Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Influencing Epiphytic Lichen Communities In Aspen-Associated Forests Of The Bear River Range, Idaho And Utah, Paul C. Rogers

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

In western North America, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the most common hardwood in montane landscapes. Fire suppression, grazing, wildlife management practices, and climate patterns of the past century are some of the threats to aspen coverage in this region. Researchers are concerned that aspen-dependent species may be losing habitat, thereby threatening their long-term local and regional viability. Though lichens have a rich history as air pollution indicators, I believe that they may also be useful as a metric of community diversity associated with habitat change. To date, few studies have specifically examined the status of aspen’s epiphytic lichen …

Midwest Alcoholism Research Center: An Overview, Andrew C. Heath

Posters

No abstract provided.

Moistened Seeds Increase Rodent Trap Success, Michael W. Sears, John C. Tull

Publications

Seed moisture has been shown to influence the rates of seed cache removal by rodents. Although the precise mechanism is not known, this knowledge might prove useful in field applications. We examined whether moistened bait would increase trap success in desert rodent populations. We placed traps 15 m apart in grids within a 500-ha study area and randomly baited traps with either dry or moistened seeds. We found that traps baited with moistened seeds had 34.9% higher success than traps baited with dry seeds (n = 190, Χ² = 5.389, df = 1, P = 0.020). Our results …

Wind Damage And Salinity Effects Of Hurricanes Katrina And Rita On Coastal Baldcypress Forests Of Louisiana, William Conner, Thomas W. Doyle, Richard H. Day, Ken W. Krauss, Christopher M. Swarzenski

Publications

The frequency of hurricane landfall in a given coastal stretch may play a more important role in the ecology of coastal forests than previously thought because of direct and indirect impacts of fallen trees and the introduction of salt water that lingers long after the storm passes. Findings show that surge events can inundate interior freshwater forests many miles from the coast and elevate soil salinities twofold to threefold. These elevated salinities may contribute to delayed mortality of certain tree species and set the stage for eventual forest decline and dieback.

In The Heat Of The Law, It’S Not Just Steam: Geothermalresources And The Impacts On Thermophile Biodiversity, Donald J. Kochan, Tiffany Grant

UC Law Environmental Journal

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Phlebotomine Sand Flies On U.S. Military Operations At Tallil Air Base, Iraq: 3. Evaluation Of Surveillance Devices For The Collection Of Adult Sand Flies, Douglas A. Burkett, Ronald Knight, James A. Dennett, Van Sherwood, Edgar Rowton, Russell E. Coleman

United States Air Force: Publications

We evaluated the effectiveness of commercially available light traps and sticky traps baited with chemical light sticks for the collection of phlebotomine sand flies. Evaluations were conducted at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, in 2003. In an initial study, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-style trap with UV bulb collected significantly more sand flies than did an up-draft CDC trap, a standard down-draft CDC trap (STD-CDC), or a sticky strap with a green chemical light stick. In a subsequent study, we found that the addition of chemical light sticks to sticky traps resulted in a significant increase in the …

Loathsome Beasts: Images Of Reptiles And Amphibians In Art And Science, Kay Etheridge

Biology Faculty Publications

The mythology and symbolism historically associated with reptiles and amphibians is unequaled by that of any other taxonomic group of animals. Even today, these creatures serve as icons - often indicating magic or evil - in a variety of media. Reptiles and amphibians also differ from other vertebrates (i.e. fish, mammals and birds) in that most have never been valued in Europe as food or for sport. Aside from some limited medicinal uses and the medical concerns related to venomous species, there was little utilitarian value in studying the natural history of reptiles and amphibians. Because of this history and …

An Ecological Assessment Of Property And Violent Crime Rates Across A Latino Urban Landscape: The Role Of Social Disorganization And Institutional Anomie Theory, Jeffrey Michael Cancino, Sean P. Varano, Joseph A. Schafer, Roger Enriquez

Justice Studies Faculty Publications

The present research put forth an integrated theoretical framework aimed at providing a more holistic community- level approach explaining crime across a heavily populated Latino city. Guided by social disorganization and institutional anomie theory, this study used several data sources and OLS regression techniques to examine the impact of social disorganization, economic and noneconomic institutional characteristics on rates of property and violent crime across 1,016 census block groups in San Antonio, Texas. While several findings emerged, interactions between alcohol density and concentrated disadvantage were significant and positively associated with property and violent crime. Interactions between welfare generosity and concentrated disadvantage …

Th Politics Of Hate: Ultranationalist And Fundamentalist Tactics And Goals, Joan Davison

Faculty Publications

Ultranationalist and religious fundamentalist movements frequently use hate to mobilize people. These groups possess a sophisticated understanding of the importance of appealing to the emotions. Leaders often employ xenophobic language intended to inspire fear and justify a defensive reaction. The movements also rely heavily upon symbols, myths, and public events to simplify and communicate the "truths" of their ideologies. The leaders convey messages with tremendous affective appeal. Yet, measures exist to counter and contain the politics of hate. The development of civil society, group rights, a free media, and integrated institutions can contribute to a durable solution in cases of …

Heylen Bvba (Belgium), Thomas Cooney

Case studies

As Tom Heylen reflects upon his early days in business, he often wonders how his company Heylen bvba survived. He had left university after just one year of studying biology in order to pursue a business opportunity that he believed existed in the market and that needed to be acted upon without delay. About that time, nature had become modified to such an extent (particularly in Europe) that biodiversity could only be conserved through active management and restoration of the few natural areas which remained. Such management required innovation, specialised equipment, and knowledge in order to be successful. But those …

Resolving The 150 Year Debate Over The Ecological History Of The Common Periwinkle Snail, Littorina Littorea, In Northeast North America, April M H Blakeslee

Doctoral Dissertations

Littorina littorea (common periwinkle snail) is highly abundant in both Europe and North America. A known native of Europe, its presence in North America has been the subject of a one-hundred year debate. Prior published work attempting to resolve its cryptogenic (=uncertain origin) status with historical, archaeological, ecological and/or genetic data were not successful. I therefore included novel parasite and molecular evidence to definitively resolve L. littorea's North American cryptogenic status.

First, I explored trematode species richness patterns in European versus North American L. littorea and two co-occurring native congeners, L. saxatilis and L. obtusata. Through extensive field and literature …

Biology And Phylogeny Of The Cassidinae Gyllenhal Sensu Lato (Tortoise And Leaf-Mining Beetles) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Caroline S. Chaboo

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A parsimony analysis was undertaken to test subfamily and tribal group concepts of Cassidinae (ca. 2000 genera, ca. 6000 species). An integrated account of their biology was synthesized from the primary literature. A detailed morphological study of adults, using Hemisphaerota palmarum Boheman as a model, formed the basis for evaluating characters previously utilized and for defining novel characters. The data matrix comprised 210 characters (from adults and immature stages, ecology and behavior), 6 outgroups, and 98 ingroup exemplar species (representing 94 genera and 39 of the 43 recognized cassidine tribes). Results support the monophyly of Cassidinae and place it as …

Individual Identification Of Polar Bears By Whisker Spot Patterns, Carlos Anderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many types of ecological studies require identification of individual animals. I developed and evaluated an automated identification system for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) based on their whisker spot patterns. First, I measured the reliability of using whisker spot patterns for identification from polar bear photographs taken in western Hudson Bay. This analysis involved estimating the complexity of each whisker spot pattern in terms of its information content. I found that 98% of patterns contained enough information to be reliable, and this result varied little among three different observers. Based on these results, I implemented a computer-aided identification system for polar …

Social Organization And Determinants Of Spatial Distribution Of Khur (Equus Hemionus Khur), Nita Shah, Qamar Qureshi

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Khur (Equus hemionus khur) is an endangered species for the most part restricted in little Rann of Kutch (India) and surrounding areas. We investigated factors influencing spatial distribution and social organization of khur. The spatial distribution is largely influenced by distribution of food patches and water in this ecosystem. The inter group distances were smaller in resource rich areas in comparison to resource poor areas (p = 0.017). The group sizes are larger in areas having higher productivity (r = 0.85) and rainfall (r = 0.88). Four social units are observed in khur (a) Family …

Current Status Of The Khulan (Equus Hemionus) In The Trans-Altai Gobi, Enkhbileg Dulamtseren, Adiya Yadamjav, Dovchindorj Ganbold, Mijidorj Batmunkh

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Since 1975, 25 wildlife surveys have been conducted in the Trans-Altai Gobi. In this paper we summarize results from the last 11 surveys, conducted between October 2000 and April 2005, and discuss our findings together with results from previous surveys.

Semi-Wild Population Of Kulans In The Bukhara Breeding Centre And Their Co-Habitation With Przewalski’S Horses, Karim Bahloul, Olga B. Pereladova, Natalia V. Soldatova, Ekaterina V. Sidorenko, Antoine J. Sempere

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

Asiatic wild asses and Przewalski's horses initially inhabited steppe, semi-desert and desert areas, but Przewalski's horses became extinct in the wild, and kulans are under threat of disappearance. The Bukhara Breeding Centre (Uzbekistan) was created in 1976 for conservation and reintroduction of wild ungulate species. In 1977-1978, five kulans (two males and three females) from Barsa-Kelmes Island on the Aral lake were introduced to the reserve. The group increased to 25-30 animals in 1995-1998, when five Przewalski's horses from Moscow and St. Petersburg zoos were introduced to the same territory. We analyzed the home ranges, preferred habitats and social interactions …

Conceptualizing Wilderness Through Gis, Sarah Stevens

Undergraduate Research Symposium (UGRS)

The word “wilderness” in America is generally identified with pristine places where humans are not among the primary influences on the land and its ecology. The American wilderness ethic creates a strict dichotomy between humans and nature. The Wilderness Preservation Act of 1964 defines wilderness as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain” (wilderness.net). This statutory definition of wilderness is essentially the functional embodiment of the American wilderness ethic. Wilderness can also be interpreted in ways that incorporate humans as active players in …

The Dimensions Of Sustainability And The Neo-Entrepreneurial Adaptation Strategies In Reindeer Herding In Finland, Hannu Ilmari Heikkinen, Sami Lakomäki, John Baldridge

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

Current public discourse in Finland concerning reindeer herding has focused on the overgrazing problem and conflicts between herding and competitive forms of land use. Both herders and government administrators agree on the problems of herding, but conceptualize their causes differently. Administrators insist that sustainability in herding is reachable through bioeconomic management that unites biological metrics of sustainable systems with an economic efficiency calculus. However, we found that such policy erodes socio-cultural sustainability at the community level. It also encourages economic rationalization that leads to increased revenues but slower income growth, because it coexists with rising investment costs and decreasing producer …

Literature Cited, John W. Mason, Gerard J. Mcchesney, William R. Mciver, Harry R. Carter, John Y. Takekawa, Richard T. Golightly, Joshua T. Ackerman, Dennis L. Orthmeyer, William M. Perry, Julie L. Yee, Mark O. Pierson, Michael D. Mccrary

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

The Function Of Stilt Roots In The Growth Strategy Of Socratea Exorrhiza (Arecaceae) At Two Neotropical Sites, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Rakan A. Zahawi

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Arboreal palms have developed a variety of structural root modifications and systems to adapt to the harsh abiotic conditions of tropical rain forests. Stilt roots have been proposed to serve a number of functions including the facilitation of rapid vertical growth to the canopy and enhanced mechanical stability. To examine whether stilt roots provide these functions, we compared stilt root characteristics of the neotropical palm tree Socratea exorrhiza on sloped ( > 20°) and flat locations at two lowland neotropical sites. S. exorrhiza (n=80 trees) did not demonstrate differences in number of roots, vertical stilt root height, root cone circumference, root …

Journal Of The Arkansas Academy Of Science - Volume 61 2007, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of The Queen Snake (Regina Septemvittata) In Arkansas, Johnathan W. Stanley, Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We documented the distribution of the queen snake, Regina septemvittata, in northern Arkansas during the 2005 and 2006 activity seasons. Arkansas currently contains the only known disjunct population of this species west of the Mississippi River. Field work was conducted throughout the Boston Mountains of the Ozark Plateau to verify the presence of queen snakes from historic localities as well as to identify new localities containing these snakes. Seventeen individuals were found in the Mulberry River of Franklin and Johnson counties and the Illinois Bayou watershed of Pope County. Of these 17 snakes, 5 were kept as voucher specimens in …

Effect Of Coyotes And Release Site Selection On Survival And Movement Of Translocated Swift Foxes In The Badlands Ecosystem Of South Dakota, Greg M. Schroeder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Success of different release strategies for swift fox (Vulpes velox) translocation was evaluated in the Badlands Ecosystem in southwestern South Dakota. Release site selection (outside coyote [Canis latrans] core-use areas compared to random release sites) and release method (i.e., hard, semi-hard, and soft) were examined to determine effects on swift fox survival and movements at 50 days post-release. I hypothesized that swift foxes released outside of coyote core-use areas would survive at a higher rate than foxes released at random sites. From 2003-2006, 16 adult coyotes were fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collars and monitored during the pup …

Literature Cited, Studies In Avian Biology

Studies in Avian Biology

No abstract provided.

The Muduga And Kurumba Of Kerala, South India And The Social Organization Of Hunting And Gathering, George Tharakan C.

Journal of Ecological Anthropology

This article examines the subsistence practices among the Muduga and Kurumba of Attappady in Kerala paying close attention to the socio-ecological basis of their economic activities. This facilitates an understanding of the close relationship between the distribution of natural and cultural communities, and the way in which the society is organized to reach a successful accommodation of a specific set of environmental needs. The data presented relate to wild and domesticated food products and the kin and social systems employed for obtaining them. I conclude that, although hunting and gathering alone could provide a subsistence, in a modern situation, dependence …

2007 Commencement Program, Seattle University

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Acl Injuries: Do We Know The Mechanisms?, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert, Scott G. Mclean

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) remain a frequent occurrence in many sports activities. Recent research has identified risk factors, and prevention strategies are being developed based on these findings. There is, however, still a limited understanding of the actual injury mechanisms. In this presentation we will review the current knowledge on ACL injury mechanisms, and identify needs and opportunities for further research.

2007, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Graduate Highlights

No abstract provided.

Pathways Of Anaerobic Carbon Cycling Across An Ombrotrophic–Minerotrophic Peatland Gradient, Jason K. Keller, Scott D. Bridgham

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Peatland soils represent globally significant stores of carbon, and understanding carbon cycling pathways in these ecosystems has important implications for global climate change. We measured aceticlastic and autotrophic methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, denitrification, and iron reduction in a bog, an intermediate fen, and a rich fen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for one growing season. In 3-d anaerobic incubations of slurried peat, denitrification and iron reduction were minor components of anaerobic carbon mineralization. Experiments using 14C-labeled methanogenic substrates showed that methanogenesis in these peatlands was primarily through the aceticlastic pathway, except early in the growing season in more ombrotrophic peatlands, …

Applications Of Trace-Element And Stable-Isotope Geochemistry To Wildlife Issues, Yellowstone National Park And Vicinity, Maurice A. Chaffee, Wayne C. Shanks Iii, Robert O. Rye, Charles C. Shwartz, Monique G. Adams, Robert R. Carlson, James G. Crock, Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, Kerry A. Gunther, Cynthia L. Kester, Harley D. King, Shannon R. Podruzny

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Reconnaissance investigations have been conducted to identify how geochemical techniques can be applied to biological studies to assist wildlife management in and near Yellowstone National Park (the Park). Many elements (for example, As, B, Be, Ce, Cl, Cs, F, Hg, K, Li, Mo, Rb, S, Sb, Si, and W) are commonly enriched in (1) thermal waters in the Yellowstone area, (2) rocks altered by these waters, (3) sinter and travertine deposits, and (4) soils and stream sediments derived from these rocks. Some of these elements, such as As, F, Hg, and Mo, may be toxic to wildlife and could be …