Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Institution
-
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (4398)
- Utah State University (1583)
- WellBeing International (820)
- Old Dominion University (748)
- Marshall University (676)
-
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (632)
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (501)
- Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School (476)
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia (388)
- City University of New York (CUNY) (325)
- Louisiana State University (236)
- University of South Florida (235)
- Eastern Illinois University (217)
- South Dakota State University (196)
- University of Kentucky (194)
- University of Montana (194)
- Claremont Colleges (186)
- The University of Southern Mississippi (186)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (180)
- Cal Poly Humboldt (175)
- Portland State University (168)
- University of Richmond (160)
- Western Kentucky University (156)
- Edith Cowan University (155)
- Illinois State University (155)
- Michigan Technological University (154)
- University of New Mexico (152)
- University of Louisville (148)
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (147)
- SIT Graduate Institute/SIT Study Abroad (132)
- Keyword
-
- Ecology (540)
- Climate change (372)
- Conservation (337)
- Evolution (325)
- Taxonomy (290)
-
- Biodiversity (269)
- Invasive species (266)
- Behavior (196)
- Western Australia (171)
- Distribution (153)
- Restoration (151)
- Fish (149)
- Biology (143)
- Habitat (141)
- Limnology (128)
- Predation (125)
- Grus americana (124)
- Phylogeny (123)
- Water quality (119)
- Morphology (118)
- Wetlands (117)
- Management (115)
- Aquatic ecology (112)
- Migration (111)
- Reproduction (109)
- Biogeography (108)
- Nebraska (108)
- Birds (104)
- Buthidae (102)
- Experiments (102)
- Publication Year
- Publication
-
- Insecta Mundi (686)
- United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications (591)
- Animal Sentience (520)
- The Prairie Naturalist (490)
- All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023 (451)
-
- Euscorpius (446)
- Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science (403)
- Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop (399)
- Electronic Theses and Dissertations (339)
- Aspen Bibliography (338)
- Biology Faculty Publications (326)
- Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations (261)
- Human–Wildlife Interactions (257)
- Theses and Dissertations (234)
- Masters Theses (229)
- Biological Sciences Faculty Publications (228)
- Master's Theses (196)
- Theses, Dissertations and Capstones (194)
- Wildlife Damage Management Conference (180)
- Nebraska Bird Review (175)
- Fisheries Management Papers (167)
- Publications and Research (166)
- USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations (159)
- Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects (139)
- Graduate Theses and Dissertations (135)
- Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection (125)
- United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications (122)
- UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones (120)
- Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum (1924–2023) (115)
- Honors Theses (112)
- Publication Type
- File Type
Articles 301 - 330 of 19668
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Testing The Influence Of Increased Predation On The Evolution Of Morphological Coloration Plasticity In Trinidadian Killifish (Anablepsoides Hartii), Alyssa M. Laux
Biology Theses
The ability to camouflage is a widespread trait in both vertebrates and invertebrates that enhances survival in risky environments. The ability of organisms to respond to shifts in environmental conditions and change color is a conspicuous example of camouflage. Such coloration plasticity can occur rapidly (seconds to minutes) versus longer periods of time (days to months). There are numerous examples of physiological coloration plasticity (short-term) and morphological coloration plasticity (long-term). Yet, there are few tests of the conditions that drive the evolution of physiological vs. morphological coloration plasticity. In this study we use Trinidadian killifish (Anablepsoides hartii) as …
Soil Respiration Drivers And Challenges In A Changing Environment, Olivia Rae Haas
Soil Respiration Drivers And Challenges In A Changing Environment, Olivia Rae Haas
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
This study aims to understand post agricultural forested soils (sandy loam, silt loam, and loam) and the influences that drive carbon sequestration and soil respiration flux. Duke Farms in Hillsborough NJ, has historically been utilized as an agricultural zone for farming a variety of crops. Currently the area is protected with a focus on environmental conservation and restoration of the land. This includes getting a better understanding of the forested portions of the property. Understanding the quality of forested areas is vital as they have the potential to act as a carbon sink which can mitigate the effects of climate …
Mapping Coastal Vegetation To Evaluate Salt Marsh Decline From 2016 To 2025 In South Carolina, Usa, Zak Henry Bartholomew
Mapping Coastal Vegetation To Evaluate Salt Marsh Decline From 2016 To 2025 In South Carolina, Usa, Zak Henry Bartholomew
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Accelerating sea-level rise and storm surge events pose a substantial threat to salt marsh ecosystems, which provide critical ecosystem services. Classification and mapping of coastal vegetation through remote sensing can identify marsh dieback events and provide spatial context for patterns of marsh vulnerability. We used a multi-sensor approach that incorporated LiDAR data, multispectral imagery, and field-derived cover estimates to classify Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) dominated marsh types on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI), a sea island in South Carolina, USA. In summer 2025, surveys were conducted within marsh classes to collect training and validation data. We used random …
Rewilding The Coral Reefs, Magali Rodriguez, Luciana Alvillar
Rewilding The Coral Reefs, Magali Rodriguez, Luciana Alvillar
Posters - 2026
Coral reefs are among the most valuable ecosystems globally, contributing an estimated $10 trillion annually and supporting hundreds of millions of people through food, livelihoods, and coastal protection. (NOAA 2026) They also provide critical habitat for diverse marine species. However, reefs are rapidly declining due to rising ocean temperatures, acidification, pollution, invasive species, and physical disturbances. Globally, 30–50% of coral reefs have already been lost(NOAA 2026), and without intervention, many may face extinction by the end of the century. Rewilding and restoration efforts have become essential strategies to address this crisis. Initiatives such as NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program highlight …
Impacts Of Native And Nonnative Plant Species On Avian Community Diversity, Matty John Mackay, Steven Van Dang, Brandon Lee Corn
Impacts Of Native And Nonnative Plant Species On Avian Community Diversity, Matty John Mackay, Steven Van Dang, Brandon Lee Corn
SPARK Symposium Presentations
Avian communities play an essential role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem dynamic by regulating insect populations, assisting in plant pollination, and seed dispersal. These contribute to the overall health of natural ecosystems and mitigate ecological disruptions that would arise in their absence. However, the introduction of non-native invasive plant species can interrupt the balance avian communities bring to ecosystems by reducing availability of food sources, altering habitat structures, increasing competition among individuals, and disrupting ecological relationships through rapid invasion of ecological spaces. Point count observations of birds at Shelby Bottoms Park, Nashville, Tennessee in areas dominated by non-native privet and …
A Frog, A Toad, And A Salamander Walk Into A Forest: How Timber Harvest And Environmental Conditions Impact Amphibian Species Abundance In The White Mountain National Forest, William T. Brandenburg
A Frog, A Toad, And A Salamander Walk Into A Forest: How Timber Harvest And Environmental Conditions Impact Amphibian Species Abundance In The White Mountain National Forest, William T. Brandenburg
Honors Theses and Capstones
Balancing the needs of humans and wildlife is one of the primary goals of conservation. Understanding how species respond to resource extraction is essential to achieve long-term population stability. This is especially relevant for amphibians, which are particularly sensitive to environmental disturbances due to habitat loss and degradation. As such they are often used as indicator species. This study leverages 20-years of amphibian abundance data from surveys in different silvicultural treatments to understand how American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), and red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) respond to changes in forest structure, weather, …
Surveillance Of A Novel Vesivirus Discovered In An Urban Mephitis Mephitis Population, Amanda E. Diggins
Surveillance Of A Novel Vesivirus Discovered In An Urban Mephitis Mephitis Population, Amanda E. Diggins
Honors Theses and Capstones
Caliciviridae is a family of non-enveloped, positive-sense, single stranded RNA viruses, including eleven defined genera that contain important pathogens of humans and animals. Within the Caliciviridae family, the genus Vesiviridae includes feline calicivirus, a leading cause of upper respiratory disease in cats, and vesicular exanthema of swine virus, a historical disease of domestic swine that has now been implicated in several marine mammal vesicular diseases, one of which has been confirmed zoonotic. Urban landscapes create a unique environment for rapid intra- and interspecies transmission of viruses. Clustered resources attract high-density populations of synanthropic wildlife species, increasing spatial overlap and heightening …
Current And Historical Occurrences Of Rare Coastal Plants In The Hampton Falls Salt Marshes, Liliana T. Chirichella
Current And Historical Occurrences Of Rare Coastal Plants In The Hampton Falls Salt Marshes, Liliana T. Chirichella
Honors Theses and Capstones
A botanical survey of two sites in the Hampton Falls saltmarshes was conducted to document the occurrences of a list of eleven endangered and threatened coastal plants listed in the Natural Heritage Bureau’s NH Rare Plant List. This survey was conducted in fulfillment of the NH Native Plant Protection Act to highlight and identify target species in an area where restorative runneling is to be implemented in order to restore proper hydrology and prevent further expansion of mega-pools in the Little River and Depot Road salt marsh sites, which have been subject to historical ditching and are a part of …
Stress And Reward Interactions In Substance Use Disorder: An Evolutionary Mismatch Framework, Nicholas L. Castrucci
Stress And Reward Interactions In Substance Use Disorder: An Evolutionary Mismatch Framework, Nicholas L. Castrucci
Honors Theses and Capstones
Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health concern characterized by compulsive substance use despite adverse consequences. While contemporary models emphasize biological, psychological, and environmental contributors, stress- and reward-related systems are often examined in isolation. This review integrates these systems within an evolutionary mismatch framework to examine how chronic stress exposure and repeated substance use increase vulnerability to addiction. Stress and reward systems are evolutionarily conserved but may become chronically dysregulated under modern conditions characterized by persistent psychosocial stressors and highly potent rewarding stimuli. This is associated with converging neuroadaptations across stress and reward circuitry, resulting in altered affective …
Investigating Microbe-Mediated Temperature Tolerance In Lemna Minor, Matthew Thomas Farbaniec
Investigating Microbe-Mediated Temperature Tolerance In Lemna Minor, Matthew Thomas Farbaniec
Honors Theses and Capstones
Temperature limits plant growth and survival more than many other environmental variables, and increases in the frequency of extreme hot or cold weather events pose significant challenges for plant growth and crop yields. Previous studies have shown that bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms associated with plants ( i.e., the plant microbiome) can influence host response to temperature stress. These same microbes have their own temperature tolerances. We investigated whether microbial temperature tolerance correlates with plant resilience using an aquatic plant model, Lemna minor, and isolates derived from its microbiome. Microbial isolates were assessed at −10°C, 4°C, and 32°C for …
Hidden In The Mist: Three New Species Of Salamanders Of The Genus Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) From Oaxaca, Mexico, Eduardo A. Aguilar-Herrera, Salomón Sanabria-Urbán, Dulce L. Flores-Martínez, José David Gómez-Tapia, Misael Seba-Chacha, Leopoldo D. Vázquez-Reyes, Francisco A. Rivera-Ortíz, Patricia Ramírez-Bastida, Bruno Cortés-Ortiz, R. Alejandro Calzada-Arciniega, Etienne U. Avila-Ortega, Dónovan I. Víquez-Vega, Omar Hernández-Ordoñez, Christopher Blair, Víctor H. Jiménez-Arcos
Hidden In The Mist: Three New Species Of Salamanders Of The Genus Pseudoeurycea (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) From Oaxaca, Mexico, Eduardo A. Aguilar-Herrera, Salomón Sanabria-Urbán, Dulce L. Flores-Martínez, José David Gómez-Tapia, Misael Seba-Chacha, Leopoldo D. Vázquez-Reyes, Francisco A. Rivera-Ortíz, Patricia Ramírez-Bastida, Bruno Cortés-Ortiz, R. Alejandro Calzada-Arciniega, Etienne U. Avila-Ortega, Dónovan I. Víquez-Vega, Omar Hernández-Ordoñez, Christopher Blair, Víctor H. Jiménez-Arcos
Publications and Research
We describe three new species of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) in the genus Pseudoeurycea from Cerro Rabon, located on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca, Mexico. This mid-elevation mountain, largely surrounded by warmer lowlands, remains relatively understudied. We present molecular and morphological evidence distinguishing the three new species from their congeners. According to our phylogenetic analysis, one of the new species belongs to the P. leprosa group, while the other two are members of the P. juarezi group. Notably, one of the new species represents the fourth worm salamander known from west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and another …
Evaluating Sampling Strategies To Monitor Southern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger Niger) Populations, Casey Robin Hitchens
Evaluating Sampling Strategies To Monitor Southern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus Niger Niger) Populations, Casey Robin Hitchens
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Reliable population monitoring is essential for evaluating wildlife translocations and informing conservation management, yet traditional monitoring approaches are often labor intensive and require prolonged sampling. This study evaluated marking techniques, survey methods, and population estimation approaches for monitoring a translocated population of southern fox squirrels (Sciurus niger niger) at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, USA (MCRDPI). From January-June 2023, I conducted six live trapping and camera trapping sessions across five survey sites. I compared the performance of color-coded collars and tail shaves for individual identification and the recapture probability between live traps and camera traps. Logistic mixed-effects …
Cordgrass (Spartina Alterniflora) In Bio-Restoration Integrated Coastal Substrate (Brics): Restoring The New England Coastline., Kaitlyn Frances Shelley
Cordgrass (Spartina Alterniflora) In Bio-Restoration Integrated Coastal Substrate (Brics): Restoring The New England Coastline., Kaitlyn Frances Shelley
UNH URC Open (2026 and after)
The Engineering for Agri-Environment Laboratory (EAE) is dedicated to developing nature-based solutions that enhance the resilience of agricultural and coastal ecosystems. The study involves current work (trial 2) underway in Spring 2026 and Summer 2026, integrating principles of sustainable engineering and plant science. BRICS, our Bio-Restoration Integrated Coastal Substrate, proposes a new way to reduce erosion, stabilize root structures, provide a critical habitat for wildlife, and promote vegetation throughout the coast.
Interactions Between Red Foxes And Coyotes Across Urban And Wild Habitats, Caroline E. Savage, Taylor S. Readyhough, Remington J. Moll, Jonathon D. Cepek
Interactions Between Red Foxes And Coyotes Across Urban And Wild Habitats, Caroline E. Savage, Taylor S. Readyhough, Remington J. Moll, Jonathon D. Cepek
UNH URC Open (2026 and after)
Dens are critical to the life history of many mammal species, particularly when raising young. Excavating a den is energetically costly, so several species can use existing dens, and multiple species may inhabit the same den complex simultaneously. However, the extent of den sharing among urban mammals is understudied. Between March 2021, and June 2023, we used camera traps to monitor a multi-species den site in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. We documented den visitation and use by at least 11 mammal species, including red fox, coyote, raccoon, woodchuck, and Virginia opossum. Coyotes and red foxes both exhibited scent-marking at the den …
Inferring Genes And Biological Systems Under Selective Pressure In The Secondarily Temperate Cryonotothenioids, Esteban Cabrera
Inferring Genes And Biological Systems Under Selective Pressure In The Secondarily Temperate Cryonotothenioids, Esteban Cabrera
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Notothenioid fishes represent one of the most compelling examples of adaptive radiation driven by extreme environmental change, having diversified in the chronically cold waters of the Southern Ocean. While most cryonotothenioids evolved highly specialized cold-adapted characteristics, several secondarily temperate species later re-invaded warmer environments. These lineages provide a rare opportunity to examine evolutionary reversibility and the genomic mechanisms enabling escape from extreme specialization. In this study, we investigate two secondarily temperate species, Dissostichus eleginoides and Champsocephalus esox, comparing their protein-coding orthogroups to background sets from Antarctic cryonotothenioids and basal temperate teleosts. Using phylogeny based evolutionary models (BUSTED, aBSREL, and RELAX) …
The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success, Anna R. Starman
The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success, Anna R. Starman
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Foraging efficiency may be enhanced by flashing patches of white wing and tail feathers and has been documented in several avian species. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos, NOMO) exhibit this “wing-flashing” (WF) behavior while foraging, during displays, and in response to predators. In NOMOs, WF has been hypothesized to increase foraging success, but previous findings are inconclusive. To further investigate the biological role(s) of WF behavior in NOMOs, the ventral surface of white primary feathers of male NOMOs were artificially darkened, and the foraging and provisioning rates of undarkened (control) males and their mates were compared. While foraging, undarkened …
Preventing Coccus Longulus Infestation, Nicholas Wellls
Preventing Coccus Longulus Infestation, Nicholas Wellls
Honors College Theses
In the Armstrong greenhouse, the Coccus longulus scale insect is a prevalent problem on a specific species of Begonia known as Begonia ‘Richmondensis’. Inside the greenhouse there are several types of begonias with very similar characteristics to the Richmondensis begonia. However, none of these other begonias are infested by C. longulus, despite similar leaf thickness and environmental conditions such as humidity and light. This project examined whether differences in the chemical composition of the Begonia leaves can explain this pattern. Results were not statistically significant, but they showed that the chemicals had a noticeable impact on the scale, and …
Fisheries Research Report No. 359: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2025, Alissa Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Troy Matthews
Fisheries Research Report No. 359: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2025, Alissa Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Troy Matthews
Fisheries Research Reports
Ongoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Perth Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boatbased recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. This information is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as for Australian …
Managing Multi-Drug Resistance: An Evolutionary Game Theory And Optimal Control Approach, Shukhrat Nasrulloev
Managing Multi-Drug Resistance: An Evolutionary Game Theory And Optimal Control Approach, Shukhrat Nasrulloev
Theses and Dissertations
Multi-drug resistance is an evolutionary process in which treatment eliminates sensitive cells, allowing resistant clones to dominate. This thesis investigates this process using a framework integrating population dynamics, evolutionary game theory, and optimal control theory. We develop a two-population logistic growth model describing competition between drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells under treatment, construct dose-dependent payoff matrices and replicator dynamics to characterize evolutionary competition, and derive a critical drug level Dcrit = (rS - rR)/(dS - dR) at which resistant cells gain a fitness advantage. An optimal control problem is formulated via Pontryagin's Maximum Principle to identify schedules …
Mapping The Distribution Of The Common House Mosquito (Culex Pipiens) In The City Of Spokane: Mosquito Breeding Sites And Blood Meal Analysis, Oluwapelumi Hannah Sonoiki
Mapping The Distribution Of The Common House Mosquito (Culex Pipiens) In The City Of Spokane: Mosquito Breeding Sites And Blood Meal Analysis, Oluwapelumi Hannah Sonoiki
EWU Masters Thesis Collection
Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are the primary vectors of West Nile virus (WNv) in the United States, with Culex pipiens and Culex tarsalis serving as the dominant species in Spokane. In urban environments, catch basins and other artificial water bodies that collect stagnant and polluted water provide favorable breeding habitats for Culex pipiens. This study aimed to assess the spatial distribution and seasonal dynamics of Culex larvae in Spokane. We examined 303 randomly selected catch basins in the summer of 2025, and at each site we recorded the presence or absence of water, water depth, and mosquito larval …
Chemical Load: An Unseen Herbicide Filter In Restored Prairies?, Rylie Franklin
Chemical Load: An Unseen Herbicide Filter In Restored Prairies?, Rylie Franklin
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Community Assembly Theory is a framework used to describe the process by which species from a regional species pool disperse and encounter various abiotic and biotic conditions that act as filters, limiting which species will populate a specific local community. Prairie restoration success can be improved by understanding abiotic and biotic filters. As agricultural practices have adopted integrated weed management plans, that include the use of both chemical and non-chemical techniques, another filter needs to be considered during restoration: the chemical load of soils, i.e., herbicide residue from recent on-site applications and herbicide drift from adjacent areas. To examine the …
False-Positive Detections In Avian Auditory Surveys: Effects Of Song Number And Directionality In A Calibration-Based Immersive Sound Environment, Katia Elena Chavez
False-Positive Detections In Avian Auditory Surveys: Effects Of Song Number And Directionality In A Calibration-Based Immersive Sound Environment, Katia Elena Chavez
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Detection-based surveys are widely conducted to monitor wildlife populations and provide data for estimating density and abundance. Avian count surveys are especially common because birds respond quickly to habitat degradation and restoration, making them effective indicator species. However, these detection-based surveys rely heavily on human observers and are prone to errors. If left unaddressed, these errors can bias estimates of species occurrence, and abundance, leading to misleading ecological inferences and management decisions. False-positive errors have received limited attention, in part because they are difficult to identify without independent confirmation of true species. To investigate false-positive rates in a controlled setting, …
Long-Term Banding And Encounter Patterns Of Cinnamon Teal Banded In Utah (1960-2025), Gracie A. Henrie
Long-Term Banding And Encounter Patterns Of Cinnamon Teal Banded In Utah (1960-2025), Gracie A. Henrie
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Utah is a valuable breeding and nesting ground for a number of waterfowl species, largely because of the Great Salt Lake, which supports over 400,000 acres of wetland habitat (Ducks Unlimited, n.d.). The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages 24 wildlife management areas (WMAs) with the purpose of creating high quality waterfowl habitat in these wetlands that can be enjoyed by hunters, recreators, and birds alike (Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs), 2025). Effective management is supported with an understanding of the movement and demographic patterns of the waterfowl species the WMAs are designed to support. Bird banding is one tool managers …
Herbivore Cues And Plant Damage-Associated-Compounds Jointly Alter Seed Germination And Seedling Herbivory, Katherine Overstrum
Herbivore Cues And Plant Damage-Associated-Compounds Jointly Alter Seed Germination And Seedling Herbivory, Katherine Overstrum
Open Access Master's Theses
While plant defense against herbivory is primarily thought to occur following attack, there is also evidence that plants can detect and respond to pre-attack cues. These cues include chemicals released from damaged conspecifics and kairomones, non-attack-related substances emitted by an herbivore that plants can detect and use to their benefit. It is unknown, however, whether or how plants react to the interaction of these pre-attack cues. We measured germination, growth, and herbivore susceptibility of B. nigra seedlings in an experiment that crossed the presence/absence of crushed B. nigra leaves with the presence/absence of mucus of a generalist herbivore, A. subfuscus …
Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization, Lauren C. Johnson
Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization, Lauren C. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science
The evolution of modern horses has a well-documented fossil record and has long been of interest to the genetics community. Although non-caballine equids (e.g. zebras, donkeys, and asses) can hybridize with horses, the resulting offspring are typically infertile. Despite these reproductive barriers, genomic analyses reveal regions of high sequence similarity among equid species. This dissertation investigates the role of historical introgression in the evolution of modern Equus species. The first chapter re-evaluates earlier findings derived from a limited horse population and a single reference genome. The variants of the identified regions were pushed through Ensembl’s Variant Effect Predictor to assess …
Using Camera-Based Unmarked Spatial Capture-Recapture Modeling To Estimate Reintroduced Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Population Parameters And Distribution In Southeastern Kentucky, Claire Marie Muia
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Estimation of population parameters is important for wildlife management decisions. Elk reintroduced to southeastern Kentucky experienced early irruptive population growth and are currently monitored using a statewide harvest-based statistical population reconstruction model (SPR) across the Kentucky Elk Restoration Zone (KERZ). Because the SPR model is spatially coarse and difficult to scale to the smaller management units comprising the KERZ, we conducted a spatially explicit capture-recapture study using a clustered camera-trapping array deployed for 10 weeks from June–August 2024 to estimate elk population parameters within Management Unit 4. Due to a lack of resights of GPS-marked elk, population parameters were estimated …
Characterization Of The Genetic Diversity Of Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Crispus L.) In The Contiguous United States And Canada And Analysis Of Possible Hybrid Potamogeton Crispus Lineages, Mallory M. Kaiser
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.) is a prolific invasive species that has spread across the United States and into parts of Canada since its introduction to North America in the 1840s. It causes extensive economic and environmental damage across its invasive range, and its control and eradication are of utmost importance to agricultural, ecological, recreational, and transportational stakeholders. Developments in molecular ecology and invasive management have found that genetic diversity and hybridization of aquatic macrophytes may affect their susceptibility to herbicide treatments, and genotype or lineage identification are important control variables that must be considered in field and …
Impacts Of Offshore Wind Energy Development On The Commercial Sea Scallop Fishery, Sarah Borsetti, Daphne M. Munroe, John M. Klinck, Andrew M. Scheld, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell, David B. Rudders
Impacts Of Offshore Wind Energy Development On The Commercial Sea Scallop Fishery, Sarah Borsetti, Daphne M. Munroe, John M. Klinck, Andrew M. Scheld, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell, David B. Rudders
CCPO Publications
The Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf generates approximately USD 500 million ex-vessel revenues annually, making it one of the most valuable single species fisheries in the United States. Wind energy development is planned for key areas on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic shelf where the Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates, creating novel challenges in managing trade-offs between traditional users like fisheries and new users like offshore wind energy. An agent-based modeling framework that integrates spatial dynamics in Atlantic sea scallop stock biology, fishing fleet behavior, and federal management decisions, was implemented to investigate …
Ecological Feedbacks In The Earth System, Eugene J. Murphy, Jessica J. Williams, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Vivienne P. Groner, David M. P. Jacoby, Lester Kwiatkowski, Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Emma Ransome, Cristina Banks-Leite, Laurent Bopp, Marion Gehlen, Eileen E. Hofmann, Babette Hoogakker, Nadine M. Johnston, Yadvinder Malhi, Emma L. Cavan
Ecological Feedbacks In The Earth System, Eugene J. Murphy, Jessica J. Williams, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Vivienne P. Groner, David M. P. Jacoby, Lester Kwiatkowski, Jess Melbourne-Thomas, Emma Ransome, Cristina Banks-Leite, Laurent Bopp, Marion Gehlen, Eileen E. Hofmann, Babette Hoogakker, Nadine M. Johnston, Yadvinder Malhi, Emma L. Cavan
CCPO Publications
Ecological feedbacks are fundamental features of the Earth system, affecting physical processes and chemical cycles. Our understanding of the interactions underlying these feedbacks at different spatial and temporal scales and the extent to which feedbacks affect Earth system functioning remains limited. Climate change and other anthropogenic pressures are already negatively affecting ecological processes in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. These will most likely be amplified in the coming decades under our current warming and socioeconomic pathways. The knock-on impacts on ecological feedbacks have the potential to cause rapid perturbations to the Earth system, and may significantly impact the structure and …
Assessing The Diversity And Composition Of Crayfish Assemblages In The Ogeechee River Basin, Reginald Turner
Assessing The Diversity And Composition Of Crayfish Assemblages In The Ogeechee River Basin, Reginald Turner
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Crayfish assemblage composition in the southeastern United States is understudied relative to other aquatic taxa, such as aquatic insects and fishes, and the Coastal Plain watersheds of that region are particularly underrepresented in the contemporary literature on this topic. For example, although 38% of the crayfish species in Georgia are considered “species of greatest conservation need,” most of the distributional data used to make these designations are outdated, with some dating back over 50 years. This thesis sought to update our understanding of the contemporary distributions of crayfish species within the Ogeechee River Basin (ORB), a watershed in southeastern Georgia …