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Host-Parasite Interactions Within Food Webs, Adam Zvanut Hasik

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parasitism is one of the most common life history strategies employed in nature, yet the effects of parasites are often thought to be minimal, and the vast majority of studies fail to consider parasites and their effects on host organisms. This is likely a problem, as the magnitude of parasite-mediated effects on their hosts can be quite large. Additionally, the effects of parasites are known to extend beyond the host to affect other species interactions. I used a series of approaches to gain a more integral understanding of host-parasite interactions by studying (1) the effects of parasites on biotic interactions …

Of Biodiversity, Boundaries, And Distribution: The Myxomycetes Of The Philippines And Beyond, Sittie Aisha Bustamante Macabago

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains a compilation of independently performed studies primarily focusing on the myxomycetes (plasmodial slime molds) from the Philippines and integrating local and worldwide data to demonstrate regional and global trends. The major themes include the following: (I) a review of the diverse group of spore-producing amoeboid protists, including the myxomycetes; (II-IV) diversity assessments in three different groups of islands in the Philippine archipelago; (V) mapping the myxomycetes found in the Philippines for databasing and analyzing the geocoded data; (VI) a study on regional boundaries, including the Philippines, using myxomycete species composition; and, (VII) creating a global species distribution …

Molecular Phylogeny Of Cave Dwelling Eremogryllodes Crickets (Orthoptera, Myrmecophilidae) Across Zagros Mountains And Southern Iran, Mohadeseh Sadat Tahami, Mina Hojat-Ansari, Anna Namyatova, Saber Sadeghi

International Journal of Speleology

Recently, several new species and subspecies from the genus Eremogryllodes Chopard, 1929 (Insecta: Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae) inhabiting caves of Iran, have been described based on morphology. The high variation of genitalia structure along with high similarity of external morphology between populations hamper the precise species identification. Thus, molecular approaches are critical to determine the taxonomic positions of species/subspecies of this genus. Here we provide the molecular phylogeny, based on the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene, of recently described species of Eremogryllodes along with some unidentified specimens from the same region. The results support the monophyly of the family Myrmecophilidae. The topology of …

Not So Dystopian: A Historical Reading Of Eugenics In Science Fiction, Riley Sanders

The Forum: Journal of History

Broadly, this paper is an effort in complicating traditional readings of eugenic themes in science fiction. Two landmark novels, Wells’ The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) and Huxley’s Brave New World (1932), are highlighted as representative of the early and late stages of eugenics. By focusing on the troubling historical context surrounding these authors, I denounce the simple reading of these works as merely “dystopian”. Scholars like Francis Fukuyama advance these simplistic readings by instinctively assuming that Wells and Huxley were against eugenics. This paper continues the tradition that David Bradshaw popularized in his book The Hidden Huxley, which argues …

Yakety Sacs: Laryngeal Air Sac Usage In Great Apes, Chelsea Trenbeath

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Except for humans, extant great apes have evolutionarily conserved lateral ventricular air sacs extending from laryngeal saccules. Humans are the only species of Hominidae that lack this anatomical feature attached to the primary vocal apparatus. As we are the only species that produces spoken language, this association has led to the hypothesis that the loss of lateral ventricular air sacs was necessary for the evolution of spoken language. However, why these sacs are conserved in all other hominids remains unclear. Computer modeling has indicated that air sacs may increase resonance properties, but there are no data from great apes indicating …

Effect Of Polyatomic Alcohols On Chrome Current Output At Electrochemical Waste Water Purification, Muxammadieva Akramovna Dilrabo

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

Waste water is generated in almost all industrial enterprises and is contaminated with various organic and inorganic impurities and some heavy metals to varying degrees. The aim of this study is to study the effect of polyhydric alcohols on the current efficiency in the electrochemical method of purification of industrial wastewater contaminated with various heavy metals, in particular chromate ions. The current efficiency of chromium does not exceed 18% during the electrolysis of wastewate, during the process in the presence of xylitol in an amount of 0,16%, the current efficiency increased by 21,9%, in the presence of glycerin in an …

The Effects Of Agrochemical Pesticide Applications On Target And Off-Target Species In Aquatic Ecosystems, Bryan K. Delius

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increase in the global human population is driving agricultural expansion, which increases the likelihood and degree by which agrochemicals impact aquatic systems. It is projected that by 2100 the global human population will exceed 11 billion, and to feed the increased human population, the necessary increase in agricultural infrastructure is estimated to double irrigation, nearly triple fertilizer applications, and increase pesticide applications by tenfold. It stands to reason that wetlands impacts from agriculture are also likely to increase as the industry expands its operation to meet the globally growing demand for food.

Wetlands are highly productive habitats that not …

A Rare Telson Anomaly In Parabuthus Liosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Abdulaziz R. Alqahtani, Ahmed Badry

Euscorpius

A rare anomaly of telson vesicle with two functional aculei is observed and discussed in a Parabuthus liosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828) specimen collected from Jizan, Saudi Arabia.

A Fused Radar–Optical Approach For Mapping Wetlands And Deepwaters Of The Mid–Atlantic And Gulf Coast Regions Of The United States, Brian T. Lamb, Maria A. Tzortziou, Kyle C. Mcdonald

Publications and Research

Tidal wetlands are critically important ecosystems that provide ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, storm surge mitigation, water filtration, and wildlife habitat provision while supporting high levels of biodiversity. Despite their importance, monitoring these systems over large scales remains challenging due to difficulties in obtaining extensive up-to-date ground surveys and the need for high spatial and temporal resolution satellite imagery for effective space-borne monitoring. In this study, we developed methodologies to advance the monitoring of tidal marshes and adjacent deepwaters in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast United States. We combined Sentinel-1 SAR and Landsat 8 optical imagery to classify marshes and …

Soil Health Beneath Amended Switchgrass: Effects Of Biochar And Nitrogen On Active Carbon And Wet Aggregate Stability, Priya Saini, Jason P. De Koff, Richard Link, Chris Robbins

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Perennial crops, like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), are important for bioenergy production and long-term carbon sequestration. Biochar, a byproduct of certain bioenergy production processes, is also identified as a potential tool for carbon sequestration and soil quality improvements, especially in marginal soils. Despite the focus on switchgrass, soil health characteristics under switchgrass production for biomass are unclear. This study focused on identifying the effects of four N rates (0, 17, 34, and 67 kg N ha−1) and biochar application (0 and 9 Mg ha−1) in a 3-year switchgrass field study on a silt loam soil. Soil active carbon (AC) and …

Checklist Of Dermestidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Bostrichoidea) Of The United States, Jiří Háva, Andreas Herrmann

Insecta Mundi

A checklist of Dermestidae (Coleoptera: Bostrichoidea) of the United States of America is provided. It comprises 171 valid species belonging to 25 different genera, also 6 fossil species and 41 new state records.

Dermestidae is a family of Coleoptera which is commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are approximately 1705 species worldwide (Háva 2015a, 2020). The last checklist of the dermestid species occurring in the Nearctic region (Canada and U.S.A.) was published by Beal (2003), with exception of the Hawaiian Islands. However, he had …

How To Distinguish The Xestotrachelus Bruner, 1913 (Orthoptera: Romaleidae: Romaleini) From Other Romaleini In South America, With A Report Of The First Record In Minas Gerais, Brazil, Daniela Santos Martins Silva, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira, Raysa Martins Lima

Insecta Mundi

The present study provides an important contribution to the knowledge of the geographic distribution of Xestotrachelus Bruner, 1913 (Orthoptera: Romaleidae: Romaleini), a monotypic genus comprised of Xestotrachelus robustus (Bruner, 1911) that has a wide geographic distribution in Brazil. Specimens were collected at the Panga Ecological Reserve, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, in the Brazilian Cerrado. We provide a key to distinguish Xestotrachelus from other genera found in South America.

Una Nueva Especie De Mosca De Ojos Pedunculados Del Género Richardia Robineau-Desvoidy Y Un Nuevo Reporte De Plagiocephalus Latifrons Wiedemann Para La Costa Pacífica De Colombia (Diptera: Tephritoidea: Richardiidae Y Ulidiidae), Luis Miguel Constantino

Insecta Mundi

En este trabajo se describe una nueva especie de Richardia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Tephritoidea: Richardiidae), R. chocoensis Constantino, con proyecciones a los lados de la cabeza de forma tubular donde se sitúan los ojos compuestos al final de éstos y con una banda macular característica en las alas que la diferencia de otras especies similares. Adicionalmente se reporta por primera vez a Plagiocephalus latifrons Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritoidea: Ulidiidae) para el occidente de Colombia. Ambas especies fueron colectadas en las selvas lluviosas de la región biogeográfica del Chocó, en la Costa Pacífica de Colombia.

In this work a new species of Richardia …

Naviauxella Horii, A New Tiger Beetle Species From Myanmar (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), Jürgen Wiesner, Moe Hnin Phyu

Insecta Mundi

Naviauxella horii Wiesner and Phyu, new species (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), is described. It is distinguished from the other members of the genus by shape of the aedeagus and shape of the elytral maculation.

Due to the kindness of Michio Hori, we were able to study specimens of a tiger beetle species he recently collected in Myanmar. It proved to be new to science and is described herein. It is a member of the genus Naviauxella Cassola, 1988, which raises the number of species in this genus to 22 (Wiesner 2020: 264).

Emarginoptyx Ballantyne (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae), A Replacement Name For The Firefly Genus Emarginata Ballantyne, 2019, Lesley Ballantyne, Oliver Keller

Insecta Mundi

Emarginata Ballantyne, 2019 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae), is found to be a junior homonym of the bird genus Emarginata Shelley, 1896 (Avis: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae). The new replacement name Emarginoptyx Ballantyne is provided for the SE Asian genus Emarginata Ballantyne, leading to one new combination, Emarginoptyx trilucida (Jeng, Yang and Lai, 2003).

It has come to our attention that the name Emarginata Ballantyne in Ballantyne et al. (2019) for Emarginata trilucida (Jeng, Yang and Lai, 2003), is preoccupied by Emarginata Shelley, a genus of birds from southern Africa (Shelley 1896).

Luciola Lambkinae Keller And Ballantyne, New Replacement Name For Luciola Roseicollis Pic, 1935 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), Oliver Keller, Lesley Ballantyne

Insecta Mundi

Two different species descriptions for Luciola roseicollis by Pic (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are compared, and a replacement name, Luciola lambkinae Keller and Ballantyne nomen novum, for Luciola roseicollis Pic, 1935 is proposed.

In McDermott’s (1966) catalog of the family Lampyridae two citations are listed under the heading Luciola roseicollis Pic, 1933. Both articles include descriptions of L. roseicollis and also the statement that they are new species (Pic 1933, 1935). After comparing both descriptions OK contacted LB with the suspicion that the descriptions are about two different species.

Tree Establishment On Post-Mining Waste Soils: Species, Density, And Mixture Effects, Degi Harja Asmara, Suzanne Allaire, Meine Van Noordwijk, Damase P. Khasa

Aspen Bibliography

Tree establishment to restore degraded boreal post-mining lands is challenged by low soil productivity, a harsh microclimate, and potentially high contaminant levels. The use of mixed vegetation can facilitate the microclimate but increase competition for soil resources. A statistical accounting of plant–plant interactions and adaptation to multispecies conditions is hard to achieve in field experiments; trials under controlled conditions can distinguish effects of planting density and species interactions in the early stages of plant establishment. A greenhouse trial was established in containers (“mesocosms”) with waste rock or fine tailings from gold mines. Pregerminated (1-week-old) seedlings (Alnus viridis subsp. crispa …

Plant-Soil Feedbacks Help Explain Biodiversity-Productivity Relationships, Leslie E. Forero, Andrew Kulmatiski, Josephine Grenzer, Jeanette M. Norton

Wildland Resources Student Research

Species-rich plant communities can produce twice as much aboveground biomass as monocultures, but the mechanisms remain unresolved. We tested whether plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) can help explain these biodiversity-productivity relationships. Using a 16-species, factorial field experiment we found that plants created soils that changed subsequent plant growth by 27% and that this effect increased over time. When incorporated into simulation models, these PSFs improved predictions of plant community growth and explained 14% of overyielding. Here we show quantitative, field-based evidence that diversity maintains productivity by suppressing plant disease. Though this effect alone was modest, it helps constrain the role of factors, …

An Anomaly Of Chelicera In Scorpio Kruglovi Birula, 1910 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Mehmet S. Kılıç, Ömer Yılmaz

Euscorpius

An anomaly in cheliceral dentition of the fixed finger is recorded in the scorpion Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910. This rare teratological anomaly herein is described and illustrated.

Spiders You May Encounter While Social Distancing: A Field Guide To Oregon, Daniel K. Hufnagel

Anthós

This document is simply a short field guide on the many endearing spiders you have encountered or will potentially encounter while social distancing in Oregon. Included are journal entries for six different species of spider, with each log containing an illustration and a description of the physical appearance, behavior, and habitat of the arachnid listed. Also included is a basic diagram depicting the anatomy of the common spider.

On R. Kinzelbach’S Euscorpiid Specimens From Turkey Deposited In The Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz, Germany (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Ersen A. Yağmur

Euscorpius

I examined the specimens of Euscorpiidae collected by R. Kinzelbach in Turkey in the 1970s and deposited in the Naturhistorisches Museum Mainz (NMM), Germany. According to the current taxonomy, one “Euscorpius carpathicus” specimen from the İzmir Province is identified as E. avcii; two “E. carpathicus” specimens from the Mersin Province are identified as E. koci; and one “E. germanus mingrelicus” specimen from the Düzce Province is identified as Alpiscorpius phrygius.

Female Behavioral Strategies During Consortship In Tibetan Macaques (Macaca Thibetana), Qi-Xin Zhang, Lixing Sun, Dong-Po Xia, Jin-Hua Li

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Consortship has been defined as a temporary association between an adult male and an estrous/receptive female. It has been considered as male mating strategies to improve male mating success and potential reproductive success. However, the female roles have been more or less neglected, and thus, less is known about female behavioral strategies during the consortship periods. In this study, during the two consecutive mating seasons, we collected behavioral data of free-ranging Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) habituated in Mt. Huangshan, China, to investigate female behaviors when she was consorted by an adult male. The results showed that (a) females …

The First Record Of Euscorpius Lesbiacus Tropea Et Al., 2020 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) In Turkey, Ersen A. Yağmur

Euscorpius

The scorpion species Euscorpius lesbiacus Tropea et al., 2020, previously known only from Lesvos Island (Greece), is recorded for the first time from the İzmir Province, Turkey. Detailed illustrations of E. lesbiacus are given.

Grizzly Bears Mortalities And The Survival Of The Species, Courtney Swanson

Senior Seminars and Capstones

In this paper we aim to understand what is happening in the grizzly bear population mortalities from the year 2010 to 2020. We are performing Classical and Regression Tree (CART) methods and Correspondence Analysis on data provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). We found certain variables in the data set to be important through CART methods. Correspondence Analysis then allowed us to compare these variables to determine their relationships and association to one another. Most of the grizzly bear deaths are human caused and mainly over land and resources such as food and habitat. This aligns with some of …

Covid-19: A One Health Issue, Karen Gruszynski

Cumberland Mountain Naturalist

COVID-19 has very rapidly become part of modern societal lexicon as the disease highlights the importance understanding zoonotic diseases and the impact they can have on human life. With a 177million human cases and 3.82million deaths globally at the time of this publication, the "One Health" nature of the disease has had a lasting impact across the planet. As the disease spread rapidly, it highlighted the dissemination of information through social media and other sources. With this in mind, Dr. Gary Vroegindewey, Director for One Health at LMU-CVM, put forth the idea to have students collect and summarize information about …

Spatial And Temporal Variation Of Epigaeic Beetle Assemblages (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Staphylinidae) In Aspen-Dominated Mixedwood Forests Across North-Central Alberta, H. E. James Hammond, Sergio García-Tejero, Greg R. Pohl, David W. Langor, John R. Spence

Aspen Bibliography

Epigaeic beetle assemblages were surveyed using continuous pitfall trapping during the summers of 1992 and 1993 in six widely geographically distributed locations in Alberta’s aspen-mixedwood forests prior to initial forest harvest. Species composition and turnover (β-diversity) were evaluated on several spatial scales ranging from Natural Regions (distance between samples 120–420 km) to pitfall traps (40–60 m). A total of 19,885 ground beetles (Carabidae) representing 40 species and 12,669 rove beetles (non-Aleocharinae Staphylinidae) representing 78 species was collected. Beetle catch, species richness, and diversity differed significantly among the six locations, as did the identity of dominant species. Beetle species composition differed …

Our Peer The Pigeon: Impacts Of The Covid-19 "Anthropause" On Psu Campus Urban Foragers, Audrey Douglass

University Honors Theses

The 2020 COVID Pandemic presented a paradigm shift dubbed, by some scholars, the 'Anthropause', an ecological epoch in which humans faded from the public sphere. As was the case for many urban species that depend on the foraging of food waste, this meant a fundamental disruption to their food systems and to the entire urban eco-web. The PSU Campus Park Blocks presents a unique opportunity to observe animal behavior, while also a succinct microcosm to study food waste flow changes, and compare species layout to other urban parks in the METRO area. Decreased food waste output from proximal …

Human Impact On Pacific Harbor Seals In Urban Southern Puget Sound, Washington, Vicky Gomez

University Honors Theses

This research proposal aims to highlight the quantitative and qualitative impact of human disturbances Pacific Harbor Seals (Phocca vitulina) are experiencing in urban southern Puget Sound, Washington and how the data collected can educate the community to protect and conserve a healthy population of Harbor Seals. Urbanization and areas utilized by harbor seals within urban settings prompted data collection from four nearby sites: site A, Carylon Beach, includes pedestrian and boat disturbances, site B, Tacoma Tidal Flats, only experience boat disturbances, site C, West Bay Marina, experiences motorized and non-motorized boat disturbances and site D, Gertrude Island, is …

Low-Density Aspen Seedling Establishment Is Widespread Following Recent Wildfires In The Western United States, Mark R. Kreider, Larissa L. Yocom

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Sexual regeneration is increasingly recognized as an important regeneration pathway for aspen in the western United States, a region previously thought to be too dry for seedling establishment except for during unusually wet periods. Because of this historical assumption, information on aspen seedling establishment and factors influencing its occurrence is limited and frequently anecdotal. We conducted a systematic field survey of 15 recent fire footprints that burned in 2018 in the western United States to quantify how common aspen seedling establishment is following fire and to identify factors associated with establishment. We found aspen seedling establishment in 12 of 15 …

Contemporary Challenges And Opportunities For The Management Of Bird Damage At Field Crop Establishment, Christophe Sausse, Alice Baux, Michel Bertrand, Elsa Bonnaud, Sonia Canavelli, Alexandra Destrez, Page E. Klug, Lourdes Olivera, Ethel Rodriguez, Guilllermo Tellechea, Sebastian Zuil

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bird damage, from sowing to crop establishment, is an important issue for farmers in many parts of the world. However, reliable and cost-effective solutions remain elusive because management tools and research on the subject are limited. The spatial variability of damage across landscapes and the adaptative behaviour of birds create further challenges. Additionally, the issue must be tackled at the landscape scale and involve a variety of stakeholders with conflicting interests and objectives. We summarize some of the challenges and opportunities identified to face these difficulties and address four major research directions for operational solutions including 1) crop damage assessment, …