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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Factors Affecting Growth And Survival Of Snowy Egret Nestlings, Lisa Borgia
Factors Affecting Growth And Survival Of Snowy Egret Nestlings, Lisa Borgia
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
It is widely believed that wading birds in the Everglades have declined as a result of historic water management practices. I determined growth rates for Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) chicks by assessed the nestling body condition through measurement of body weight and skeletal traits. A growth index was calculated as a residual of body weight regressed on age. A body condition index was calculated as the residual of body weight regressed on a skeletal trait (tarsus). Growth was significantly related to water level and hatch date. Survival rates were calculated to day 14, 21, and 50. Survival to …
The Rodent Fauna Of Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park: A Comparison Of Habitat Types, Carlos J. Calandriello
The Rodent Fauna Of Long Pine Key, Everglades National Park: A Comparison Of Habitat Types, Carlos J. Calandriello
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Rodents are often involved at several stages of trophic dynamics. Consequently they often play crucial roles in the structure and function of many complex ecological systems. This study sought to address the lack of baseline data concerning rodents in tropical areas, and south Florida in particular. Live trapping took place in the four major habitat types of the Long Pine Key area of Everglades National Park over the course of one year. I compared population structures and abundance of murid rodents in the four habitat types, and tested multiple weather variables for their effectiveness as predictors of rodent abundance. I …
The Exchange Of Carbon, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus In Dwarf And Fringe Mangroves Of The Oligotrophic Southern Everglades, Stephen Edwards Davis Iii
The Exchange Of Carbon, Nitrogen, And Phosphorus In Dwarf And Fringe Mangroves Of The Oligotrophic Southern Everglades, Stephen Edwards Davis Iii
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Water management has altered both the natural timing and volume of freshwater delivered to Everglades National Park. This is especially true for Taylor Slough and the C - lll basin, as hypersaline events in Florida Bay have been linked to reduced freshwater flow in this area. In light of recent efforts to restore historical flows to the eastern Everglades, an understanding of the impact of this hydrologic shift is needed in order to predict the trajectory of restoration. I conducted a study to assess the importance of season, water chemistry, and hydrologic conditions on the exchange of nutrients in dwarf …
Omnivory And Periphyton Mats: Uncoupling And Quantifying Consumer Effects In The Florida Everglades, Pamela Geddes
Omnivory And Periphyton Mats: Uncoupling And Quantifying Consumer Effects In The Florida Everglades, Pamela Geddes
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The role of omnivores in structuring communities is poorly understood. I studied the effect of two abundant omnivores, grass shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosas) and eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), on periphyton biomass of the Florida Everglades. I performed field experiments to test for consumer top-down and “complex” top-down effects on periphyton biomass. My experiments suggested that shrimp and mosquitofish had consumptive effects on periphyton but in many instances, periphyton wet weight, AFDM, and chlorophyll a increased significantly with shrimp or fish density, suggesting compensation by nutrient regeneration or trophic cascade processes. I propose that characteristic periphyton mat structure and integrity deters herbivory …
Phenylheptatriyne Variation In Bidens Alba Var. Radiata Leaves, Emily Gayle Cantonwine
Phenylheptatriyne Variation In Bidens Alba Var. Radiata Leaves, Emily Gayle Cantonwine
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Variation of phenylheptatriyne (PHT) concentrations in leaves of Bidens alba (Linn.) var. radiata (Schultz-Bip.) was investigated across it's Florida range, throughout the year and in response to photoenvironment. Natural surveys of PHT concentrations in B. alba leaves were done at 13 sites in Florida and three sites throughout the year. PHT concentrations were significantly different between populations (p<0.001) but showed little relationship with latitude (R2 =0.024) and none with longitude. Concentrations in leaves fluctuated throughout the year (p<0.001). They were highest in October, followed by June and lowest in January and April. Photoenvironmental influences were experimentally tested. PHT concentrations decreased under low R/FR treatments and increased under filtered UV treatments. Low light quantity did not significantly influence PHT concentrations but decreased PHT levels and leaf biomass. The results suggests that PHT concentrations in B. alba leaves vary in nature and that light quality, R/FR and UV, may effect PHT biosynthesis.