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Lipid Metabolism In Trypanosoma Brucei: Molecular Characterization Of Fatty Acid Synthesis And Uptake, Patrick Vigueira Aug 2011

Lipid Metabolism In Trypanosoma Brucei: Molecular Characterization Of Fatty Acid Synthesis And Uptake, Patrick Vigueira

All Dissertations

My doctoral studies focused on the fatty acid metabolism of the deadly protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma brucei. Fatty acid metabolism in T. brucei can be broadly divided into two pathways, synthesis and uptake. In Chapters 2-4 I describe experiments investigating the parasite's fatty acid synthesis pathway. Chapter 2 contains the initial characterization of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in T. brucei. Knockdown of TbACC by RNA interference (RNAi) reduced parasite virulence in a mouse model, suggesting that TbACC has the potential to be utilized as a drug target. Chapters 3 and 4 explore the effects of two known ACC inhibitors, the …

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Zoos As Experiment Environments: Biology Of Larval And Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), Holly Tuten Aug 2011

Zoos As Experiment Environments: Biology Of Larval And Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), Holly Tuten

All Dissertations

Zoos are a unique environment where humans and animals are in close daily contact, potential mosquito habitats exist, exotic plants and animals are introduced regularly, and wild animals roam. Studies of mosquito behaviors in zoos will lead to a better understanding, both within and outside zoos, of disease transmission routes and mosquito biology. To investigate whether the unique assemblage of habitats in zoos affects mosquito behavior, I sampled larvae and adults in the Greenville Zoo and the Riverbanks Zoo, South Carolina, USA, from March 2008 to January 2011. The objectives of my study were to investigate mosquito oviposition behavior, blood-host …

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Low-Resolution Vision For Autonomous Mobile Robots, Vidya Nariyambut Murali Aug 2011

Low-Resolution Vision For Autonomous Mobile Robots, Vidya Nariyambut Murali

All Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop algorithms using low-resolution images to perceive and understand a typical indoor environment and thereby enable a mobile robot to autonomously navigate such an environment. We present techniques for three problems: autonomous exploration, corridor classification, and minimalistic geometric representation of an indoor environment for navigation.
First, we present a technique for mobile robot exploration in unknown indoor environments using only a single forward-facing camera. Rather than processing all the data, the method intermittently examines only small 32X24 downsampled grayscale images. We show that for the task of indoor exploration the visual information is …

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Monumental-It: A 'Robotic-Wiki' Monument For Embodied Interaction In The Information World, Tarek Mokhtar Aug 2011

Monumental-It: A 'Robotic-Wiki' Monument For Embodied Interaction In The Information World, Tarek Mokhtar

All Dissertations

ABSTRACT
Conventional monuments are concrete manifestations of memories without the capacity to reflect individual interpretations of history. In an increasingly digital society, however, there is a need for configurable monuments reflecting our contemporary, open and complex community. “Monumental-IT” reflects the dynamic and inclusive character of our time. Rather than static, Monumental-IT is a dynamic, robotic, intelligent environment reconfigured or “retuned” by citizens and by historical information accumulating on the World Wide Web. This information is periodically “coded,” altering the multi-sensorial physical-digital “Robotic-Wiki” components of Monumental-IT. Monumental-IT is designed to embody a new form of human-robotic interaction evolving from the monument …

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Virtual Tourism: Identifying The Factors That Affect A Tourist's Experience And Behavioral Intentions In A 3d Virtual World, Yu-Chih Huang Aug 2011

Virtual Tourism: Identifying The Factors That Affect A Tourist's Experience And Behavioral Intentions In A 3d Virtual World, Yu-Chih Huang

All Dissertations

Given the increase in the use of technologies within the tourism industry, particularly the rising interest in virtual worlds such as Second Life, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors related to the 3D virtual tourism experience and behavioral intentions after visiting a virtual tourism destination. Two theories, the Technology Acceptance Model and Self-Determination Theory, were used to guide this study, both of which were found to be useful frameworks. Basecamp Maasai Mara in Second Life was selected as the research site, designed and developed through a collaborative effort at Clemson University. The results revealed that technological …

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Improved Keratinase Production For Feather Degradation By Bacillus Licheniformis Zjuel31410 In Submerged Cultivation, Hui Ni, Qi-He Chen, Feng Chen, Ming-Liang Fu, Ya-Chen Dong, Hui-Nong Cai Jul 2011

Improved Keratinase Production For Feather Degradation By Bacillus Licheniformis Zjuel31410 In Submerged Cultivation, Hui Ni, Qi-He Chen, Feng Chen, Ming-Liang Fu, Ya-Chen Dong, Hui-Nong Cai

Publications

Optimal medium was used to improve the production of keratinase by Bacillus licheniformis ZJUEL31410, which has a promising application in the transformation of feather into soluble protein. The results of single factor design revealed that the concentration of feather at 20 g/l and the initial pH at value 8 was the best for the production of keratinase and the degradation of feather. Ammonia salt and nitrate salt strongly restricted the production of keratinase and the degradation of feather. Result of Box-Behnken design (BBD) experiment which was used to optimize concentrations of glucose, corn steep flour and K2HPO4 …

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Examining The Reasons And Relationships Between Why Youth Join, Stay In, And Leave 4-H, Rebecca Harrington, Trisha Sheehan, Dale Blyth Jun 2011

Examining The Reasons And Relationships Between Why Youth Join, Stay In, And Leave 4-H, Rebecca Harrington, Trisha Sheehan, Dale Blyth

Journal of Youth Development

While the Minnesota 4-H Club program has grown over 29% in the last six years, annually over 25% of youth do not re-enroll. The Minnesota 4-H Retention Study asked youth who left the program why they decided to join, stay and ultimately leave 4-H. Data from 220 youth were examined to better understand the reasons for and relationship between youth joining and staying in 4-H and their reasons for leaving 4-H. Youth joined 4-H because they wanted to have fun, try new things, and participate in projects and fairs. Top reasons they stayed in 4-H were they liked being with …

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Parental Perceptions Of Participation In 4-H Beef, Sheep And Swine Livestock Projects And The Fostering Of Life Skill Development In Youth, Janice Heavner, Kelly Hicks, Shanna Nicodemus Jun 2011

Parental Perceptions Of Participation In 4-H Beef, Sheep And Swine Livestock Projects And The Fostering Of Life Skill Development In Youth, Janice Heavner, Kelly Hicks, Shanna Nicodemus

Journal of Youth Development

Beef, sheep and swine 4-H youth livestock projects have a great deal of hands-on learning opportunities for members. However, what are parents’ perceptions about livestock projects and the development of life skills? The purpose of this research effort was to determine the life skill development gained by 4-H members participating in 4-H beef, sheep or swine projects in West Virginia. A total of 207 caregivers offered insight into the study and answered life skill development questions. These questions were related to decision making, relating to others, developing and maintaining records, accepting responsibility, building positive self esteem, self motivation, knowledge of …

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Isopods Failed To Acclimate Their Thermal Sensitivity Of Locomotor Performance During Predictable Or Stochastic Cooling, Michael W. Sears, Matthew S. Schuler, Brandon S. Cooper, Jonathan J. Storm, Michael J. Angilletta Jun 2011

Isopods Failed To Acclimate Their Thermal Sensitivity Of Locomotor Performance During Predictable Or Stochastic Cooling, Michael W. Sears, Matthew S. Schuler, Brandon S. Cooper, Jonathan J. Storm, Michael J. Angilletta

Publications

Most organisms experience environments that vary continuously over time, yet researchers generally study phenotypic responses to abrupt and sustained changes in environmental conditions. Gradual environmental changes, whether predictable or stochastic, might affect organisms differently than do abrupt changes. To explore this possibility, we exposed terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber) collected from a highly seasonal environment to four thermal treatments: (1) a constant 20°C; (2) a constant 10°C; (3) a steady decline from 20° to 10°C; and (4) a stochastic decline from 20° to 10°C that mimicked natural conditions during autumn. After 45 days, we measured thermal sensitivities of running …

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Fate And Transport Of Escherichia Coli Within Sediment Basins On Active Construction Sites, Elizabeth Tempel May 2011

Fate And Transport Of Escherichia Coli Within Sediment Basins On Active Construction Sites, Elizabeth Tempel

All Theses

The conventional method of controlling sediment-laden runoff on construction sites is the use of sediment basins. These basins slow the velocity of runoff and allow the particles to settle from the water column before discharge to surface waters offsite. This best management practice, however, may create a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria. Sediment is known to provide protection for bacteria; therefore, while these basins decrease sediment loadings to water bodies downstream, they may introduce harmful levels of pathogenic bacteria into these surface waters. In addition to causing human health risks, these high bacteria levels alter natural biological makeup of downstream ecosystems. …

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Local Governments And Home Rule In South Carolina: A Citizen's Guide, 2011 May, Holley Hewitt Ulbrich, Donna S. London, Melinda A. Lucka May 2011

Local Governments And Home Rule In South Carolina: A Citizen's Guide, 2011 May, Holley Hewitt Ulbrich, Donna S. London, Melinda A. Lucka

Publications

No abstract provided.

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The Impacts Of Drinking Alcohol, Using Marijuana, And Smoking Cigarettes As A Teenager On The Educational Attainment And The Income Of Young Adults, Thomas Carnot May 2011

The Impacts Of Drinking Alcohol, Using Marijuana, And Smoking Cigarettes As A Teenager On The Educational Attainment And The Income Of Young Adults, Thomas Carnot

All Theses

It is widely believed that activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using marijuana during the teenage years have a harmful effect on a youth's development, thus damaging his or her value in the labor market once the individual reaches adulthood. There have been several studies in the past that have looked into the consequences of partaking in such activities during both the adult and college years, but this paper will investigate how the use of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes at the age of 16 affects the average individual's future income and the amount of education completed by the …

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Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Response To Gold Nanoparticles, William Mcallister May 2011

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Response To Gold Nanoparticles, William Mcallister

All Theses

In this master's thesis we look at elucidating the interactions between nanoparticles and cells. Specifically, we looked at how the cell mechanics are affected, cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles, and shifts in cell phenotypes. There has been much research looking into whether nanoparticles are cytotoxic, but limited amounts looking at their effect on mechanics especially with vascular smooth muscle cells. This cell type has two distinct phenotypes of synthetic and contractile that each serve different purposes physiologically.
The first experiments we did were cytotoxicity assays to see if the cells could survive the treatment with nanoparticles. If the cells died within …

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The Role Of Planning Tools As Strategies For Combating Childhood Obesity, Jacquelyn Coats May 2011

The Role Of Planning Tools As Strategies For Combating Childhood Obesity, Jacquelyn Coats

All Theses

The failure of traditional health models to successfully combat childhood obesity is apparent when considering its sustained prevalence in the United States. Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past three decades and health officials recognize the need for integrative strategies in order to reverse the trend (CDC, 2010). The historical roots of planning and public health offer a potential venue for collaborative strategies to address the macro level factors that affect community health. This thesis examines how planning tools have been adapted to incorporate health strategies, whether or not such methods are sustainable, and what relationships are essential for …

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Microbiological Safety Of Organic Fertilizers Used For Produce Production, Cortney Miller May 2011

Microbiological Safety Of Organic Fertilizers Used For Produce Production, Cortney Miller

All Theses

Over the last few decades there has been an increase in the use of organic fertilizers due to the rise in popularity of organic food production. However, if the fertilizers are not adequately sanitized there is the possibility of contamination of agricultural crops by foodborne pathogens from the spreading of organic fertilizers onto the crops. This is especially important for animal waste-based fertilizers since animals frequently carry foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, antibiotic use in food animal production may induce antimicrobial resistance in gut bacteria which can be spread to crops and the environment through fertilizer use. The objectives of this study …

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Clemson Commencement Program, May 2011, Clemson University May 2011

Clemson Commencement Program, May 2011, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

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Larval Taxonomy, Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of The Genus Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) In North America, Zachary Burington May 2011

Larval Taxonomy, Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of The Genus Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) In North America, Zachary Burington

All Theses

Larvae of the genus Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera:Hydropsychidae) are a
abundant and probably significant ecological component of freshwater lotic ecosystems
worldwide, with many species inhabiting streams with elevated organic pollution. The
varying tolerance levels among these species necessitate species-level identification for
accurate water-quality assessment. However, past workers have had difficulty separating
the Nearctic species in the larval stage. This research presents progress on the goal
towards identification of larval Cheumatopsyche. Chaetotaxal and cuticular characters are delimited for 7 larval morphotypes, all of which have been putatively associated with
adults. The Nearctic phylogeny of Cheumatopsyche is revised, including 5 species
described after 1987. …

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Species Diversity And Seasonal Abundance Of Scarabaeoidea At Four Locations In South Carolina, Kevin Hinson May 2011

Species Diversity And Seasonal Abundance Of Scarabaeoidea At Four Locations In South Carolina, Kevin Hinson

All Theses

ABSTRACT
Using light, flight-intercept, and pitfall traps, 74, 327 specimens of Scarabaeoidea were captured at four golf courses in South Carolina during 2009-2010. Aphodiinae were identified only to the subfamily level and totaled 57,502 specimens. 16,825 specimens in 47 genera and 104 species in the families Ceratocanthidae, Geotrupidae, Hybosoridae, Lucanidae, Passalidae, Scarabaeidae (excluding Aphodiinae), and Trogidae were identified based on morphological characteristics. Similar to other southeastern studies focusing on phytophagous scarabs, the most abundant species consisted of Dyscinetus morator (Fabricius), Euetheola humilis (Burmeister), Cyclocephala lurida Bland, and Hybosorus illigeri Reiche. The most speciose genus captured was Phyllophaga Harris, totaling 22 …

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A Forgotten Typology: The Rediscovery Of The Train Stations On The Oldest Railroad In The Country, Lora Ann Cunningham May 2011

A Forgotten Typology: The Rediscovery Of The Train Stations On The Oldest Railroad In The Country, Lora Ann Cunningham

All Theses

The Charleston and Hamburg Railroad in South Carolina, when completed in 1833, was the first steam powered railroad in America. It was also the longest in the world at 136 miles. The railroad was initially referred to as the 'Best Friend of Charleston.' On December 25, 1830, the 'Best Friend' engine made its first public run on the freshly laid railroad tracks. This milestone trip shifted the country toward an era of transportation development. With this new form of transportation came a new building type, the train station. The train station was the first building to greet people when they …

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Biomass V2.0: A New Tool For Bioprocess Simulation, Y Phan-Thien May 2011

Biomass V2.0: A New Tool For Bioprocess Simulation, Y Phan-Thien

All Theses

A simulation software (BioMASS - Biological Modeling and Simulation Software) was upgraded from the previous version and provided with additional enhancements. Several new bioprocess configurations and their subroutines have been added. The additional processes included continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with biomass recycle, and CSTR with additional stream in the second stage. The primary goal in the development of BioMASS v2.0 was to provide users with a ready-to-use, expressive visual modeling tools. In this new version, output from simulation can be visualized in graphics. Printing, exporting, and saving file options also are available. In summary, BioMASS v2.0 offers an effective …

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The Impact Of Trade Costs In Indonesian Agri-Food Sectors: An Interregional Cge Analysis, Irlan Rum May 2011

The Impact Of Trade Costs In Indonesian Agri-Food Sectors: An Interregional Cge Analysis, Irlan Rum

All Theses

An interregional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) approach is used to measure the impact of variable internal trade costs have on regional consumer welfare and interregional market integration within the Indonesian economy. Existing high interregional price differences in the agri-food markets suggest the presence of variable internal trade costs, which serve as effective barriers to interregional trade. Given the important role of agri-food markets in both food security and income generation for rural households, these price differences can have significant welfare impacts on both producers and consumers. Reducing the costs of trade between Indonesia's various regions could facilitate interregional trade. Trade …

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Back To The Basics: What Does The Market Tell Us About Harvest Grain Basis, Matthew Fischer May 2011

Back To The Basics: What Does The Market Tell Us About Harvest Grain Basis, Matthew Fischer

All Theses

Grain marketing in the United States is a complex system; therefore producers require information on grain markets to effectively manage risk. Futures markets provide the mechanism for price risk management based on the national supply and demand signals. However price risk is managed on the local level, therefore the relationship between local cash price and futures price, basis, must be understood.
The market forces which explain grain basis are the cost of storage and the transportation cost. The current body of research in grain basis uses the storage component of basis as the driving force. This approach is applicable to …

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Development Of An On-Line Radiation Detection And Measurements Laboratory Course, Derick Kopp May 2011

Development Of An On-Line Radiation Detection And Measurements Laboratory Course, Derick Kopp

All Theses

An on-line radiation detection and measurements lab is being developed with a grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The on-line laboratory experiments are designed to provide a realistic laboratory experience and will be offered to students at colleges/universities where such a course is not offered. This thesis presents four web-based experiments: 1) nuclear electronics, 2) gamma-ray spectroscopy with scintillation detectors, 3) external gamma-ray dosimetry and gamma attenuation in matter, and 4) alpha spectroscopy and absorption in matter. The students access the experiments through a broad-band internet connection. Computer-controlled instrumentation developed in National Instruments (NI) LabVIEWTM communicates with the …

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Effects Of Microenvironment On Growth And Differentiation Of Human Dental Pulp Cells, Laura Datko May 2011

Effects Of Microenvironment On Growth And Differentiation Of Human Dental Pulp Cells, Laura Datko

All Theses

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have recently been described as a potential stem cell source for various regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications. They appear to be multipotent, however more characterization is necessary to determine the true potential of these cells. An important aspect of using DPSCs, or any stem cell type, tissue engineering application is the microenvironment within the construct. The microenvironment could include construct mechanical properties, construct composition, and 3D dynamic conditions in vivo. This work aims to study those specific microenvironment effects on DPSCs. To determine the effects of mechanical properties of the substrate on DPSCs, they …

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A Survey Of Heterologous Expression Systems For The Production Of Bovine Follicle Stimulating Hormone And Luteinizing Hormone, Marcia Hesser May 2011

A Survey Of Heterologous Expression Systems For The Production Of Bovine Follicle Stimulating Hormone And Luteinizing Hormone, Marcia Hesser

All Dissertations

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are glycoprotein gonadotropins from the anterior pituitary gland that are involved in reproductive functions. They are heterodimeric proteins that share a common α-subunit that is highly conserved amongst mammalian species, and is also conserved across this family of proteins. The β-subunit confers receptor specificity and is distinct. Recombinant gonadotropin expression would be an important advance for the bovine superovulation industry, as there are a number of disadvantages associated with the currently used pituitary-derived gonadotropins. For example, these pituitary products are contaminated with other proteins including hormones, exhibit batch-to-batch inconsistencies, and harbor the …

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'Reflection' And Other Stories, Melissa Turner May 2011

'Reflection' And Other Stories, Melissa Turner

All Theses

A creative thesis made up of four fiction stories. The stories focus on identity within the major characters and how they cope with the circumstances of life. 'Reflection and Other Stories' is realistic in plot and style.

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Stereoscopic Simulation For Animation And Special Effects, Daniel Morella May 2011

Stereoscopic Simulation For Animation And Special Effects, Daniel Morella

All Theses

Stereoscopic content, when presented well, provides an exciting and entertaining experience for viewers. The advent of new techniques and technologies is helping stereoscopy to become more commonplace, with 3D movies becoming a staple at theaters around the world. Further, 3D televisions and content are poised to experience tremendous growth in the coming years. Even video games are exploring 3D content, with recent releases like Toy Story Mania as seen on the Disney website [Disn11].
The biggest problems with stereoscopic content are that it usually requires expensive hardware to view, and extensive time and technical prowess to create. These issues limit …

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The Ideology Of Equality: James Murray Mason And Antebellum Politics, Adam Zucconi May 2011

The Ideology Of Equality: James Murray Mason And Antebellum Politics, Adam Zucconi

All Theses

Most studies of antebellum Virginia politician James Murray Mason examine his post-Senate career as Confederate ambassador to England. Those that do explore his tenure as a senator and, earlier, state politician, misinterpret his ideology and portray him as a proslavery demagogue. Perhaps most troubling, few delve into the political context of Virginia, and the forces and tensions present in the Commonwealth during this period. This study seeks to question this historiographical trend by asking a question basic to any understanding of Mason's career: What was the foundation of James M. Mason's political ideology, and how did he balance it as …

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404 King Street: The Charleston County Library And Modern Architecture In Charleston, Ryan Thomas Pierce May 2011

404 King Street: The Charleston County Library And Modern Architecture In Charleston, Ryan Thomas Pierce

All Theses

This thesis examines the development and construction of the Charleston County Library at 404 King Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The research and analysis of this site provides a case study for the development and treatment of the Modern style in downtown Charleston. Significant aspects of this include evaluation of the community's input and reaction to development of the site, and reactions to its completion and opening.
This begins with an overview of the development of the Modern style in America and American library design, and how this translates into South Carolina. Then the influences of these larger communities on …

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Epigeic Spider (Araneae) Diversity And Habitat Distributions In Kings Mountain National Military Park, South Carolina, Sarah Stellwagen May 2011

Epigeic Spider (Araneae) Diversity And Habitat Distributions In Kings Mountain National Military Park, South Carolina, Sarah Stellwagen

All Theses

This study examined the epigeic spider fauna in Kings Mountain National Military Park. The aim of this study is to make this information available to park management for use in the preservation of natural resources. Pitfall trapping was conducted monthly for one year in three distinct habitats: riparian, forest, and ridge-top. The study was conducted from August 2009 to July 2010. One hundred twenty samples were collected in each site. Overall, 289 adult spiders comprising 66 species were collected in the riparian habitat, 345 adult comprising 57 species were found in the forest habitat, and 240 adults comprising 47 species …

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