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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Taking Apart The Time Machine: Investigating Space-For-Time Substitution Modeling In The Florida Everglades, Theresa Kelly Brown
Taking Apart The Time Machine: Investigating Space-For-Time Substitution Modeling In The Florida Everglades, Theresa Kelly Brown
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Space-for-Time substitution modeling has been used with increasing frequency to identify functional relationships between environmental drivers and ecological responses. I investigated the use of space-for-time substitution as a null model and beta diversity as a validity test for this null model in the Greater Everglades aquatic metacommunity. I began by conducting a literature review and analysis to investigate the suitability of the space-for-time substitution method as a null model. I then analyzed beta diversity of the Greater Everglades aquatic metacommunity through a sums-of-squares approach. Finally, I tested for correlation between the beta diversity analysis and the space-for-time models. Results indicate …
Evolutionary Genetics Of The Genus Zamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales), Michael Calonje
Evolutionary Genetics Of The Genus Zamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales), Michael Calonje
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The genus Zamia L. (Zamiaceae), consisting of 77 species, is the most species-rich and widely distributed cycad genus in the New World and is arguably the most morphologically and ecologically diverse genus in the Cycadales. We utilized a multilocus sequence dataset of 10 independent loci (9 single copy nuclear genes + 1 plastid) and extensive taxon sampling (over 90% of species) to infer phylogenetic relationships within Zamia. We infer a robust phylogenetic tree for the genus with a strong geographic delimitation of clades and find that four morphological characters typically used for diagnostic purposes in the genus exhibit a high …
Cavity Nest Webs As A Template For Studying Non-Trophic Interactions In Invasion Ecology, Joshua M. Diamond
Cavity Nest Webs As A Template For Studying Non-Trophic Interactions In Invasion Ecology, Joshua M. Diamond
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Invasive exotic animals are considered destructive forces in cities for preying on and competing with native species. I examined an aspect of competition from a different perspective, focusing on the role of Miami’s rich exotic bird assemblage in its cavity nest web, where a supply of woodpecker-created cavity nests limited by urbanization is the focal point of competition. We located 967 nest trees with 1,864 cavities and determined that woodpeckers successfully nested in this tropical urban region by exploiting standing dead palms (snags). Native upland forests were the most important cover type for woodpeckers but planted landscapes like parks and …