Digital Commons Network^™

Comparing Conventional And Noninvasive Monitoring Techniques For Assessing Cougar Population Size In The Southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Peter D. Alexander

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Determining the abundance or density of wildlife populations is needed for informed decision-making by wildlife biologists. Cougars (Puma concolor), however, are a highly secretive species occurring at very low densities across the landscape, and thus their populations are difficult for biologists to accurately assess. The conventional, and most trusted, method entails physically trapping and radio-collaring as many cougars as possible in a population, and then performing a simple count to determine a minimum population size. While accurate, this method is prohibitively expensive, logistically challenging, and behaviorally disruptive to the study animal. Many noninvasive surveying techniques, such as camera …

The Role Of Hydrologic Regimes In Driving Morphologic Divergence And The Trait Compositions Of Fish Assemblages, Lindsey A. Bruckerhoff

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The hydrologic regime is an important determinant of the ecological integrity of a stream. Hydrologic regimes are defined by the magnitude, timing, frequency, rate of change, and duration of high and low flow events and capture long term patterns of variability and predictability of water movement in a stream. Flow regimes influence many aspects of the biophysical environment in lotic systems; therefore organisms have adapted to natural flow patterns. We investigated how fish have adapted to flow regimes at both a population and community level. In the first study presented in this thesis, we hypothesized fish exhibit phenotypic divergence to …

Organismal Composition And Photosynthetic Traits Of Biological Soil Crusts In Prairie Ecosystems Of The Great Plains, Brendon Mccampbell

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are soil-surface microecosystems composed of a close association of algae, cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens, and non-vascular plants with soil particles. BSCs have several ecological functions including carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, nutrient relations, soil stabilization, water relations, and floral community development, which make them extremely important in the dryland ecosystems where they occur. While BSCs have been studied throughout the American West, little work has been done in the Great Plains region where they are less prominent among the dominant vascular plant communities. This novel study examined organismal and photosynthetic traits of BSCs in four ecosystems within the …

Interspecific Association Between Two Distantly Related Species, White-Tailed Deer And Eastern Wild Turkey, Lauren Ashley Madeira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Interspecific association between two distantly related species, Odocoileus virginianus(white-tailed deer) and Meleagris gallopavo (eastern wild turkey) was examined in western Tennessee using infrared-triggered cameras. The prediction that presence of one species was independent of the other was tested. Presence or absence of each species, based on occupancy determined from photographs, was assessed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Additionally, activity patterns were determined using presence-absence data. Results indicated a neutral association between the species. Site visitation by either taxa did not differ significantly by area or year. White-tailed deer occurred at significantly more sites than eastern wild turkey and visited locations over …

Eastern Wild Turkey Nest Site Selection In Two Frequently Burned Pine Savannas, Andrew R. Little, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Michael J. Chamberlain, L. Mike Conner, Robert J. Warren

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology, predation risk, and fine-scale nest site selection.

Methods: We modeled the relative influences of habitat-related covariates at six spatial scales (nest site: 15-, 40-, 80-, 120-, 160-, and 200-m radii) on Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) nest site selection in two pine savannas managed by frequent prescribed fire (≤3 years) in southwestern Georgia during 2011–2013.

Results: Nest site (15-m scale) habitat metrics (mean visual obstruction [cm] and canopy closure [%]) had the greatest influence on nest site …

Factors Associated With Initiation Of Antiretroviral Therapy In The Advanced Stages Of Hiv Infection In Six Ethiopian Hiv Clinics, 2012 To 2013, Denis Nash, Olga Tymejczyk, Tsigereda Gadisa, Sarah Gorrell Kulkarni, Susie Hoffman, Muluneh Yigzaw, Batya Elul, Robert H. Remien, Maria Lahuerta, Shalo Daba, Wafaa El Sadr, Zenebe Melaku

Publications and Research

Introduction: Most HIV-positive persons in sub-Saharan Africa initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) with advanced infection (late ART initiation). Intervening on the drivers of late ART initiation is a critical step towards achieving the full potential of HIV treatment scale-up. This study aimed to identify modifiable factors associated with late ART initiation in Ethiopia.

Methods: From 2012 to 2013, Ethiopian adults (n=1180) were interviewed within two weeks of ART initiation. Interview data were merged with HIV care histories to assess correlates of late ART initiation (CD4+ count <150 cells/mL or World Health Organization Stage IV).

Results: The median CD4 count at enrolment in HIV care was 263 cells/mL (interquartile range …

Interventions For Improving Pregnancy Outcomes In Antenatally Diagnosed Or Suspected Morbidly Adherent Placenta, Rinku Sengupta, Alexis C. Gimovsky, Shuqin Wei, Anthony Akinloye Bamigboye, Vincenzo Berghella, Amanda R. Amorim Adegboye, William Donald Fraser

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows:

To assess the benefits and harms associated with clinical interventions for improving outcomes in women with antenatally diagnosed or suspected MAP. We will compare conventional caesarean hysterectomy with uterine conservation treatments (together with adjunct measures) in women who have been diagnosed antenatally with, or suspected to have, MAP.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 91, No. 23, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news.

• Moore, Elisabeth. Jay Richey Wins High Turnout Student Government Association Election
• Austin, Emma. Plaintiffs in Kentucky Same-Sex Marriage Case Visit WKU – Greg Bourke, Michael DeLeon, Gays, Lesbians
• Kast, Monica. WKU Coaches & Athletic Director Gain New Incentives With Contracts – Todd Stewart, Jeff Brohm, Rick Stansbury
• Collins, Emma. WKU Students Receive Calls & Emails from Scammers
• Chism, Kalee. Running Club Sprints Off to a Start This Semester
• Skipworth, Dustin. University Signs Research Extension with Mammoth Cave
• King, Jennifer. Editorial Cartoon Sweet Potatoes
• Willenbrink, Elizabeth. Letter to the Editor …

A Comparative Study Of The Flora And Soils Of Great Duck And Little Duck Islands, Maine, Usa, Luka Negoita, Matthew Dickinson, Glen H. Mittlehauser, N. Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

Strong environmental gradients and varied land-use practices have generated a mosaic of habitats harboring distinct plant communities on islands on the coast of Maine. Botanical studies of Maine’s islands, however, are generally limited in number and scope. Baseline studies of Maine’s islands are necessary for assessing vegetation dynamics and changes in habitat conditions in relation to environmental impacts imposed by climate change, rising sea levels, invasive species, pests and pathogens, introduced herbivores, and human disturbance. We conducted a survey of the vascular plants and soils of forest, field, and ocean-side communities of Great Duck and Little Duck Islands, ME. These …

Export Of Insect Ecosystem Services From Hayed Native Prairie, Wayne J. Ohnesorg

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Natural areas, such as prairie, have the potential to provide the benefits of pest suppression and pollination for agricultural production. In Nebraska, prairie is often used for hay production. The impact of prairie hay production management practices on beneficial arthropods is not well understood. Four prairie hay meadows adjacent to row crop fields were selected in northeast Nebraska. The goal was to assess the impact of haying them on beneficial arthropods and the movement of natural enemies into adjacent crop fields. Three management practices were evaluated for hay harvested from prairie meadows one cut per growing season, two cuts per …

2016 Published Faculty Reception Program, Lynn University

Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Reception Programs

The program for the 8th Annual Published Faculty Reception, organized by the Lynn Library, working in conjunction with the Office of Academic Affairs.

Ecological Studies Of Wolves On Isle Royale, 2015-2016, Rolf O. Peterson, John A. Vucetich

Ecological Studies of Wolves on Isle Royale

Annual Report 2015-2016

The Ecologist's Field Guide To Sequence-Based Identification Of Biodiversity, Simon Creer, Kristy Deiner, Serita D. Frey, Dorota Porazinska, Pierre Taberlet, W. Kelley Thomas, Caitlin Potter, Holly M. Bik

Faculty Publications

The past 100 years of ecological research has seen substantial progress in understanding the natural world and likely effects of change, whether natural or anthropogenic. Traditional ecological approaches underpin such advances, but would additionally benefit from recent developments in the sequence-based quantification of biodiversity from the fields of molecular ecology and genomics. By building on a long and rich history of molecular taxonomy and taking advantage of the new generation of DNA sequencing technologies, we are gaining previously impossible insights into alpha and beta diversity from all domains of life, irrespective of body size. While a number of complementary reviews …

Evolutionary Responses Of Invasive Grass Species To Variation In Precipitation And Soil Nitrogen, Monica A. Nguyen, Amy E. Ortega, Quoc L. Nguyen, Sarah Kimball, Michael L. Goulden, Jennifer L. Funk

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

1.Global climate models suggest that many ecosystems will experience reduced precipitation over the next century and the consequences for invasive plant performance are largely unknown. Annual invasive species may be able to quickly evolve traits associated with drought escape or tolerance through rapid genetic changes.

2.We investigated the influence of five years of water and nitrogen manipulations on trait values in a southern California grassland system. Seeds from two annual grass species (Avena barbata, Bromus madritensis) were collected from experimental plots and grown in a common environment over two generations. We measured 14 physiological, morphological, phenological, and …

Hospital Admissions Due To Diseases Of Arteries And Veins Peaked At Physiological Equivalent Temperature −10 To 10 °C In Germany In 2009–2011, Ivy Shiue, David R. Perkins, Nick Bearman

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

We aimed to understand relationships of the weather as biometeorological and hospital admissions due to diseases of arteries and veins by subtypes, which have been scarcely studied, in a national setting in recent years. This is an ecological study. Ten percent of daily hospital admissions from the included hospitals (n = 1,618) across Germany that were available between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011 (n = 5,235,600) were extracted from Statistisches Bundesamt, Germany. We identified I70-I79 Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries and I80-I89 Diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes by International Classification of Diseases version 10 …

Relationships Of Physiologically Equivalent Temperature And Hospital Admissions Due To I30–I51 Other Forms Of Heart Disease In Germany In 2009–2011, Ivy Shiue, David R. Perkins, Nick Bearman

College of Natural and Applied Sciences

We aimed to understand relationships of the weather as biometeorological and hospital admissions due to other forms of heart disease by subtypes, which have been paid less attention, in a national setting in recent years. This is an ecological study. Ten percent of daily hospital admissions of the included hospitals (n = 1618) across Germany that were available between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2011 (n = 5,235,600) were extracted from Statistisches Bundesamt, Germany. We identified I30–I51 other forms of heart disease by the International Classification of Diseases version 10 as the study outcomes. Daily weather data from 64 …

Stenocarpella Maydis: Identification, Management, And Population Diversity, Martha P. Romero Luna

Open Access Dissertations

Diplodia ear rot (DER) has been a persistent corn disease across the Midwest, and in recent years it has become an annual problem. The objectives of this study were to i) develop a molecular assay for the identification of Stenocarpella maydis, causal agent of DER, ii) evaluate the effect of crop rotation and tillage on DER severity, iii) determine the survival period of S. maydis in corn residue at different soil depths in a corn field, and iv) identify genetic diversity among S. maydis isolates collected from the Midwestern and Southern United States. The genus Stenocarpella contains two species, S. …

Prefrontal White Matter Pathology In Air Pollution Exposed Mexico City Young Urbanites And Their Potential Impact On Neurovascular Unit Dysfunction And The Development Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Partha S. Mukherjee

Mathematics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Millions of urban children are chronically exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, i.e., fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and ozone, associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Compared with children living with clear air those in Mexico City (MC) exhibit systemic, brain and intrathecal inflammation, low CSF Aβ ₄₂, breakdown of the BBB, attention and short-term memory deficits, prefrontal white matter hyperintensities, damage to epithelial and endothelial barriers, tight junction and neural autoantibodies, and Alzheimer and Parkinson's hallmarks. The prefrontal white matter is a target of air pollution. We examined by light and electron microscopy the prefrontal …

Wildlife Underpasses: Frequency Of Use By Neotropic Mammals In Parque Natural Metropolitano, Panamá City, Panamá, Kelly Russo

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In a world of ever increasing globalization and urbanization, roads present wildlife with a number of challenges. They fragment habitats, disrupt animal movements, impact reproductive success and the fitness of individuals and populations, alter population dynamics, and cause unnatural levels of mortality. Fortunately, the numerous detrimental effects of roads can be alleviated by the proper implementation of mitigation structures, such as underpasses, sky bridges and vegetated overpasses. These mitigation structures are an important source of genetic connectivity, especially in a peri-urban reserve setting. This study seeks to understand what species of mammal utilize the wildlife underpasses below Via La Amistad, …

Variable Spiny Lobster Foraging Across A Variable Intertidal Landscape, Mary Mccormick

SNS Master's Theses

The rocky intertidal zone serves as an important nighttime high tide foraging habitat for the California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) but the role of this habitat in supporting this valuable species may vary with fine-scale differences in the habitat. On Catalina Island, variation in the proportions of crabs, mussels, and limpets that lobsters target may reflect variation in prey availability or consumer population demographics, independent of fishing pressure. I estimated the relative contribution of three important lobster prey taxa by applying Bayesian mixing models in MixSIAR to δ15N and δ13C signatures of lobsters and their prey from both a fished …

Sex Disparities In Access To Acute Stroke Care: Can Telemedicine Mitigate This Effect?, Catherine Wolff, Amelia K. Boehme, Karen Albright, Tzu-Ching Wu, Michael Mullen, Sean Savitz, Charles Branas, James Grotta, Brendan Carr

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Women have more frequent and severe ischemic strokes than men, and are less likely to receive treatment for acute stroke. Primary stroke centers (PSCs) have been shown to utilize treatment more frequently. Further, as telemedicine (TM) has expanded access to acute stroke care we sought to investigate the association between PSC, TM and access to acute stroke care in the state of Texas.

Methods: Texas hospitals and resources were identified from the 2009 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. Hospitals were categorized as: (1) stand-alone PSCs not using telemedicine for acute stroke care, (2) PSCs using telemedicine for acute stroke …

2016 March 30 -- Agenda And Attachments

Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

From Planning To Execution To The Future: An Overview Of A Concerted Effort To Enhance Biological Control In Apple, Pear, And Walnut Orchards In The Western U.S., Vincent P. Jones, Nicholas J. Mills, Jay F. Brunner, David R. Horton, Elizabeth H. Beers, Thomas R. Unruh, Peter W. Shearer, Jessica R. Goldberger, Steven P. Castagnoli, Nadine Lehrer, Eugene R. Milickzy, Shawn A. Steffan, Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Ute Chambers, Angela N. Gadino, R. Karina Gallardo, Wendy E. Jones

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

We embarked on a large project designed to help enhance biological control in apple, pear and walnut orchards in the western U.S., where management programs were in the midst of a transition from older organo-phosphate insecticides to mating disruption and newer reduced-risk insecticides. A “pesticide replacement therapy” approach resulted in unstable management programs with unpredictable outbreaks of spider mites and aphids. Our project was designed to provide growers and pest managers with information on the effects of newer pesticide chemistries on a suite of representative natural enemies in both the laboratory and field, potential of new monitoring tools using herbivore-induced …

Effects Of Food Resources On Population Dynamics Of The Eastern Newt At Kingfisher Pond:
 A Long-Term Field Study, Kameron D. Fletcher, Jessie Proehl

2014-2016 Undergraduate

No abstract provided.

Drone Technology For Low-Cost Precision Mapping On Campus And In The Community, Suresh Muthukrishnan, Mike Winiski

Earth and Environmental Sciences Presentations

Proliferation of consumer grade small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV) or drones brings many opportunities in the area of mapping and spatial analysis. Although misuse of drone technology is well-chronicled in the media, the important and positive role played by drones at the community level is often overlooked. At Furman University, we have integrated the use of drones into teaching, research, and various sustainability and safety initiatives on campus and with community partners. Using a combination of tools, including drones and GIS, we mapped the sprinkler irrigation network and streetlight locations on campus and in a local community. The general workflow …

Quantifying The Association Between Active Tuberculosis Incidence And Migrant Farm Worker Populations Among Florida Counties, 2009-2013: An Ecological Study, Ryan Nicolas Ortega

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 20 studies conducted in the last 40 years indicate that tuberculosis (TB) represents a major health concern among migrant farm worker (MFW) populations, but their role in the transmission of TB within the broader community is poorly understood. To this end an ecological study was undertaken which examined 67 Florida counties between years 2009 through 2013. Its aims were as follows: (1) to describe the demographic, geographic, and temporal distribution of the incidence of active TB, (2) to examine the effect of agriculturally relevant seasonal periods on the incidence of active TB, and (3) to quantify the strength and …

Anthropogenic Habitats Facilitate Dispersal Of An Early Successional Obligate: Implications For Restoration Of An Endangered Ecosystem, Katrina E. Amaral, Michael W. Palace, Kathleen M. O'Brien, Lindsey E. Fenderson, Adrienne I. Kovach

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications

Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation disrupt the connectivity of natural landscapes, with major consequences for biodiversity. Species that require patchily distributed habitats, such as those that specialize on early successional ecosystems, must disperse through a landscape matrix with unsuitable habitat types. We evaluated landscape effects on dispersal of an early successional obligate, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). Using a landscape genetics approach, we identified barriers and facilitators of gene flow and connectivity corridors for a population of cottontails in the northeastern United States. We modeled dispersal in relation to landscape structure and composition and tested hypotheses about the influence …

Anthropogenic Habitats Facilitate Dispersal Of An Early Successional Obligate: Implications For Restoration Of An Endangered Ecosystem, Katrina E. Amaral, Michael W. Palace, Kathleen M. O'Brien, Lindsey E. Fenderson, Adrienne I. Kovach

Faculty Publications

Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation disrupt the connectivity of natural landscapes, with major consequences for biodiversity. Species that require patchily distributed habitats, such as those that specialize on early successional ecosystems, must disperse through a landscape matrix with unsuitable habitat types. We evaluated landscape effects on dispersal of an early successional obligate, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). Using a landscape genetics approach, we identified barriers and facilitators of gene flow and connectivity corridors for a population of cottontails in the northeastern United States. We modeled dispersal in relation to landscape structure and composition and tested hypotheses about the influence …

Violent Death Rates: The United States Compared To Other High-Income Oecd Countries, 2010, Erin Grinshteyn, David Hemenway

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Violent death is a serious problem in the US. Previous research showing US rates of violent death compared with other high-income countries used data that are more than a decade old.

Methods: We examined 2010 mortality data obtained from the WHO for populous, high-income countries (n=23). Death rates per 100,000 population were calculated for each country and for the aggregation of all non-US countries overall and by age and sex. Tests of significance were performed using Poisson and negative binomial regressions. Results: US homicide rates were 7.0 times higher than other high-income countries, driven by a gun homicide rate …

Influence Of The Mississippi River On Pseudo-Nitzschia Spp. Abundance And Toxicity In Louisiana Coastal Waters, Sibel Bargu, Melissa M. Baustian, Nancy N. Rabalais, Ross Del Rio, Benjamin Von Korff, R. Eugene Turner

Faculty Publications

The presence of domoic acid (DA) toxin from multiple species of Pseudo-nitzschia is a concern in the highly productive food webs of the northern 1,* 2,3 2 1 1,4 1 1 2 3 4 Gulf of Mexico. We documented the Pseudo-­nitzschia presence, abundance, blooms, and toxicity over 3 years along a transect ∼100 km west of the Mississippi River Delta on the continental shelf. Pseudo-nitzschia were present throughout the year and occurred in high abundances (>10 cells l ) in the early spring months during high Mississippi River (MSR) flow (∼20,000 m s ) but were most abundant ( …