility and faster development. Very few studies, however, have tested for direct fitness benefits associated with the latter – small male size. Mecaphesa celer is a crab spider with extreme SSD, whose males are less than half the size of females and often weigh 10 times less. Here, we test the hypotheses that larger size in females and smaller size in males …


To Jump Or Not To Jump: Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) And White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Crossing Decisions, Emily N. Burkholder Jan 2016

To Jump Or Not To Jump: Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus) And White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Crossing Decisions, Emily N. Burkholder

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

There have been recent efforts to enhance ungulate movement through modified fencing structures. Ungulates such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) typically negotiate fences by either jumping over fencing or going under. Here we examine crossing success and crossing decisions of mule deer and white-tailed deer and determine factors that influence crossing success and the impending decision to jump over or crawl underneath fencing. Using a BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) design, we deployed remote cameras along fence lines in three study areas; Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield and OneFour research center in Southeastern Alberta, …


Influence Of Fine Sediment On Arctic Grayling (Thymallus Arcticus) Egg Survival And Spawning Habitat Suitability, Ian R. Anderson Jan 2016

Influence Of Fine Sediment On Arctic Grayling (Thymallus Arcticus) Egg Survival And Spawning Habitat Suitability, Ian R. Anderson

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is a freshwater salmonid that is found in clear, cold waters throughout the northern regions of North America. Arctic grayling are still widespread in Alaska and Canada but have declined substantially in their two historic, disjunct southern populations in the contiguous United States. One of these populations was found in the AuSable River in Michigan and went extinct in the mid-1900s (Vincent 1962) while the other, found in the Upper Missouri River drainage in Montana, now inhabits a small portion of its historical range (Nelson 1954). Currently, only two native populations of Arctic …


Evidence For Use Of Alliaria Petiolata In North America By The European Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris Rapae, Sam L. Davis, Don Cipollini Jan 2016

Evidence For Use Of Alliaria Petiolata In North America By The European Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris Rapae, Sam L. Davis, Don Cipollini

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Pieris rapae L., an invasive crop pest, may have recently begun using Alliaria petiolata Bieb. (Cavara & Grande), a European invasive biennial. We investigated how P. rapae uses forest habitats for nectar and oviposition and examined larval performance on A. petiolata in the field and laboratory. Being known primarily to occupy open habitats, we found that P. rapae regularly uses forest edge habitats, most surveyed A. petiolata plants had P. rapae damage, and P. rapae successfully used both stages of A. petiolata for larval development.


Shell Repair In Geukensia Demissa And Predation Preferences Of Callinectes Sapidus: Do Crabs Target Mussels With Weakened Shells?, Madeleine S. Gillis Jan 2016

Shell Repair In Geukensia Demissa And Predation Preferences Of Callinectes Sapidus: Do Crabs Target Mussels With Weakened Shells?, Madeleine S. Gillis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Atlantic blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, are voracious predators that often leave damage on the shells of unconsumed ribbed marsh mussels, Geukensia demissa. The extent of shell damage and size-dependent tradeoffs in marsh mussel growth and repair, as well as the effects of shell damage on crab predation preferences, were determined in this thesis. A preliminary experiment investigated characteristics of damaged mussels in the field. Mussels (n = 30) were collected in the fall of 2011 within two ocean-dominated inlets along the South Carolina coast and were measured for size (length, width, height), area of damage, shell thickness, mass, and strength …


Chemically-Mediated Prey Responses: Invasive Brook Stickleback Induced Changes In Behavior And Life History Of Larval Long-Toed Salamanders, Renae K. Reed Jan 2016

Chemically-Mediated Prey Responses: Invasive Brook Stickleback Induced Changes In Behavior And Life History Of Larval Long-Toed Salamanders, Renae K. Reed

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"The purpose of this research was to assess the predator-induced responses of a larval amphibian to its natural predators and to an unfamiliar fish. Amphibians express chemically-mediated antipredator defenses in behavior, morphology and life history, and are currently threatened with predation by invasive fish. To investigate this issue, we first initiated a behavioral assay to test the null hypotheses that predator type and diet have no effect on long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) behavior. We exposed individual replicate A. macrodactylum to chemical cues (kairomones) from garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans), tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum) and brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), which had been …


A Single Strand Of Argument With Unfounded Conclusion, Robert W. Elwood Jan 2016

A Single Strand Of Argument With Unfounded Conclusion, Robert W. Elwood

Animal Sentience

Key (2016) describes the neural system involved in human pain experience in an excellent fashion but then suggests that only that complete system can generate the experience of pain. Thus animals without all components will not feel pain. This argument has been refuted in the past by analogy to vision where it is clear that a broad range of taxa, vertebrate and invertebrate, have good visual abilities albeit with completely different central nervous systems and receptors. This known counterargument to Key’s main idea is not mentioned in the target article. Further criteria that might indicate pain and studies examining these …


Genetic And Genomic Basis Of Antibody Response To Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome (Prrs) In Gilts And Sows, Nick V. Serão, Robert A. Kemp, Benny Mote, Philip Willson, John C.S. Harding, Stephen C. Bishop, Graham S. Plastow, Jack C.M. Dekkers Jan 2016

Genetic And Genomic Basis Of Antibody Response To Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome (Prrs) In Gilts And Sows, Nick V. Serão, Robert A. Kemp, Benny Mote, Philip Willson, John C.S. Harding, Stephen C. Bishop, Graham S. Plastow, Jack C.M. Dekkers

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Background: Our recent research showed that antibody response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), measured as sample-to-positive (S/P) ratio, is highly heritable and has a high genetic correlation with reproductive performance during a PRRS outbreak. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTL) on Sus scrofa chromosome 7 (SSC7; QTLMHC and QTL130) accounted for ~40 % of the genetic variance for S/P. Objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for PRRS S/P in gilts during acclimation, identify regions associated with S/P, and evaluate the accuracy of genomic prediction of S/P across populations with different prevalences of …


Water-Quality Effects On Phytoplankton Species And Density And Trophic State Indices At Big Base And Little Base Lakes, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, June Through August, 2015, L. J. Driver, B. G. Justus Jan 2016

Water-Quality Effects On Phytoplankton Species And Density And Trophic State Indices At Big Base And Little Base Lakes, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, June Through August, 2015, L. J. Driver, B. G. Justus

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Big Base and Little Base Lakes are located on Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and their close proximity to a dense residential population and an active military/aircraft installation make the lakes vulnerable to water-quality degradation. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a study from June through August 2015 to investigate the effects of water quality on phytoplankton species and density and trophic state in Big Base and Little Base Lakes, with particular regard to nutrient concentrations. Nutrient concentrations, trophic-state indices, and the large part of the phytoplankton biovolume composed of cyanobacteria, indicate eutrophic conditions were prevalent for Big Base …


Dna Barcoding Of The First Recorded American Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus Americanus, In Clark County, Arkansas, J. Kelly, T. Files, N. Reyna, B. Baley Jan 2016

Dna Barcoding Of The First Recorded American Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus Americanus, In Clark County, Arkansas, J. Kelly, T. Files, N. Reyna, B. Baley

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The American Burying Beetle (ABB), Nicrophorus americanus, is a red-listed endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We serendipitously recorded 3 individuals of this species during a forensic study in the summer of 2013. These specimens represent the first known records for Clark County, AR and the southeastern-most record in the State since the extirpation of the species from the region in the late 1800’s. Two males and one female were collected, photographed, sexed and measured. One male specimen was deceased upon discovery. The remaining two individuals were released. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service …


New Distributional Records Of The Ohio Shrimp, Macrobrachium Ohione Smith (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) In Arkansas, H. W. Robison, L. Lewis, C. Cox, G. Spooner, R. Adams, C. T. Mcallister Jan 2016

New Distributional Records Of The Ohio Shrimp, Macrobrachium Ohione Smith (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) In Arkansas, H. W. Robison, L. Lewis, C. Cox, G. Spooner, R. Adams, C. T. Mcallister

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Ohio shrimp (Macrobrachium ohione) is a migratory (amphidromous) river shrimp that occurs in some Arkansas rivers. It is known from the Upper Missouri River from its mouth downstream to the Gulf of Mexico, but shrimp abundance has declined, particularly upstream of Louisiana. Ohio Shrimp has also been collected in the lower reach of the Missouri River not far from the confluence of the Mississippi River in St. Louis County. Dams and alterations in channel flow are hypothesized to have impacted upriver migrations of shrimp. Current range, abundance, and life history of Ohio shrimp is relatively unknown in the Mississippi …


Evaluation Of Bison (Bison Bison) Ecology At The Olson’S Bison Conservation Ranches, Pine River Ranch, Manitoba, Canada, Joshua L. Leonard Jan 2016

Evaluation Of Bison (Bison Bison) Ecology At The Olson’S Bison Conservation Ranches, Pine River Ranch, Manitoba, Canada, Joshua L. Leonard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bison (Bison bison), the largest mammalian species in North America, historically numbering in the tens of millions (Roe 1970, McHugh 1972, Dary 1989, Shaw 1995), was nearly extirpated at the turn of the 19th century (Knapp et al. 1999; Gates et al. 2010). At the time, estimates of less than 1,000 bison remaining in North America are widely accepted (Hornaday 1889; Seton 1927; Gates et al. 2010). The decline of bison includes factors such as disease (Flores 1991; Isenberg 2000), sport hunting (Danz 1997; Dary 1989; Hewitt 1919; Isenberg 2000; McHugh 1972), and unofficially funded commercial hunting by the U.S. …


Effect Of Oil And Natural Gas Development On Survival And Health Of White-Tailed Deer In The Western Dakotas, Katherine L. Moratz Jan 2016

Effect Of Oil And Natural Gas Development On Survival And Health Of White-Tailed Deer In The Western Dakotas, Katherine L. Moratz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oil and gas development in North Dakota has resulted in the need for information regarding how increased activity has affected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. We evaluated white-tailed deer ecology in response to energy development and hypothesized that oil and gas development would negatively affect adult and neonate white-tailed deer due to increased vehicle traffic and human-related effects. We captured and radio-collared adult female and neonate white-tailed deer across three study areas: Dunn County, North Dakota, an area influenced by energy development, and Grant County, North Dakota, and Perkins County, South Dakota, areas not impacted by energy development at this …


Evidence Of Rock Kangaroo Seed Dispersal Via Faecal Seed Storage In A Tropical Monsoon Community, Chris Martine, Ally Boni, Elizabeth Capaldi, Gemma Lionheart, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden Jan 2016

Evidence Of Rock Kangaroo Seed Dispersal Via Faecal Seed Storage In A Tropical Monsoon Community, Chris Martine, Ally Boni, Elizabeth Capaldi, Gemma Lionheart, Ingrid E. Jordon-Thaden

Faculty Journal Articles

While some of the plant species of the ‘Sandstone Country’ along the escarpment of western Arnhem Land produce fleshy fruits and appear to rely on biotic methods of seed dispersal, little is known about the methods by which this is achieved – and few potential dispersers co-occur in the sandstone outcrop communities. For the present study, scat collections were made on outcrops in the northeastern area of Kakadu National Park with the hope of uncovering relationships between local frugivores and fruit-producers, and providing evidence for seasonal storage of mammal-dispersed seeds in scat prior to germination. The goals of the present …


A Tale Of Two Palmettos: The Foundation Of Ecosystems, Warren G. Abrahamson Ii Jan 2016

A Tale Of Two Palmettos: The Foundation Of Ecosystems, Warren G. Abrahamson Ii

Faculty Journal Articles

Fruits of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) provide crucial, high-quality resources to wildlife while providing a matrix for many southeastern US ecosystems. As a foundation species, saw palmetto plays a major role in structuring fire-maintained plant communities. Often living on nutrient-poor soil conditions, the thick leaves of saw palmetto are long lived, up to 2.8 years in shaded sand pine scrub.


Analyzing Winter Migration Fidelity And Movement Of The Wild Taimyr Reindeer Herd, Rangifer T. Tarandus, Emily T. Francis Jan 2016

Analyzing Winter Migration Fidelity And Movement Of The Wild Taimyr Reindeer Herd, Rangifer T. Tarandus, Emily T. Francis

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Taimyr Reindeer Herd (TRH) is the largest wild reindeer population in the world, and is located in the northern central region of Arctic Russia. Previous detailed research on the spatiotemporal dynamics of this herd have been conducted involving aerial population censuses for two of the three seasons for reindeer: calving (Meerdink, 2012) and summer (Cooney, 2014). The first part of this study continues with the methods of the previous studies, analyzing the spatiotemporal fidelity of the TRH in the winter season. This was completed using geospatial analysis of digitized historical aerial census data of reindeer locations, and analyzing areas …


The Effect Of Cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia Echinulata In The Belgrade Lakes, Maine, Harriet T. Rothschild Jan 2016

The Effect Of Cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia Echinulata In The Belgrade Lakes, Maine, Harriet T. Rothschild

Honors Theses

Gloeotrichia echinulata is a cyanobacteria species that has been increasingly forming blooms in oligotrophic lakes in the Northeastern United States. The Belgrade Lakes in central Maine have experienced increasing blooms over the past decades. Long Pond and Great Pond in the Belgrade Lakes region are popular locations for summer tourism and year-round residents. Research into G. echinulata is important to the Belgrade community because of potential effects to water quality, public health, and recreation. Studying G. echinulata bloom density throughout the summer and how it may affect the phosphorous cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the plankton community will help scientists …


Environmental Contingency Of Seed-Fungi Interactions In Coexisting Invasive Purple Loosestrife And Native Cattail, Shayla R. Williams Jan 2016

Environmental Contingency Of Seed-Fungi Interactions In Coexisting Invasive Purple Loosestrife And Native Cattail, Shayla R. Williams

Honors Theses

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is a highly invasive species able to quickly take over entire wetlands, especially after disturbances. Bountiful seed production and a persistent and prolific seed bank play a key role in loosestrife’s ability to invade. However, some competing native species, such as cattails (Typha spp.) have comparable seed production rates but less abundant seed banks, suggesting that there may be a difference in belowground seed survival. I investigated the abundance of loosestrife and cattail seeds in soils at roadside sites relative to above-ground stem densities. Given the importance of fungal pathogens to seed …


Effects Of Habitat Alteration On Ecomorphology Of Fish Communities In A Restored Stream, Carl Anthony Favata Jan 2016

Effects Of Habitat Alteration On Ecomorphology Of Fish Communities In A Restored Stream, Carl Anthony Favata

Masters Theses

Decades of anthropogenic pressure have devastated lotic ecosystems across the riverscapes of North America, resulting in degradation of critical habitat and contributing to sharp declines in biotic integrity. In response, local stream restoration projects have increased in frequency. However, little effort has been allocated to monitoring and project success has been limited. In addition, restoration projects typically focus on ecological effects above the population-level, while relationships with physiological processes are seldom assessed. Lessons from the long-term restoration and ecological monitoring of Kickapoo Creek highlight some of the complex dynamics driving reach-scale restoration projects. Following instream restoration, I predicted that alterations …


Sampling Efficiency, Population Characteristics, And Potential Impacts Of Harvest Regulations On Three Riverine Species Of Catfish, Zachary Adam Mitchell Jan 2016

Sampling Efficiency, Population Characteristics, And Potential Impacts Of Harvest Regulations On Three Riverine Species Of Catfish, Zachary Adam Mitchell

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.


Effects Of Visitors And Enrichments On Behavior Of Captive Red Wolves’ (Canis Rufus) At The Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kylee S. Shotkoski Jan 2016

Effects Of Visitors And Enrichments On Behavior Of Captive Red Wolves’ (Canis Rufus) At The Great Plains Zoo, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kylee S. Shotkoski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Red wolves (Canis rufus) are the first animals to maintain a wild population from captive, released individuals. A captive breeding program for red wolves was started before complete extirpation, and 4 breeding pairs were released in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (North Carolina) in 1987 and a small wild population still exists there. Currently, there are several captive breeding facilities for red wolves within the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program. The Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota participates in the SSP program. My study was initiated to create a natural history background and evaluate interaction between …


Cognitive Phenotypes And The Evolution Of Animal Decisions, Tamra C. Mendelson, Courtney L. Fitzpatrick, Mark E. Hauber, Charles H. Pence, Rafael L. Rodríguez, Rebecca J. Safran, Caitlin A. Stern, Jeffrey R. Stevens Jan 2016

Cognitive Phenotypes And The Evolution Of Animal Decisions, Tamra C. Mendelson, Courtney L. Fitzpatrick, Mark E. Hauber, Charles H. Pence, Rafael L. Rodríguez, Rebecca J. Safran, Caitlin A. Stern, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Faculty Publications

Despite the clear fitness consequences of animal decisions, the science of animal decision making in evolutionary biology is underdeveloped compared with decision science in human psychology. Specifically, the field lacks a conceptual framework that defines and describes the relevant components of a decision, leading to imprecise language and concepts. The ‘judgment and decision-making’ (JDM) framework in human psychology is a powerful tool for framing and understanding human decisions, and we apply it here to components of animal decisions, which we refer to as ‘cognitive phenotypes’. We distinguish multiple cognitive phenotypes in the context of a JDM framework and highlight empirical …


Assessing Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) In South Dakota And Identifying Drivers Of Assemblage Variation, Kaylee L. Faltys Jan 2016

Assessing Freshwater Mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) In South Dakota And Identifying Drivers Of Assemblage Variation, Kaylee L. Faltys

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Native freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) are among the most threatened groups of freshwater fauna on Earth. Approximately 35 species have gone extinct since the 1900s and 72% of remaining species are considered endangered, threatened, or species of special concern. Unionid research can begin by establishing species presence and distributions via surveys. Objectives for this study were to 1) implement the first comprehensive unionid survey for South Dakota to assess distribution, composition, and decline, 2) estimate assemblage density and determine local versus broad scale habitat drivers of assemblage variation, and 3) determine areas of unionid conservation priority in South Dakota. Mussels …


Developing Management Guidelines That Balance Cattle And Timber Production With Ecological Interests In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Kurt M. Chowanski Jan 2016

Developing Management Guidelines That Balance Cattle And Timber Production With Ecological Interests In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Kurt M. Chowanski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forested lands contribute to the United States (US) economy by providing livestock and timber production. Livestock grazing of forested lands has been widespread throughout the western US since the settlement era, and currently occurs on 51.4 million hectares (ha) representing 16% of all US grazing land and 22% of all US forested land (Nickerson et al. 2011). While livestock grazing and timber harvest are occurring on a substantial amount of forested land, relationships between management practices, tree stocking, timber production, forage production, livestock grazing, wildlife, aesthetics, and ecological integrity are not well documented. Whether considering timber or cattle, finding a …