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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
- Keyword
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- Conservation (2)
- Abundance estimation (1)
- Africa (1)
- Biodiversity (1)
- Biodiversity knowledge (1)
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- Birds (1)
- Botswana (1)
- Decision making (1)
- Functional diversity (1)
- Genetic variability (1)
- Helmeted guineafowl (1)
- I-Rank (1)
- Invasive species management (1)
- Kori bustard (1)
- Nebraska (1)
- Non-native plants (1)
- Occupancy analysis (1)
- Phylogenetic diversity (1)
- Predicting invasion risk (1)
- Science literacy (1)
- Socioscientific issue (1)
- Species richness (1)
- Taxonomic diversity (1)
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Relationships Among Biodiversity Dimensions Of Birds In Nebraska, Nadejda Mirochnitchenko
Relationships Among Biodiversity Dimensions Of Birds In Nebraska, Nadejda Mirochnitchenko
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is a multi-dimensional concept that can be decomposed to measure information about taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional variation within communities. Although the dimensions of biodiversity are interrelated, the assumption that measuring one dimension of diversity can inform about patterns in another dimension does not necessarily follow from theory or empirical study. The relationships among biodiversity dimensions is not well understood, nor how differences among dimensions could influence conservation decision making. Using the avian community as a study system, we explored the relationships of breadth metrics from the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional dimensions among each other and across …
Exploration Of Student Biodiversity Knowledge And Decision-Making For A Wildlife Conservation Socioscientific Issue, Ashley R. Alred
Exploration Of Student Biodiversity Knowledge And Decision-Making For A Wildlife Conservation Socioscientific Issue, Ashley R. Alred
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Global biodiversity, a foundation for ecosystem function, is diminishing at a rate unprecedented in the last 50 years. Biodiversity loss and ecosystem services deterioration is linked to increased food insecurity, reduced water quality and availability, decreased energy security, higher economic losses and human suffering (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Consequently, educators should invest in supporting students in their development of ecological understanding and formal decision-making skills so they are equipped with meaningful tools they can use as scientifically literate citizens. To contribute to that mission, this study seeks to explore student 1) comprehension and explanation of biodiversity concepts and 2) decision-making …
Occupancy Analysis And Density Estimation Of Kori Bustards (Ardeotis Kori) And Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida Meleagris) For Use In Landscape Conservation Planning In The Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana, Kathryn R. Mccollum
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
For understudied species, more informed conservation planning and decision-making on both the local and landscape levels may be attained through the use of occupancy and abundance estimations. Here, we focus on two iconic bird species in eastern Botswana, kori bustards (Ardeotis kori) and helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris). The overall goal of this project was to better understand the hierarchy of factors that influence occupancy (ψ) and density of kori bustard and helmeted guineafowl populations within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and how these factors may interact to affect landscape conservation and usage. We performed distance sampling …
Predicting Invasion Risk Of Non-Native Plants Using A Modified I-Rank Assessment, Justin B. Williams
Predicting Invasion Risk Of Non-Native Plants Using A Modified I-Rank Assessment, Justin B. Williams
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Biological invasions are a global problem responsible for native species declines worldwide. Understanding the invasion risk from non-native species is important in establishing management goals and making decisions for managing native ecosystems. Useful modeling methods for quantifying or predicting invasion risk should consider research needs, data availability, and operate at an appropriate scale. I evaluated risk assessment methods towards answering a specific research question; which plant species pose the greatest risk of becoming invasive or having the greatest negative impact in Nebraska? I selected the I-Rank assessment method, which consists of 20 questions grouped into four risk categories or Subranks: …