Life Sciences Commons^™

Lichens Of Iller Creek: A Checklist For The Iller Creek Unit, A Division Of Dishman Hills Conservation Area, Spokane Valley, Wa, Devin M. Mumey, Giovanna Bishop, Jessica L. Allen

2023 Symposium

The field of biodiversity documentation encompasses a broad range of research including new species discovery and description, compilation of species present in a given area, and investigation of interspecies interaction. In an era of increasingly devastating and rapid environmental change, documenting biodiversity has become increasingly important. Anthropogenic effects on urban-adjacent natural areas are especially significant, as they can cause numerous, often drastic, responses in ecosystems. Our objective here was to document the lichen biodiversity in a large urban-adjacent protected area: the Iller Creek Unit of the Dishman Hills Conservation Area in Spokane Valley, Washington. This unit encompasses a diversity of …

A Baseline Assessment Of Migratory And Resident Bird Use Of A Prairie Restoration Site In Eastern Washington, Madilyn J. Odiorne, Brynn A. Richey, Ruby L. Hammond

2023 Symposium

Prairies, and other types of grassland ecosystems, have suffered some of the most profound losses worldwide, due to anthropogenic factors such as fossil fuel extraction, agriculture, and climate change. Likewise, organisms inhabiting grassland ecosystems have become extirpated across much of their historical range, not the least of which has been a 50% decline in grassland birds since the 1960s. In response to losses of intact prairie in eastern Washington, a 120-ac site has been established on the EWU campus to regenerate native prairie and monitor changes in the ecosystem as native plants recolonize and replace non-natives. Because birds are an …

Does Manuka Honey Induce Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Persisters And Viable But Non-Culturable Subpopulations?, Bryn Tennyson

2022 Symposium

Long-term antibiotic use has allowed microbes to develop resistance and cause chronic infectious diseases that were previously treatable. Resistance is phenomenon in which bacteria survive treatment with a concentration of antibiotics that was once lethal. Bacteria resist antibiotic treatment by genetic change or initiating states of dormancy called persisters or Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNCs) cells. These subpopulations of antibiotic resistant persisters and VBNCs increase with exposure to stresses, including antibiotic treatment, and are a major cause of reoccurring infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Manuka honey (MH), a well-known alternative broad-spectrum antimicrobial, is a promising treatment for cutaneous …

The Use Of Probiotic Applications In Early Life Stages To Mitigate Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Infections In Rana Luteiventris (Columbia Spotted Frogs), Autumn N. Holley

2022 Symposium

Chytridiomycosis, an amphibian skin disease caused by a chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been linked to global amphibian declines. Some amphibian populations are resistant to severe infection due to symbiotic antifungal skin bacteria, but attempts to develop probiotics from these bacteria have been inconsistently successful because bacteria fail to persist on the skin. Studies have largely been conducted on adult and juvenile amphibians, despite amphibians having fewer known mechanisms for microbiome regulation prior to metamorphosis. We hypothesize that probiotics will persist longer and thus be more effective against pathogen infection if they are applied at an early life …

Investigating The Protective Effects Of Intestinal Gaba[Subscript A] Receptor Activation On An Animal Model Of Multiple Sclerosis, Hannah M. Kohl

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, produced by neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and by some species of intestinal bacteria. GABAA receptors are found not only in the CNS, but also in T cells and within the intestines. Past studies have indicated that GABA can have an anti-inflammatory effect and production of GABA by gut bacteria decreases in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined whether administration of a positive allosteric GABAA receptor modulator, farnesol, ameliorates the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of MS and whether those effects correlated with a decrease …

Impacts Of Rock Climbing On Lichen And Bryophyte Communities At Mclellan Rocks And Sharon Climbing Areas, Spokane County, Wa, Giovanna M. Bishop

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Saxicolous lichens and bryophytes dominate cliff communities of Eastern Washington State. A recent rise in the outdoor recreation of rock climbing has caused major concerns over its potential negative impacts on cliff-dwelling biodiversity. To better understand how rock climbing is impacting lichen, bryophyte and vascular plant communities in Spokane, WA, I surveyed two sites: McLellan Rocks and Rocks of Sharon, for the abundance, richness and diversity of lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants. Sixteen paired transects consisting of a climbed route and the unclimbed adjacent cliff face, with eight plots per transect for a total of 256, 0.5m2 plots were surveyed …

Effects Of Nutrition On Honey Bee Microbiology, Disease Occurrence, And Hive Growth, Shelby P. Fettig

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are major pollinators of many food crops, but unfortunately, population declines are threatening global food security and ecosystem health. Honey bees are under multiple stressors, such as poor nutrition, parasitic mites, and pathogens. Similar to human health, the gut microbiome of the honey bee is hypothesized to affect bee’s overall health by supporting host metabolism and immune system. However, it’s not clear how stressors impact gut microbiome, and thus health, of bees. Nutritional supplementation could mitigate negative effects of stressors, particularly for bees that don’t have access to diverse floral resources. In this study, I conducted …

A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico

2020 Symposium Posters

A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …

Effect Of Soil Moisture On Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza Sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. Establishment, Sarah E. Hill

2020 Symposium Posters

Every spring, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.) dots the landscape across the inland Pacific Northwest. Balsamroot’s copious blooms, numerous leaves, long lifespan, and resilience once established, make it popular in restoration seed mixes, although balsamroot displays erratic germination in the restoration context. Understanding the effects of variables, like the availability of soil moisture on the germination and establishment of balsamroot, could provide insights into the successes of restoration plantings, or planning. This study examines the relationship between soil moisture availability and balsamroot establishment, tracking growth and survival of balsamroot seedlings during their first season, across a range of …

Preliminary Microbiome Analysis Of Freshwater Bivalves From Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Dechen Edwards

2020 Symposium Posters

Eukaryotic hosts and their associated microbes exhibit variable relationships. Some are driven by well-documented benefits including microbial contributions to host digestion; others are less understood. In this project, we seek to understand how a host’s microbiome is differentiated from the surrounding, free-living microbial community and whether this process is altered by the presence of pollution. Here we present a protocol developed for the extraction, isolation, and identification of the microbial population found in freshwater “fingernail” clams (Sphaeriidae) based on modified methods from the Earth Microbiome Project and studies of freshwater amphibian and marine bivalve microbiomes. We first developed …

Size Scaling In The Skull Of North American Felids As Adaptations For Prey Acquisition, Ashley Destin, Judd A. Case

2020 McNair Scholar Collection

This comparative study explores the relationship between skull morphology and general body size among felids (house cat, lynx, puma), mustelids (minks, weasels, badgers), and canids (foxes, coyotes, wolves); with a focus on North American felids, as it relates to prey acquisition. Previous studies have focused on the evolution of the carnivore skull shape, which include the species examined in this study. Using measurement methods laid out by Radinsky (1981a; 1984), the size of skull components are compared to overall body size to determine the rate of scaling of skull features with body size.

Statistical evaluations of skull measurements within and …

Effects Of A Neonicotinoid Insecticide On The Growth Of Honey Bee Gut Microbes, Macee Mitchell, Daniel Franzese, Taylor Morales, Shane Lucht, Jesse Steele, Jenifer Walke

2020 Symposium Posters

The gut microbiome plays an essential role in the overall health of organisms. However, the presence and abundance of these microbes may be altered by environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides. The goals of this project were to understand 1) the prevalence of pesticide residues in honey bees in eastern Washington, and 2) the impact of pesticides to the honey bee gut microbiome. Accordingly, we tested bees from 24 hives among six sites across eastern Washington. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect the presence and concentration of six commonly used agricultural pesticides: Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, …

Helicobacter Pylori Gene Regulation By Virulence Region Located Srnas, Veronica Janette Albrecht

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Approximately 50% of the human population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, which can lead to gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter pylori strains are genetically variable, and some contain a DNA region called the cytotoxin associated gene pathogenicity island (cagPAI) that encodes virulence factors. Gastrointestinal disease associated with H. pylori are more likely to occur in infections with cagPAI positive strains. Helicobacter pylori has few known transcriptional regulators, but still must regulate expression to survive a constantly changing environment. A mechanism to facilitate this regulation was revealed in a transcriptome analysis conducted by Sharma et al. (2010) …

Impact Of Chytrid Fungus Pathogen On The Skin Microbiome Of Frogs In Northern Idaho And Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, Philip M. Campos

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Amphibians worldwide are under threat from the infectious disease chytridiomycosis, which is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is associated with the population declines of an estimated 501 species, 90 of which are presumed or confirmed extinct, making this the greatest documented loss of biodiversity attributed to a disease. Researching the amphibian skin microbiome may provide solutions to conservation of amphibians. Two main relationships have been observed between Bd and the microbiome: 1) bacteria producing antifungal metabolites can inhibit Bd and improve survival against the disease and 2) infection by Bd is believed to affect the composition …

Bull Trout (Salvelinus Confluentus) Can Detect Conspecific Pheromones In A Two Choice Y-Maze, Hannah M. Coles, Allan T. Scholz, Raymond Ostlie, Paul Spruell, Mark Paluch, Jason Connor

2019 Symposium

Two stocks of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) were tested in a two choice Y-maze to determine if they could detect pheromones from the same natal population (population specific pheromones PSP) or from a different (conspecific) population of Bull Trout (CSP). Fish from the Pack River (PR), Idaho and the Metolius River (MR), Oregon were transferred to a fish hatchery where Y-maze studies were conducted. The Y-maze was constructed to supply well water at 12°C (blank) to both arms with the temperature and discharge of each arm matched to within 0.1°C and 0.01 l/s. One arm was randomly selected …

Environmental And Anthropogenic Factors Affecting Coral Health, Kristin Jones

2019 Symposium

Plastic pollution is a large and growing problem in our ever producing world. Not only does it litter our cities, but it is cluttering up the natural world as well, the largest being our oceans. Plastic is dumped into the seas where it floats and slowly breaks down into microplastics that are then ingested by marine animals. I will conduct an experiment to test the effects of micro plastics on coral health by subjecting palythoa corals to different plastic levels in a controlled environment. I hypothesize that corals will ingest micro plastics and will suffer health consequences, leading to a …

Analyzing The Diet Composition Of Lake Trout (Salvelinus Namaycush) In Upper Priest Lake, Coty W. Jasper

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were intentionally introduced to the Priest Lake system in 1925 with the intentions of creating a recreational fishery. As the Lake Trout population increased within this system, the native Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) population began to decline. Possible negative impacts of Lake Trout on Bull Trout include direct effects such as predation, or indirect effects, such as resource competition. In this study our objective was to estimate the frequency of piscivory of Lake Trout from Upper Priest Lake and document any possible Lake Trout predation upon Bull Trout in the Upper Priest Lake system. We obtained …

Impacts Of Trace Metal Pollution, Urbanization And Aquifer Recharge On Spokane River Macroinvertebrates, Carolyn K. Connelly

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This study analyzed macroinvertebrate communities of the Spokane River to determine: 1) accumulation of toxic trace metals in macroinvertebrate tissue, 2) effects of aquifer recharge, and 3) impact of urbanization. I predicted that aquifer inflows of cold, clean water would mitigate effects of pollution, and that reaches above the City of Spokane would be less negatively affected by urbanization; both were unsupported. I also predicted that effects of toxic trace metals would decrease within distance downstream; this prediction was supported. I sampled 12 riffles of the Spokane River between the Washington/Idaho border and Riverside State Park in late summer 2010. …

Impacts Of Temperature On Life History Traits Of Invasive Eastern Brook Trout ( Salvelinus Fontinalis ), Kaeli Alexis Davenport

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Vocalizations Influence Roost-Site Selection In Overwintering Cavity-Nesting Birds In Eastern Washington, Shelby M. Hunter

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Primary cavity-nesting birds are keystone species because the annual tree cavities they excavate become critical habitat for other species. In eastern Washington, most primary cavity-nesting birds are year-round residents. They increase overwinter survival by night roosting in cavities and forming flocks. The timing of roost site selection can impact the quality of a roost site, thus selecting a roost site too late reduces the odds of selecting the most favorable microclimate available. Birds in flocks use alarm calls to warn of threats and contact calls to promote group cohesion. My study asks if timing of roost site selection and vocalizations …

Vegetation Community Development After Dam Removal On The Elwha River, Olivia A. Morgan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The Elwha River is the site of the largest dam removal project in the world to date and serves as a case study for the ecological effects of large dam removal. The 2012-2014 removal of two dams on the Elwha River exposed a cumulative 2.76 km2 of previously inundated surfaces. Environmental conditions including sediment texture and nutrients, slope-aspect, dispersal distance from the river and mature forest, disturbance, and elevation vary widely across the reservoir surfaces, causing significant variation in the plant community. The first objective of my study is to continue a long-term study of the passively restored vegetation community …

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Summer Habitat Use In Lake Spokane, Washington, Shawna B. Warehime

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Construction of dams dramatically alters the hydrology of rivers, influencing a wide variety of water quality characteristics directly impacting fish species. These physical alterations will interact with increasing temperatures, due to climate change, reducing thermal habitat for cold-water fish species. Rainbow Trout are sensitive to changes in their habitat and prefer water temperatures < 20 °C and DO levels ≥ 5.0 mg/L. The overarching goal of this study is to document Rainbow Trout movements in an environment that experiences oxygen stress and high water temperatures not meeting preferred levels. Lake Spokane is a 38.62 km long reservoir on the Spokane River located between Long Lake and Nine Mile Falls Dam in Washington State. Long Lake has three reaches, riverine, transitional, and lacustrine, and experiences low DO and high temperatures. The objectives of this project were to 1: Determine summer habitat use of Rainbow Trout from tracking data that provides location, depth, and temperature. 2: Compare habitat use and variation between two sequential years. 3: Use water quality and tracking data to predict future habitat characteristics Rainbow Trout will select for, based on past use. Hypotheses were 1: Tagged Rainbow Trout will leave the lower lacustrine zone during the summer period and select locations within the upper lacustrine and transitional zone. 2: Rainbow Trout will inhabit the upper hypolimnion and lower metalimnion for cooler water temperatures and higher DO during the summer period. To determine summer salmonid habitat utilization 20 and 25 triploid Rainbow Trout were acoustically tagged and released in Lake Spokane in the spring of 2017 and 2018 respectively. Weekly tracking events followed a pre-determined grid, and were conducted to determine location, water column depth, and water temperature for each tagged fish. Locations of the Rainbow Trout were then compared to the water quality (DO, pH, and temperature) from six to ten sampling locations. Parameters were collected on a bi-weekly basis from June to September, and monthly for May and October. Data analysis consisted of using tracking date to make monthly kernel density maps in Geographic Information Systems and a combination of tracking data and water quality data for a range bagging model in Program R. Monthly kernel density maps showed locations selected during two summers (2017 and 2018). The probability of presence of Rainbow Trout will be determined from water quality data and Rainbow Trout depth and temperature selections. Range bagging is the presence-only model in Program R that was used to store, average, and predict frequency of selections of depth, temperature, DO, and pH. Kernel density maps for 2017 and 2018 revealed similar patterns of selected locations. Early in the tracking season (July and April respectively) revealed Rainbow Trout primarily selecting areas in the mid-range of the lacustrine reach, with a few individuals within the mid-range of the transitional reach. As the tracking season progressed into late July, selections in 2018 were within the transitional reach unlike the previous year. August selections were nearly identical with Rainbow Trout selecting locations throughout the entire reservoir, except for the riverine reach. As temperatures cooled in September Rainbow Trout were found to school in similar areas throughout the mid-range of the lacustrine and transitional reaches. October was the only month that revealed different patterns of use between years. In 2017 the Rainbow Trout remained in small schools of fish in the two reaches, but in 2018 the fish exhibited the same pattern as August of both years. Depth selections in 2017 were more variable earlier in the season between 0 and 16 m. After the August 4th tracking event, depth selections averaged less than 6 m. Water temperatures were correlated with depths, fish that were shallow experienced warmer temperatures as high as 23.6 °C. As temperatures cooled, temperatures at the surface were as low as 8.4 °C. Depth selections in 2018 were more consistent across the entire season with two patterns being revealed. Either Rainbow Trout selected depths less than 6 m or were found between 6 and 15.6 m. Therefore Rainbow Trout experienced warmer temperatures of 18.0 to 20.4 °C during the peak of the season. Deeper fish were found at temperatures at, or below, 19.6 °C. When temperatures cooled, fish were found at 14.8 °C. Range bagging for both years revealed that Rainbow Trout were more likely to select intermediate water temperatures within the range of 0 to 30 °C and shallower depths (< 16 m) in the range of 0 to 20 m. With those selections falling between 10 and 22 °C and depths of 5 m or less. The predicted DO and temperature range bagging revealed that fish were going to select warmer temperatures (nearing 25 °C) at a wide range of DO between 4.0 and 13.0 mg/L. However, the 2018 model showed fewer Rainbow Trout selecting DO as low as 4.0 mg/L, falling between 5.0 and 11.0 mg/L. The final range bagging models for predicted DO and predicted pH revealed a wide range of DO being selected in 2017 with a higher probability of presence between 7.5 and 13.0 mg/L for 2018. Similarly, the predicted pH was over a wider range between 4 and 9 for 2017, but fell between 6 and 9 for 2018. The most surprising conclusions of this study were that Rainbow Trout were selecting depths within the epilimnion and upper metalimnion. Therefore were found at temperatures bordering the upper temperature limit at 20 °C and above. Furthermore, these fish selected locations throughout much of the reservoir during the warmest period of the season in August, the time period expected for Rainbow Trout to find cold-water refuge. Literature suggests that there were more location selections due to increased movement to locate coldwater refuge, perhaps not finding it, and surviving until temperatures cooled. Although they did not appear to be selecting the riverine section, as shown by the data, there were individuals that were not during the 2018 season, and then were found in the upper transitional reach. The lack of data for location selections within the riverine reach are believed to be due to the limitations of acoustic telemetry. Therefore, tracking adaptations would need to be made for future studies. The range bagging model could be improved with using water quality data set over a finer scale from a prediction model developed by Portland State University. For example, the probability of presence of Rainbow Trout were shown at DO levels as low as 4.0 mg/L, this could not occur because it is the level of asphyxiation. In addition to improving the predictive power of the range bagging model and changing tracking methods, a diet and growth study could be conducted to understand Rainbow Trout health. Although Rainbow Trout in this study were shown to have survived selecting warmer water temperatures, particularly in August, these fish may be thermally stressed and attempting to locate cold-water refuge. These fish may be pushed towards the surface due to lower DO levels near 5.0 mg/L. Although this is still within the suitable limit for Rainbow Trout to survive, it is not at 9.0 mg/L and above which are suggested when temperatures are ≥ 15.0 °C to reduce stress. Therefore, even though these selections are made, there is still concern for increasing water temperatures and low DO with climate change. Studies of Rainbow Trout responses to climate change and habitat selections and understand behavior under, what had traditionally been believed to be, marginal conditions.

Patterns Of Variation In The Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Of The Upper Columbia River, Wa, Sarah J. Hindle

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Chapter 1. Benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) assemblages are important in the field of aquatic ecology for assessing water quality and ecosystem health. However, knowledge of BMI community structure and seasonal patterns in large impounded rivers is relatively limited in scope. In the Upper Columbia River, WA, the BMI community is of particular concern due to hypothesized starvation of native fish larvae. The population of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) which inhabits the Upper Columbia and feeds primarily on BMIs has been experiencing high mortality rates at the onset of exogenous feeding, leading to chronic larval recruitment failure. To determine the potential suitability …

Acoustic Tracking Of Redband Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Myskiss Gairdneri) In Lake Roosevelt (2015-2016), Evaluation Of An Acoustic Receiver Array, And Low-Voltage Electroanesthesia For Tag Implantation., Bryan T. Witte

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Chapter 1. Telemetry methods are able to acquire knowledge of fish movements which are used for a variety of management decisions. Implanting tags for telemetry requires minor surgery and anesthesia. Anesthesia for tag implantation is typically achieved with chemicals. However, chemicals are inherently variable and have restrictions on their use. This has led to the use of alternative methods for achieving anesthesia such as low voltage electroanesthesia (LVEA). LVEA subjects fish to a continuous non-pulsed direct current to achieve anesthesia appropriate for tag implantation. Unlike chemicals fish are quickly anesthetized and recover from anesthesia instantaneously. My objectives were to subject …

Impact Of Prophylactic Intranasal Oxytocin Administration On Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress, Morgan A. Thomas

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that affects people after instances of severe emotional trauma. Research suggests that oxytocin treatment decreases PTSD symptoms. This study served to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin pre-treatment on symptoms related to PTSD. The hypotheses are that oxytocin will decrease fear and anxiety, and increase reward-seeking behaviors. Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to three groups (Control, Stress, Oxytocin, and Oxytocin+Stress; n=6 per group) to conduct this experiment. Prior to foot shock treatment, rats were trained to expect a food reward (Kellogg’s Froot Loops) in an open field enclosure. Subsequently, the Oxytocin …

Invasion Routes And Evolution Of Brook Stickleback (Culaea Inconstans) In Eastern Washington, Samuel Gunselman

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Chapter 1. Invasive species pose a serious threat to native ecosystems. In eastern Washington brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) is an important invasive species, especially at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, where they compete with waterfowl for food resources and are associated with declines in habitat quality. Understanding the invasion routes of this invasive species may help managers implement strategies to prevent further spread and mitigate damages caused by these fish. The objectives of this study were to identify the most likely point of brook stickleback invasion, to determine their most likely invasion routes, and to investigate landscape features and processes that …

Interactions Between Lake Trout And Bull Trout In The Priest Lake System, Idaho, Derek C. Entz

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Seasonal and directional movements, and distributions of Bull Trout and Lake Trout between Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake, Idaho, were studied from May 2015 to April 2017. Lake Trout (n=220) and Bull Trout (n=40) movements were monitored using Lotek JSATS transmitters and hydrophones both passively, using gate formations at either end of the Thorofare, and actively in both lakes. No significant difference was found between directional or seasonal movements of either species (P>0.05) and all movements were observed when water surface temperatures were below 15oC. Poisson regression analysis indicated that there were significantly more detections by the Upper …

Can Amphipods Be Used To Monitor Mining-Impacted Lakes?, Chantilly S. Higbee

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Metal pollution in aquatic systems is complicated and expensive to manage; establishing a sentinel species for contaminated habitats, rather than measuring abiotic parameters, can provide a more complete perspective of the impacts of pollutants. I conducted a dual field/laboratory study to determine whether an amphipod (Hyalella azteca) can serve as a sentinel in a mining-impacted area in Northern Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene (CDA) River Basin. My objectives in the field study were to (1) determine seasonal abundance and metal burden of amphipods in nine chain lakes and a reference lake (Benewah L.) and (2) compare aqueous trace metal levels and …

A Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment Of Two Streams On Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Tnwr), Sultan Mohammad Areshi

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This project focused on highly impacted streams at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Cheney, WA to evaluate the health status and ecosystem integrity of the water bodies. Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge contains over 3,000 acres of wetlands, and provides high quality habitat for migrating and breeding waterfowl. However, these wetlands are impacted by both high nutrient levels (Davidson and Rule 2006) and invasive fish (Scholz et al. 2003). This project focused on stream sections of the Company Ditch (CD) and Pine Draw (PD) watersheds. Company Ditch historically had very high nutrient levels and low water quality. Water quality may be improving …

An Observational Study Of Ticks On The 30 Acre Lake Trail At Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Robert E. Shadix Jr.

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Ticks are known carriers of bacterial pathogens that cause diseases in humans and other mammals. Hosts (mice, chipmunks, rabbits, deer, and elk) must be in the tick’s questing range to fulfill the life cycle. The questing range depends on the life stage of the tick, vegetation, and host accessibility. Mammal densities directly affect the number of questing ticks observed in the environment. The 30 Acre Lake Trail site was selected for this study due to the high density of Dermacentor species ticks observed in past studies and the only known site of Rickettsia rickettsii pathogen isolated from ticks on the …