Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Life Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Interaction Of Seed Dispersal And Environmental Filtering Affects Woody Encroachment Patterns In Coastal Grassland, Natasha N. Woods, Benjamin L. Dows, Evan B. Goldstein, Laura J. Moore, Donald R. Young, Julie C. Zinnert Jan 2019

Interaction Of Seed Dispersal And Environmental Filtering Affects Woody Encroachment Patterns In Coastal Grassland, Natasha N. Woods, Benjamin L. Dows, Evan B. Goldstein, Laura J. Moore, Donald R. Young, Julie C. Zinnert

Biology Publications

Encroachment of woody plants into grasslands has occurred worldwide and includes coastal ecosystems. This conversion process is mediated by seed dispersal patterns, environmental filtering, and biotic interactions. As spatiotemporally heterogeneous, harsh environments, barrier islands present a unique set of challenges for dispersal and establishment. Environmental conditions act as filters on dispersed seeds, thereby influencing encroachment and distribution patterns. Seldom have patterns of propagule dispersal been considered in the context of woody encroachment. We quantified dispersal and post‐dispersal processes of an encroaching woody population of Morella cerifera relative to directional rate of encroachment and observed distribution patterns on an Atlantic coastal …


Evolutionary Relationships Of Courtship Songs In The Parasitic Wasp Genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester Jan 2019

Evolutionary Relationships Of Courtship Songs In The Parasitic Wasp Genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Justin P. Bredlau, Karen M. Kester

Biology Publications

Acoustic signals play an important role in premating isolation based on sexual selection within many taxa. Many male parasitic wasps produce characteristic courtship songs used by females in mate selection. In Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), courtship songs are generated by wing fanning with repetitive pulses in stereotypical patterns. Our objectives were to sample the diversity of courtship songs within Cotesia and to identify underlying patterns of differentiation. We compared songs among 12 of ca. 80 Cotesia species in North America, including ten species that have not been recorded previously. For Cotesia congregata, we compared songs of wasps originating from …