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Taxonomy Of Endophytic Fungi Associated With Vallisneria Neotropicalis, Md. Arafat Rashid

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study presents the first comprehensive taxonomic and ecological investigation of endophytic fungi (EF) associated with the submerged aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria neotropicalis in the southern United States. Over a 12 month period, from April 2023 to March 2024, leaf samples were collected from two distinct sites in Mobile Bay, Alabama a disturbed, brackish Causeway location and a cleaner, less impacted site at Meaher State Park. Using culture dependent methods, a total of 257 fungal endophytes were isolated from 1,200 leaf segments. All isolates belonged to the phylum Ascomycota, distributed across 3 classes, 6 orders, 10 families, and 19 taxa. The …

Golden Eagle Predation Of Greater Sage-Grouse On Diamond Mountain Plateau, Victoria E. Thorpe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Predation and the perceived risk of predation can have major impacts on prey populations. Golden Eagles are considered one of the main predators of adult greater sage-grouse. Sage-grouse populations have been declining for decades throughout the West and wildlife managers are concerned about the impacts of golden eagles on sage-grouse. We investigated the nonconsumptive effects of golden eagles on sage-grouse by conducting observational surveys for golden eagles, sage-grouse, and other predators at sage-grouse lek sites near Vernal, Utah during the sage-grouse breeding season from 2022–2024. Additionally, we examined the prevalence of sage-grouse in golden eagle diet using DNA metabarcoding of …

Spatial Patterns In Plant Structural Diversity Across A Shrub Encroachment–Native Grassland Landscape Mosaic In The Northern Chihuahuan Desert, Bindu Poudel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Drylands are heterogeneous landscapes that provide important ecosystem services, but they are threatened by global change factors that may influence aspects of their diversity and function. Environmental factors may influence the three-dimensional physical characteristics of vegetation structure (structural diversity) across spatial scales in arid ecosystems. This study investigated how environmental factors, including shrub cover, landform, and elevation, are related to vegetation structural diversity metrics across different spatial scales and scopes across the Jornada Experimental Range, a long-term ecological research site located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. A canopy height model generated by Airborne Observation Platform (AOP) LiDAR data and collected …

Sampling Gear Performance And Elasmobranch Distributions In The Upper Florida Keys, Ethan L. Dewald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are vital marine predators, yet many populations are declining from overfishing and habitat loss. Marine protected areas like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) can support recovery, but knowledge gaps remain in habitat-specific community structure and survey effectiveness. I surveyed inshore (seagrass, hardbottom) and offshore (patch reef, bank reef) habitats in the Upper Florida Keys using longlines, drumlines, baited remote underwater video (BRUVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Inshore assemblages showed strong habitat-driven patterns, with Ginglymostoma cirratum dominating seagrass sites, whereas offshore reefs were more homogeneous. UAVs captured the highest inshore richness, and drumlines …

Indigenous And Tribal Nation Scientists And Universities, Elizabeth A. Sumida Huaman, Stephen J. Smith

Critical Internationalization Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Comparing Machine Learning, Deep Learning, And Reinforcement Learning Performance In Culex Pipiens Predictive Modeling, Wei Yin, Sanad H. Ragab, Michael G. Tyshenko, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Several machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods have been used to predict the presence of species in classification problems. Another set of methods, called reinforcement learning (RL), has been used in training agents to perform various tasks, but not in predicting species distribution. Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae), commonly known as the common house mosquito, is a globally distributed species prevalent in temperate and subtropical regions. They serve as a primary vector for West Nile Virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne pathogen that affects humans and other animals. The study objective is to compare the performance of logistic regression, random forest …

The University Of Guelph’S Arboretum Winter Bird Count, 1980-2022, Brandon P.M. Edwards, Alan P. Watson, Chris G. Earley

Ontario Birds

No abstract provided.

Common Gallinule Banding In Ontario, Ross W. Wood, Barbara A. Campbell, Shawn W. Meyer, Tore Buchanan

Ontario Birds

Between 2012 and 2017, we conducted a Common Gallinule banding study to determine the feasibility of catching and banding gallinule with an airboat in Ontario, estimate how many birds could potentially be banded and subsequently encountered, calculate an index of productivity and assess whether enough data could be obtained to inform management decisions and conservation planning. We captured gallinules using dip nets and spotlights at night from an airboat. In total, we banded 440 (approximately 28%) of the 1,564 gallinules that have ever been banded in Ontario. Five of our banded birds were subsequently encountered, four within Ontario and one …

Hydration Strategies In Ultra-Endurance Running: A Narrative Review Of Programmed Versus Thirst-Driven Approaches, Shawn C. Wierick, Rosie I. Perez, Xiujing Zhao, Brendon P. Mcdermott

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background/Objectives: Ultra-endurance running (UER) presents unique hydration challenges due to prolonged duration, variable terrain, environmental extremes, and gastrointestinal limitations. Athletes often use either programmed fluid intake (PFI), which prescribes fluid volumes based on estimated sweat rate, or thirst-driven fluid intake (TDFI), which relies on internal cues. This review examines the effectiveness and limitations of each strategy in the context of UER performance and safety. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using a targeted selection of peer-reviewed studies. Both laboratory- and field-based research were included to evaluate the physiological rationale, practical feasibility, and outcomes associated with PFI and TDFI. A total …

Social Determinants Of Health Patterns In Children With Severe Disease Due To Sars-Cov-2 Infection-An Exploratory Approach, Joshua Prabhu, Sebastian Acosta, Fabio Savorgnan, Ananth V Annapragada, Usha Sethuraman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Research on the association of adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) with severe pediatric coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is limited. We examined associations between SDOH patterns and COVID-19 severity in children.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study of children (< 18 years) with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection evaluated in an urban pediatric emergency department (March 2021-April 2022) in Detroit, Michigan. Caregivers completed a 34-item survey based on the Healthy People 2030 framework. Severe disease was defined as the occurrence of respiratory/cardiac failure or death within four weeks of diagnosis. Continuous and categorical variables were described using medians and percentages, respectively. Associations between disease severity and risk factors were determined using chi-square tests. Association rule mining was used for feature selection, followed by multivariate logistic regression.

Results: We analyzed data from 354 children [6-12 years: 31.1%, Female: 51.1%, Black: 59%, not Hispanic: 84.7%, public insurance: 77.1%, chronic condition: 27.4%]. Of the total, 113 children had severe disease. Most caregivers were 30-44 years old (53.1%), had less than a college degree (70.4%), and income < USD 50,000 (75.2%). Adverse SDOH reported included food/housing insecurity (24.6%), no support (64.7%), unmet childcare needs (35.9%), and lack of transportation (12.7%). After controlling for age, sex, medical history, income, and obesity, severe disease was associated with caregiver use of drugs/alcohol (OR:5.92, p < 0.001) and social discrimination/lack of support (OR: 1.74, p = 0.030).

Conclusions: Two SDOH patterns (caregiver use of drugs/alcohol …

Survival And Recovery Of Three Shark Species In North-East Atlantic Recreational Fisheries, Francesco Garzon, Ghalia Abel, Ian Burrett, Owen Exeter, Lucy A. Hawkes, Thomas Horton, Mario Lambrette, Alex Plaster, David Righton, Hannah Rudd, Jessica Rudd, Bryce Stewart, Simon Thomas, James Thorburn, Paul Whittaker, Matthew J. Witt

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Understanding how sharks respond to catch and release (C&R) recreational fisheries is an important requirement for effective management. Post-release survival and recovery in recreational fisheries can be species- and setting-dependent. Nevertheless, no study on sharks has been conducted in European recreational fisheries, despite their popularity as target. This study presents the first example of biologging to assess C&R effects on blue sharks (Prionace glauca), porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) and tope sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) in the UK. Pop-up satellite archival tags (n = 23 blue shark, 20 porbeagle shark, 26 tope shark) revealed high (94.7–96.2%) survival rates in all three species, …

Mammal Diversity Of Wadi Fatimah Dam Area, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Abdullah Alasiri, Hassan Mahfudh Felemban, Isam Mohammed Abu Zeid

The Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Science

This study assessed the diversity and status of mammals in the Wadi Fatimah Dam area, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, Saudi Arabia, over twelve months from April 2019 to March 2020. The study area, approximately 10 km², was divided into five sites, yielding a total of 18 mammal species from 9 families, with 429 individual observations. Notable species included the Hamadryas Baboon, Arabian Wolf, Afro-Asiatic Wildcat, and Rock Hyrax, with the highest diversity recorded during rainy seasons, particularly between November and December. The presence of water significantly influenced mammal populations, with fluctuations corresponding to rainfall patterns. The study envisaged that …

Emerging Policies On Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Governance, Jessie Neta Jeffrey

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Effects Of Real-Time Head Position Feedback On Postural Sway In Terms Of Changes In Underlying Deterministic And Stochastic Dynamical Processes, Steven J. Harrison, Benjamin De Bari, Ryan Poutre, Jeffrey M. Kinsella-Shaw

College of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Papers

Our perceptual systems detect information about how our body is moving relative to the surrounding environment. Such information is essential to our ability to maintain upright standing balance. Real-time postural feedback systems are technologies that appear to enhance our ability to detect information about the movements of our body, and as a consequence improve our capacity to control the posture of our body. Here we examine a system in which real-time measurements of head position were "felt" as changes in the intensity of vibration of tactors in a headband. Using this system, participants were able to stabilize their body posture, …

A Political Ecological Exploration Of The Caracol Road Project In Belize, Lorenzo A. Pantano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Caracol Road Project is a new BZ$148,100,000 (US$74,050,000) road infrastructure development in the Cayo District of Belize and financed largely by foreign sovereign wealth funds. The areas adjacent to the road, broken into two phases include: communities, forest reserves, national parks, recreational areas, private lands and estates, and archaeological sites. This paper seeks to ask the questions: (i) For whom is the CRP being developed? (ii) For what is the CRP being developed? (iii) What visual evidence exists of sacrifice zones because of the production of the CRP? I sought to answer these questions through ethnographic observations, interviews, and …

From Waste To Wall Finish: Developing And Characterizing Sustainable Concrete Finishes With High-Volume Fly Ash And Biochar For Interior Applications, Prajwal Dudhane

Theses

This study explores the creation of environmentally friendly interior concrete finishes by recycling agricultural and industrial waste. In a 1:3 cementitious-to-aggregate mortar mix, the study investigates high-volume (30%) cement replacement using fly ash (FA30), biochar (BC30), and a hybrid combination (FAB30). It illustrates the viability of converting waste streams into workable architectural finishes through meticulous material investigation, mechanical testing, and aesthetic evaluation. Different performance characteristics were found by the technical examination. FA30 outperformed the control mix with a 14-day compressive strength of 8.00 MPa thanks to pozzolanic activity and decreased water demand. On the other hand, BC30 (7.33 MPa) significantly …

Ambient Air Pollution And The Sex Ratio At Birth: A Systematic Review And Narrative Synthesis., Ursula Gazeley, Hallie Eilerts-Spinelli, Jasmin Abdel Ghany, Ana Bonell, Joshua Wilde

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Ambient air pollution is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth, miscarriage, and preterm birth. However, its effects on the viability, implantation, and survival of conceptuses-largely unobserved before the clinical detection of pregnancy-remain poorly understood. Shifts in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) provide a sensitive, population-level indicator of sex-biased conception and pregnancy loss. This systematic review examined whether maternal exposure to ambient air pollution before conception and during pregnancy is associated with deviations in the SRB. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health from inception to 12 February 2025 for observational studies assessing both ambient air pollution exposure …

On The Ecological Impact Of Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers In Europe: Early Holocene (Mesolithic) And Last Interglacial (Neanderthal) Foragers Compared, Anastasia Nikulina, Anhelina Zapolska, Maria Antonia Serge, Didier M. Roche, Florence Mazier, Marco Davoli, Elena A. Pearce, Jens Christian Svenning, Dave Van Wees, Ralph Fyfe, Katharine Macdonald, Wil Roebroeks, Fulco Scherjon

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Recent studies have highlighted evidence of human impact on landscapes dating back to the Late Pleistocene–long before the advent of agriculture. Quantifying the extent of vegetation transformations by hunter-gatherers remains a major research challenge. We address this challenge by comparing climate-based potential natural vegetation cover with pollen-based vegetation reconstructions for the Last Interglacial and the Early Holocene. Differences between these datasets suggest that climate alone cannot fully explain the pollen-based vegetation patterns in Europe during these periods. To explore this issue, we used an upgraded version of the HUMan impact on LANDscapes (HUMLAND) agent-based model (ABM), combined with a genetic …

Epidemiology Of Lower Extremity Amputations In The United States: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database From 1990 To 2019, Peter B. Spencer, Cameron J. Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Taylor Manes, Phillip C. Mckegg, Ambrose Loc T. Ngo, Ayah Ibrahim, Jack W. Weick

Student Publications

Background: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. The objective of our study was to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences of unilateral and bilateral LEAs across the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019.

Methods: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for LEAs in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

Results: From 1990 to …

Home Range Size And Habitat Usage Of Hatchling And Juvenile Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) In Iowa, Jeffrey W. Tamplin, Joshua G. Otten, Samuel W. Berg, Nadia E. Patel, Jacob B. Tipton, Justine M.R. Radunzel

Faculty Publications

The Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is an endangered species in the state of Iowa and a species of conservation concern across their entire range. The Iowa population is characterized by high levels of adult and egg predation, displays little or no annual recruitment, and harbors an extremely low number of juveniles (7.3%). Home range and habitat usage studies of hatchling and juvenile Wood Turtles are limited to a few studies, and only one study of juveniles exists from the state of Iowa. Over a 10 yr period, we conducted a radiotelemetry study in Iowa on seven juvenile wood turtles for …

Soil Ph Analysis Of Pig Decomposition In Southeast Nebraska, Camryn Nelson, William Belcher

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

This study investigated the effects of a decomposing pig carcass on soil pH in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem of Southeast Nebraska, using pigs as proxies for human decomposition. The experiment spanned 171 days, encompassing decomposition stages from fresh to advanced decay. Soil samples were collected at regular intervals from four cardinal directions (north, east, south, west) and distances (0, 33, 66, and 100 cm) from the carcass to analyze changes in pH over time. Results indicated that decomposition significantly influenced soil pH, with the most dramatic changes occurring on the south side of the carcass, where the pig burst. pH …

Recent Literature, Claire Stuyck

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, North American Bird Bander

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

From Peak To Plunge: A Multi-Database Analysis Of State-Level Disparities In Hydromorphone Use In The Us, Krisha S. Patel, Leana J. Pande, Kenneth L. Mccall, Brian J. Piper

Pharmacy Faculty Scholarship

Background: Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic opioid agonist and a hydrogenated ketone of morphine. This study examined hydromorphone use in the United States (US) using three databases. Methods: The distribution of hydromorphone in the US (in grams) was provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automated Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) by state, zip code, and business type (pharmacies, hospitals, providers, etc.). Hydromorphone prescription claims were also examined using the Medicaid and Medicare Part D programs from 2010 to 2023. Results: Hydromorphone increased by +30.6% by 2013, followed by a decrease of −55.9% by 2023 in ARCOS. Medicaid prescriptions increased …

Feeding Niche Overlap And Segregation Among Three Grouse Species Wintering In Hudson Bay Lowlands Of Northern Ontario, Vernon G. Thomas

Ontario Birds

The Hudson Bay Lowlands of northern Ontario (comprising tundra and taiga) provide winter habitats for Willow Ptarmigan and Sharp-tailed Grouse as well as Rock Ptarmigan that occasionally fly in from arctic and subarctic regions. Winter food niche segregation/overlap was measured among these three species to investigate potential feeding competition; tamarack and berries were quantified by number and mass in the crops of grouse collected from the vicinity of the former community of Winisk, Ontario (now Peawanuck). All grouse species fed on birch and it was the principal food for Sharp-tailed Grouse. Willow was eaten primarily by Willow and Rock Ptarmigan. …

From Deforestation To Regeneration: Modeling The Potential Of Chakra Agroforestry To Restore Edaphic Invertebrates And Soil Health In The Ecuadorian Amazon, Annika Vikstrom

Ecuador: Comparative Ecology and Conservation

Tropical edaphic invertebrates lie at the intersection of three historically understudied domains: tropical habitats, soil ecosystems, and terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity (Boyle et al. 2024; Lugo et al., 2024). Approximately 80% of tropical invertebrates remain undescribed, leaving major gaps in the understanding of how land-use change and climate change may affect their diversity and ecological function. The Amazon Basin, one of the world’s most biologically and culturally diverse regions, is increasingly threatened by land use change and deforestation. While agriculture is the second main driver of forest conversion in the basin, Indigenous Agroforestry systems such as Kichwa Chakras in the Ecuadorian …

District Vulnerability Index For Pakistan (Dvip): Harnessing Multisectoral Data To Inform Equitable Policy And Climate Action, Population Council

Climate and Environmental Changes

Pakistan’s highly heterogeneous population faces significant development challenges, including unequal resource distribution and disparities in access to services, which create varying levels of vulnerability across communities. While existing studies have primarily examined vulnerability through climate, economic, or other disaster lenses, they often overlook underlying structural and systemic factors. This study aims to address that gap by developing an index that incorporates domains of vulnerability typically underrepresented in analyses of Pakistan.

Why Antimicrobial Resistance Pipelines Fail On Cyanobacteria: What Custom Databases Reveal Instead, Maeve Musselman

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (C-HABs) are increasing as climate change and nutrient enrichment create favorable environments for cyanobacteria. Although bloom-forming cyanobacteria can persist in extreme and polluted conditions, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and metal resistance (MR) play significant roles in bloom persistence and response to treatments, both remain understudied. Currently, most AMR detection pipelines use clinical databases developed for human pathogens which routinely fail to detect resistance genes in environmental microbes. This study evaluated AMR and MR profiles in seven freshwater cyanobacteria using both clinical AMR pipelines (CARD, ResFinder, ARG-ANNOT) and a custom environmental resistance database specifically designed to include metal …

Piping Up: Exploring Body Length And Density Metrics Of Dominant Pipefish Species Urocampus Carinirostris Across Spatially Distinct Sites In Moreton Bay, Qld, Leah Esser

Australia: Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

The morphologically unique family Syngnathidae faces high levels of anthropogenic pressures in Moreton Bay Marine Park where seagrass beds, habitat to many syngnathid species, are increasingly vulnerable. Among these species, the pipefish Urocampus carinirostris is especially prevalent, making it a strong candidate as an indicator and model species. Threats to seagrass, including pollution and nutrient overload, largely stem from sources on the bay’s western banks. This study aimed to conduct a preliminary investigation of how U. carinirostris size, density, and site-level pipefish diversity compares across locations, with particular attention to differences between eastern and western sites. An exploratory comparison between …

Resilience Engineering Via Bifurcation And Ecological Network Analysis: Demonstrated In An Electric Power Case Study, Rogelio Gracia Otalvaro

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Modern systems are increasingly complex, interconnected cyber-physical systems that combine digital controls with physical infrastructure. This integration, along with the constant introduction of new technologies and actors into the network, enables reliable operation but introduces vulnerabilities to unexpected and varied disruptions and cascading failures, making resilience a critical concern. Traditional risk management and resilience assessment methods often struggle with the nonlinearity and dynamic behavior of these systems. This dissertation proposes a novel approach combining Bifurcation Analysis (BA) and Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) to enhance the understanding and improvement of system resilience. BA, a mathematical method from dynamical systems theory, is …