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Articles 31 - 60 of 76
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A Multiple-Objective Framework For Sustainable Forest Management Under Uncertainty In The U.S. Central Hardwood Region, Wu Ma
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Despite the economic and ecological significance of oak-hickory forests in the Central Hardwood Region (CHR), major challenges are faced by both private and public landowners and policymakers due to the lack of reliable growth and yield models as well as the absence of useful tools for multi-criteria management. Moreover, the effects of climate change and fire disturbance on these forests and their management are largely unknown.;The second chapter of the dissertation is directed towards the study of the community and population structure of CHR forests under climate change and associated changes of fire regimes. The Central Hardwood Region of the …
Evaluating And Prioritizing Stream Restoration In Mined Appalachian Watersheds., Eric Mitchell Miller
Evaluating And Prioritizing Stream Restoration In Mined Appalachian Watersheds., Eric Mitchell Miller
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The state of West Virginia requires stream mitigation to offset anthropogenic impacts to streams; consequently there is a high concentration of mitigation projects in the mountaintop mining/valley fill region. Projects are typically outside mine boundaries and sites are selected at the discretion of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. This dissertation evaluated current in-stream, natural channel design (NCD) structures and prioritized future project locations. First, we assessed the Little Coal River, which is one of the largest physical restoration projects in the state. The Little Coal drains 994 km2 with extensive historic and contemporary coal mining. The objectives of …
The Root Of Sustainability: Investigating The Relationship Between Medicinal Plant Conservation And Surface Mining In Appalachia, Jessica B. Turner
The Root Of Sustainability: Investigating The Relationship Between Medicinal Plant Conservation And Surface Mining In Appalachia, Jessica B. Turner
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Since European colonization, Appalachian culture has been based on resource extraction, such as coal mining, timbering, and Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) harvest. Surface mining degrades forest habitat for medicinal plants, especially the habitat for the internationally valuable medicinal herb, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.), and the NTFP culture associated with this plant. The relationship between medicinal plant conservation and surface mining must be studied with a non- traditional, multi-faceted approach: culturally, economically, and ecologically. (1) Using community-based participatory surveys, I determined how ginseng harvesters and non- harvesters in West Virginia communities view the relationship between surface mining and ginseng harvest. …
Effects Of Culverts On Brook Trout Genetic Diversity, Darren M. Wood
Effects Of Culverts On Brook Trout Genetic Diversity, Darren M. Wood
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are a species of concern within their native range due to a historical loss of habitat, overfishing, and stocking of non-native salmonids. Road culverts have been recognized as an additional impediment to population persistence as movement between diverse habitat types has been identified as an alternative life-history strategy to maximize spawning and growth. Brook trout were genetically analyzed using a suite of 13 microsatellite loci above 7 culverts with varying levels of passability classified through a physical protocol. While most sites were not found to have losses in genetic diversity, populations above culverts with a high …
Application Of A Spatially Explicit, Agent-Based Land Use Conversion Model To Assess Water Quality Outcomes Under Buffer Policies, Nazia N. Arbab
Application Of A Spatially Explicit, Agent-Based Land Use Conversion Model To Assess Water Quality Outcomes Under Buffer Policies, Nazia N. Arbab
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Land use changes within watersheds have spatially explicit dynamics and involve decision making by individuals. The role of the spatial dimension of human behavior and its impact on land use change has been analyzed using agent-based modelling approaches. Agent-based land use change has received a significant theoretical attention; however, these models lack empirical implementation and testing due to the lack of spatial modelling tools and data that can capture human land use dynamics.;This research presents a methodology for projecting land use conversions through the implementation of a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model in the Opequon Creek watershed of Berkeley County, …
Geographic Variation Of Song Within And Between Subspecies Of The Mangrove Warbler (Setophaga Petechia Castaneiceps And S. P. Rhizophorae), Taryn Tuncer
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Bird song characteristics are unique for each species, but songs are not identical among con-specific individuals and variations may occur at different geographic scales throughout a species distribution. Geographic song variation is common in many species, particularly in Passerines due to their song-learning behavior. Among Wood Warblers (Fam. Paruliade), The Yellow Warbler ( Setophaga petechia) is one of the most widespread and geographically diverse species. It is comprised by three groups of several subspecies which represent a great variety on morphological traits, mainly on plumage coloration. Variations on behavioral traits, such as songs, have also been found in this species. …
Public Land Management Values: A Delphi Study Of Austrian And Pacific Northwest United States Recreation Resource Managers, Jessie Meybin
Public Land Management Values: A Delphi Study Of Austrian And Pacific Northwest United States Recreation Resource Managers, Jessie Meybin
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
There is a continuing global increase in recreational visitor use of public land. This rise in visitation can be a good thing if a proactive management plan utilizing strong methodology to anticipate impacts to an area and sustain its natural and social resources is in place. Although a wide spectrum of issues is presented to each management, few of the concepts are new to any of the administrators. With increasing duties, newly emerging concerns, and decreasing time, there is little room or patience for error concerning the implementation of any management derivatives or techniques. If the existing research on all …
Gis Assisted Problem Analysis Of Trail Erosion In Monongahela National Forest, Steven J. Storck
Gis Assisted Problem Analysis Of Trail Erosion In Monongahela National Forest, Steven J. Storck
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This research investigates the frequency and patterns of trail erosion on purposefully selected natural surface trails in Monongahela National Forest. Trail erosion is considered a non-self-limiting process which degrades trail beds making them unattractive, difficult to travel on, and has the potential to impact local streams with the introduction of silt. Recreation ecology research delineates factors which influence the rate of erosion on a trail into three broad categories: recreational use, environmental conditions, and managerial actions. This study tests the relationship of variables from each of these categories to the local patterns of erosion. Three sampling strategies are used to …
Exploration Of Stream Habitat Spatial Modeling; Using Geographically Weighted Regression, Ordinary Least Squares Regression, And Natural Neighbor Interpolation To Model Depth, Flow, And Benthic Substrate In Streams, Kenneth R. Sheehan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Assessment and modeling of stream habitat are integral to understanding streams and the biota within them. In the past several decades, assessment sophistication of ecologic systems increased due to analysis power afforded by gains in computing capability. Spatial data analysis methodology grew alongside computing power and incorporated spatial qualities of ecological data, thereby providing new insights. New methods like geographically weighted regression (GWR) and more established methods like interpolation are now being used in ecological studies to guide assessments and management decisions. However, their accuracy and utility for analysis of stream habitat data have not been fully explored. To clarify …
Nesting Biology Of Osmia Cornifrons: Implications For Population Management, Matthew Mckinney
Nesting Biology Of Osmia Cornifrons: Implications For Population Management, Matthew Mckinney
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The Japanese hornfaced bee, Osmia cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is a palearctic mason bee managed for the pollination of early season fruit crops such as apple and blueberry. Since its adoption as a managed pollinator in Japan during the 1940s, a large body of literature has amassed with the goal of enhancing O. cornifrons management practices. This research makes important contributions to that literature in two ways. First, the research describes the in-nest relationship of O. cornifrons and the cleptoparasitic mite pest Chaetodactylus krombeini. Distribution of male and female O. cornifrons and of C. krombeini was determined using linear and non-linear …
Evaluating The Effects Of Morrow's Honeysuckle Control On Vertebrate And Vegetation Assemblages, And Small Mammal Foraging Ecology At Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Charnee Lee Rose
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Exotic, Japanese bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.; Caprifoliaceae) are tied to a variety of impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) has become a persistent invader in eastern North America. We organized a restoration initiative at Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE), Pennsylvania, USA from 2004--2010. Concurrently, we studied the consumption of Morrow's honeysuckle fruits by small mammals from October--November 2009 and July--August 2010, and determined habitat variables that affected visitation rate to foraging stations. Areas of FONE were invaded by Morrow's honeysuckle after the land had been cleared for agriculture, and routine mowing ceased in the mid-1980s. Our restoration …
Demographic Response Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius L.) To Climate Change, Sara Souther
Demographic Response Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius L.) To Climate Change, Sara Souther
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Ecological response to recent climate change has been documented for a multitude of species worldwide. Climate models predict further increases in temperature, as much as 8 times the degree of warming that has already occurred. Given observations of species response to contemporary climate change and the unprecedented degree of warming expected over the next century, climate change will no doubt determine future ecosystem composition and affect global species diversity. In order to prevent loss of biodiversity, it is necessary to understand and accurately project species' response to climate, and to identify species that are vulnerable to climate change driven extinctions. …
Evaluating The Effects Of The Blennerhassett Island Bridge Crossing (Ohio River) On Soil, Vegetation, And Wildlife, Joshua Allen Vance
Evaluating The Effects Of The Blennerhassett Island Bridge Crossing (Ohio River) On Soil, Vegetation, And Wildlife, Joshua Allen Vance
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Corridor D was one of the original 23 highway corridors selected by the Appalachian Highway Development System in 1965 and stretches from Bridgeport, West Virginia to Cincinnati, Ohio. The last piece of Corridor D to be completed was the Blennerhassett Island Bridge which crosses over the Ohio River and Blennerhassett Island near Parkersburg, West Virginia and Belpre, Ohio. The Blennerhassett Island Bridge is a tied-arch style bridge about 1,220 m in length and 24 m above the ground and water surface. Construction of the bridge began in March 2005 and the bridge was opened to the public in June 2008. …
Roosting Ecology Of Bats In A Disturbed Landscape, Joshua B. Johnson
Roosting Ecology Of Bats In A Disturbed Landscape, Joshua B. Johnson
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
In 2007 and 2008, I examined roost selection of forest-interior dwelling northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) maternity colonies in stands treated with prescribed fire (hereafter, fire) and in unburned (hereafter, control) stands on the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia. Using radio telemetry, I tracked 36 female northern myotis to 69 roost trees; 25 in the fire treatment and 44 in the control treatment. Using logistic regression and an information-theoretic model selection approach, I determined that within the fire treatment, northern myotis maternity colonies were more likely to use cavity trees that were smaller in diameter, higher in crown class, and located …
Effect Of Nutritional Deficiency On Ruffed Grouse Condition And Reproductive Success, Aaron B. Proctor
Effect Of Nutritional Deficiency On Ruffed Grouse Condition And Reproductive Success, Aaron B. Proctor
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Maternal body fat condition (i.e., percent carcass fat) is often a focal point in determining reproductive success in female galliforms. Previous research has centered around habitat-related nutritional parameters affecting body condition and the influence on reproductive capacity. Past studies have shown that ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) maintain higher mean body fat levels throughout the Appalachians and variation in body condition exceeds that found in northern grouse. In the Appalachians, ruffed grouse with diets devoid of energy-rich hard mast have lower body fat condition. It has been hypothesized that females in poorer condition will have lower productivity in the Appalachians. We …
Predicting Species Composition In An Eastern Hardwood Forest With The Use Of Digitally Derived Terrain Variables, Richard D. Flanigan
Predicting Species Composition In An Eastern Hardwood Forest With The Use Of Digitally Derived Terrain Variables, Richard D. Flanigan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This thesis addresses the need for improved classification of remotely sensed imagery in the complex hardwood forests of West Virginia. A geographic information system (GIS) was used in conjunction with forest plot data to develop a model to predict species composition in the eastern hardwood forest of West Virginia. The study area was located on the West Virginia University Research Forest (WVURF) in northern West Virginia. Terrain variables including aspect, curvature and slope change drastically at a local scale within the forest to greatly influence species composition. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data was collected for the entire WVURF, which …
Mining And Residential Development Interact To Produce Highly Impaired Stream Conditions In An Intensively Mined Appalachian Watershed, Eric Richard Merriam
Mining And Residential Development Interact To Produce Highly Impaired Stream Conditions In An Intensively Mined Appalachian Watershed, Eric Richard Merriam
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Large scale surface mining in southern West Virginia causes significant alteration of headwater stream networks. It is unclear, however, the extent to which mining interacts with other stressors to determine physical, chemical, and biological conditions in aquatic systems downstream. Through a watershed scale assessment of Pigeon Creek, the specific objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the direct and interactive effects of mining and residential development on in-stream conditions; and (2) identify landscape thresholds above which biological impairment occurs. Our results indicate high levels of impairment to habitat, water quality, and benthic invertebrate communities within this watershed. Statistical analyses …
Habitat Selection And Predation Risk In Larval Lampreys, Dustin M. Smith
Habitat Selection And Predation Risk In Larval Lampreys, Dustin M. Smith
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This thesis examines habitat preference and the influence of habitat on predation of larvae (ammocoetes) of the least brook lamprey (Lampetra aepyptera). The thesis comprises three chapters: (1) an introduction and literature review on the general life history of lampreys and on studies related to ammocoetes and their habitat, (2) an experimental study of habitat preference in ammocoetes of the least brook lamprey, and (3) an experimental study of the relationship between habitat availability and predation risk in ammocoetes. For the first study, we quantified substrate selection in small (< 50 mm) and large (100-150 mm) ammocoetes of the least brook lamprey. In aquaria, ammocoetes were given a choice to burrow into six equally-available substrate types: small gravel (2.36-4.75 mm), coarse sand (0.5-1.4 mm), fine sand (0.125-0.5 mm), organic debris (approximately 70% decomposing leaves and stems, 15% silt, and 15% sand), an even mixture of silt, clay, and fine sand, and silt/clay (< 0.063 mm). Fine sand was selected with a significantly higher probability than any other substrate. In the second study, we experimentally examined the influence of habitat availability on predation risk of ammocoetes. Ammocoetes were placed in aquaria containing a predator species (yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis) and one of 3 substrates: fine sand (0.125-0.5 mm), coarse sand (0.5-1.4 mm), or silt/clay (<0.063 mm). Use of the three substrate types was based on a previous experiment where fine sand was determined to be the preferred benthic habitat of least brook lamprey. Based on 10 trials with each habitat type, survival of ammocoetes was highest in aquaria with fine sand (mean = 80%), and lower in those with coarse sand (mean = 58%) and silt/clay (mean = 4%). The results of both studies conducted indicate that populations of least brook lamprey ammocoetes may be limited by the availability of fine sand habitat. The first study indicated that least brook lamprey ammocoetes are habitat specialists, preferring substrates composed primarily of fine sand. The second study showed that the availability of fine sand habitat may influence the predation risk of ammocoetes, as ammocoete survival from predation was highest in fine sand, and lower in other substrates.
Foraging Ecology Of Male Cerulean Warblers And Other Neotropical Migrants, Gregory A. George
Foraging Ecology Of Male Cerulean Warblers And Other Neotropical Migrants, Gregory A. George
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Understanding foraging ecology provides insight into species resource requirements and overall conservation needs. We examined foraging behavior and tree species selection of male Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea ) (n = 673) in response to varying degrees of habitat disturbance from silvicultural treatments at four study sites in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio, during the 2006 and 2007 breeding seasons. Cerulean Warblers foraged primarily in the forest canopy, along branch tips by gleaning insects off leaf surfaces, often adjacent to canopy gaps, both pre- and post-harvest. Tree species availability, based on importance values (IV) calculated from density, frequency and basal areas, …
Ecological Responses Of Streams To Anthropogenic Stressors, And Watershed Cause-Effect Modeling In The Mid-Atlantic Highlands Region Of The United States, Yushun Chen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Urban sprawl and related habitat disturbance and acidic deposition are major anthropogenic stressors in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands region of the United States. Little information is available about the impacts of these stressors and cause-effect relationships between these watershed stressors and stream biotic/abiotic conditions in this region. A 10-year study (1997-2006) in the Lost River watershed and a 6-year study (2002-2007) in a South Branch Potomac River watershed were conducted to assess the impacts of Corridor H highway construction on stream biotic and abiotic conditions. Also, a three-decade study (1980-2006) using data from 5 wet deposition stations and 21 major stream …
Statewide Analysis Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis ) Population Status And Reach-Scale Conservation Priorities In West Virginia Watersheds, Jason W. Clingerman
Statewide Analysis Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis ) Population Status And Reach-Scale Conservation Priorities In West Virginia Watersheds, Jason W. Clingerman
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) was formed to implement range-wide strategies that sustain healthy, fishable brook trout populations. Hudy et al. (2006) recently completed a comprehensive analysis of eastern brook trout distributions representing a critical first step towards fully integrating brook trout conservation efforts in this region. This study was designed to supplement and complement existing data on brook trout distributions and status within West Virginia. We examined recently obtained data for the entire state to update the EBTJV distributional map published in Hudy et al. (2006). We then used fish sample data along with GIS-acquired landscape data …
Predictive Modeling Of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) In The Appalachians, Alison R. Mynsberge
Predictive Modeling Of Freshwater Mussels (Unionidae) In The Appalachians, Alison R. Mynsberge
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Freshwater mussels are in decline, particularly in the Appalachian region of North America. This region contains the world's greatest diversity of freshwater mussels, but many species are now threatened or endangered. Little is known of the basic ecology and distributions of species of freshwater mussels relative to other freshwater organisms. The goal of this study was to use predictive modeling to predict distributions of freshwater mussels in the Appalachians and identify correlated factors using a watershed framework. Models were developed in the upper Mid-Atlantic and Ohio drainage regions using subwatersheds and separately in the Tennessee region using catchments. Models developed …
Application Of The Biolog Microplate System To Monitor The Physiological Response Of Heat-Stressed Bacteria, Matthew G. Mccarroll
Application Of The Biolog Microplate System To Monitor The Physiological Response Of Heat-Stressed Bacteria, Matthew G. Mccarroll
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The BIOLOG microplate system was originally evaluated by Miller and Rhoden (1991) for its ability to correctly identify clinical and environmental isolates. The system determines identity based on the exchange of electrons produced during utilization of a carbon substrate and subsequent respiration, leading to the reduction of a tetrazolium-based color change. Enteric bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sakazakii, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium) were exposed to heat stress (52°C) and samples were removed as a function of time (0, 15, 30 and 90 min). Stressed cells were monitored with traditional viable cell counts and inoculated into BIOLOG GN plates. The …
Photosynthetic Capacity Of Deciduous Tree Species Growing In The Duke Face Experiment With Elevated Carbon Dioxide And Nitrogen Fertilization., Christopher R. Buyarski
Photosynthetic Capacity Of Deciduous Tree Species Growing In The Duke Face Experiment With Elevated Carbon Dioxide And Nitrogen Fertilization., Christopher R. Buyarski
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Forested ecosystems are the largest terrestrial sinks for carbon dioxide (CO2) on earth and are important in mitigating the negative effects of human induced increases of atmospheric CO2. Trees fix CO2 into sugars by using the nitrogen demanding processes of photosynthesis. Modeling and empirical studies have shown stimulations in photosynthesis under elevated CO2 conditions but the response decreases as plant demand for N increases. I examined the interaction of CO2 and N on photosynthetic capacity of Liquidambar styraciflua trees growing in the overstory and four deciduous hardwood species, including Acer rubrum, Carya glabra, Ulmus alata, and Liquidambar styraciflua, in the …
Effects Of Aqui-S Exposure In 3 Species Of Fish From The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California., Melody Danley
Effects Of Aqui-S Exposure In 3 Species Of Fish From The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California., Melody Danley
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
There is need for an anesthetic to sedate fishes that does not require a mandatory post-exposure withdrawal period. Such an anesthetic could be used to sedate handled fishes as they are moved from tank to tank on the farm, surveyed in the wild, released from state and federal hatcheries, or harvested for human consumption. A proprietary form of clove oil, AQUI-S® , was recently submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval as a 0-day withdrawal anesthetic for use on aquatic organisms. As part of the approval process, a large series of efficacy and toxicity studies are required. …
Predictive Vegetation Models: A Comparison Of Model Combination Approaches., Benjamin F. Gilmer Iv
Predictive Vegetation Models: A Comparison Of Model Combination Approaches., Benjamin F. Gilmer Iv
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The distribution of plants and animals in space and time has long been a focus of many biogeographical and ecological studies. The various approaches for modeling species distributions are rooted in the quantification of the species-environment relationship, where bioclimatic variables are used to explain the distribution of species and communities. Predictive modeling of species distribution has become a widespread tool in the areas of conservation biology, climate change research, land-use/land-cover change assessment, and biodiversity estimates. Although many statistical methods are now available, previous model comparison studies have found little difference in prediction accuracy when models were compared using the same …
An Interpolation Method For Stream Habitat Assessments With Reference To The Crystal Darter, Kenneth Richard Sheehan
An Interpolation Method For Stream Habitat Assessments With Reference To The Crystal Darter, Kenneth Richard Sheehan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Crystallaria asprella spp. (Elk River crystal darter) is documented only in Elk River, West Virginia. Little life history detail is known about this lotic, benthic-dependent species. Previous studies have led to a very basic understanding of the use of depth, flow and substrate of the crystal darter (Crystallaria asprella), and less is known about the Elk River crystal darter. Due to substrate-specificity in crystal darters (which reportedly bury in sand), a study concerning benthic stream habitat modeling was undertaken. Substrate and depth modeling using >5% of an area sampled at a resolution of 0.093 m2 square spatial data in a …
Understanding Political Ecologies Of Land Use Change Using Household Surveys In Mankweng, South Africa, Joshua Edward Rutkowski
Understanding Political Ecologies Of Land Use Change Using Household Surveys In Mankweng, South Africa, Joshua Edward Rutkowski
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Mankweng, Limpopo, South Africa has experienced a large population growth since its inception in the late 1950s. The impacts of land use changes in the area are far reaching and have a wide range of influences. This paper documents the historical and political pressures affecting Mankweng as the township progresses into the 21st Century. Household surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2006 in order to understand the geographic relationships of the area. This study found household surveys to be beneficial in understanding land use change.
Nesting Success And Nest Site Characteristics Of Four Thrush Species On A Managed Forest, Rachel Dellinger
Nesting Success And Nest Site Characteristics Of Four Thrush Species On A Managed Forest, Rachel Dellinger
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Four thrush species breed sympatrically in the Allegheny Mountain region of West Virginia, U.S.A.: American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), Veery (Catharus fuscescens), and Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina). How nesting habitat is partitioned among the species is unclear, as is the effect of logging activities on the guild. My objectives were to identify nesting habitat characteristics that are partitioned among the species and to determine their effects on nest survival.;I conducted point count surveys and monitored nests of four thrush species on a managed forest. I measured habitat variables at three scales: (1) nest substrate, (2) nest site, …
An Ecological Study Of Panax Quinquefolius In Central Appalachia: Seedling Growth, Harvest Impacts And Geographic Variation In Demography, Martha E. Van Der Voort
An Ecological Study Of Panax Quinquefolius In Central Appalachia: Seedling Growth, Harvest Impacts And Geographic Variation In Demography, Martha E. Van Der Voort
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is a long-lived, slow-maturing understory perennial herb found in eastern North American forests. The economic value of P. quinquefolius on the world market has remained strong for nearly 300 years. It has high economic and social value in the central Appalachians as well. Persistent harvest of ginseng combined with habitat loss has reduced populations in the wild, threatening the future of the species and its continued harvest. American ginseng was placed on the CITES Appendix II list in 1973 due to population declines. These concerns led to a series of studies investigating the population dynamics …