Life Sciences Commons^™

Advancing Butterfly Systematics Through Genomic Analysis, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Within the framework of an ongoing comparative genomic study of global butterfly diversity, we construct phylogenetic trees combining all protein-coding genes assembled from the whole genome shotgun data. When viewed in the context of current taxonomy and phenotypic knowledge, the genome-wide phylogeny points to further advances in butterfly systematics, which are presented here. We assign major clades with comparable levels of genetic divergence to the same taxonomic rank and apply criteria involving relative population divergence and gene flow to define species boundaries. As a result, one genus, 13 subgenera, 62 species, and five subspecies are proposed as new (type species …

Pollinator Plant Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Hanen Van Rossem

Master's Theses

Historically the fire-dependent and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem was the dominant ecosystem of the Southeastern US. This ecosystem’s range was massively reduced due to land conversion and fire exclusion, causing the decline of many native species. Efforts to restore and protect longleaf pine stands are now ongoing with the goal of expanding habitat and refuge for threatened species. Differences in restoration practices and prior land use may influence the extent to which restored habitat patches can support pollinators and their plants. This study compared pollinator plant biodiversity between restored neighboring montane longleaf pine stands that differed in …

Genomic Structure Among Populations Of A Regionally Rare Perennial Plant Indicates The Need For Reevaluation Of Management Units, Cheyenne Moore, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Scott Schuette, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Conservation of rare species often relies on the delineation of management units and genomic tools can now be applied for this purpose. However, this is not as common on a local scale, where populations are often small and fragmented, despite the utility of informing conservation and management practice at the regional level. We use a genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach to assess the perennial riparian plant species Baptisia australis (Fabaceae) in Pennsylvania, where the taxon is at the edge of its natural distribution and considered threatened. In this system, we investigate whether sampled subpopulations exhibit genetic structure. We find that …

A Tale Of Two Asters: Resolving The Plant And Microbial Community Structure Of An Invasive And Native Forb, William Cartelli

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Old fields dominated by flowering forbs are frequent targets for ecological restoration, particularly because they are often inhabited by invasive species whose ecological effects remain context dependent and widely debated. While native plants are typically favored in restoration efforts, and invasive species viewed as threats to biodiversity, such classifications may oversimplify ecological function. This study investigates two dominant genera of the Asteraceae family —Centaurea stoebe (L) (non-native) and Solidago spp. (S. rugosa and S. canadensis, both native)—to examine whether biogeographic origin or ecological strategy more strongly influences their impact on above and below ground community structure. Despite their contrasting origins, …

Diversity And Habitat Use Of Bats In Modified Suburban Landscapes, Brittany Morgera

Biology Presentations

Bats occupy critical ecological niches and perform important ecosystem services like controlling insect populations. However, humans have altered bat habitat substantially, resulting in the reduction of bat populations. The goals of this research are to assess bat diversity and habitat use across different levels of suburban habitat modification. To accomplish this, we deployed passive acoustic recorders at twelve locations with varying human impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In accordance with The North American Bat Monitoring Program’s standards, acoustic analysis software was used to identify bat species. Manual identification methods from The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative were used to verify these …

Sustainable Forage Yield Improvement Through Perennial Grass–Legume Intercropping In Degraded Grasslands, Alina-Ștefania Stanciu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Grasslands constitute one of the largest terrestrial biomes, providing essential ecosystem services such as biodiversity preservation, food production, and climate change mitigation. Globally, the desertification and degradation of grasslands have been accelerated by intensified land use and climate change. It is crucial to conserve and restore grasslands to address climate and biodiversity challenges. However, due to their diverse nature and undervalued benefits for humans, grasslands have often been overlooked in terms of preservation, conservation, and restoration compared to forests. In sustainable agriculture, intercropping grasses with legumes can enhance crop nutritional quality, increase productivity, and impact soil microbiological activity, ultimately leading …

Role And Key Species Of Freshwater Snails In Enhancing Plant Growth Performance Of Duckweeds (Spirodela Polyrhiza) In Rice Paddy Fields, Dwi Harya Yudistira, Fariz Ardiansyah Gunawan, Shahla Aurelia Arif, Satoru Sato

Jurnal Kultivasi

Freshwater snails are widely distributed in the rice field ecosystem. Freshwater snails’ feeding and metabolic activities can potentially increase the complexity of freshwater ecosystems, particularly through the nutrient cycle. Cipangopaludina chinensis, Physa acuta, and Semisulcospira libertina are commonly found in Japan's paddy field ecosystems. Spirodela polyrhiza is expected to support biodiversity, improve soil fertility, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in paddy field ecosystems, while providing food and shelter for the snails. In this study, we investigated the effects of these three snail species on the growth of Spirodela polyrhiza. The results showed that the presence of P. acuta or C. …

Notable Hesperiidae Collected By Kilian Roever In Arizona, Usa, Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genomic analysis of Hesperiidae specimens collected by Kilian Roever in Arizona, USA, and deposited in the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity (Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, Florida, USA) confirms several published state species records, reveals that Cecropterus (Murgaria) markwalkeri Grishin, 2023, Telegonus (Telegonus) misitra (Plötz, 1881), and Epargyreus cruza Evans, 1952 have been found in Arizona with sequenced specimens representing first confirmed USA records of these three species, and allows us to discover new taxa Cecropterus (Murgaria) roeveri Grishin, sp. n. and Lerema (Lerema) ochrius occidus Grishin, ssp. n. This …

When Can We Detect Lianas From Space? Toward A Mechanistic Understanding Of Liana-Infested Forest Optics, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas, woody vines acting as structural parasites of trees, have profound effects on the composition and structure of tropical forests, impacting tree growth, mortality, and forest succession. Remote sensing could offer a powerful tool for quantifying the scale of liana infestation, provided the availability of robust detection methods. We analyze the consistency and global geographic specificity of spectral signals—reflectance across wavelengths—from liana-infested tree crowns and forest stands, examining the underlying mechanisms of these signals. We compiled a uniquely comprehensive database, including leaf reflectance spectra from 5424 leaves, fine-scale airborne reflectance data from 999 liana-infested canopies, and coarse-scale satellite reflectance data …

The Impact Of Anthropogenic Infrastructure On Avian Reproductive Success: A Study Of House Wrens In Proximity To Highways, Nana-Esi Irie Hanson, Medhavi Ambardar

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Road infrastructure has multifaceted effects on bird populations, influencing various aspects of their ecology and behaviour. I investigated the impact of road infrastructure, particularly highways, on the reproductive success of House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) in a rural area. I compared the reproductive success of House Wrens in sites close to a major highway (Sternberg Museum Nature Trail) with sites located farther away (along Big Creek) in Hays, KS. I hypothesized that House Wrens near highways would exhibit lower reproductive success. I recorded metrics of reproductive success, traffic volumes, and noise levels. House wrens at the Big Creek site had higher …

Forb Diversity Globally Is Harmed By Nutrient Enrichment But Can Be Rescued By Large Mammalian Herbivory, Rebecca A. Nelson, Lauren L. Sullivan, Erika Hersch-Green, Eric W. Seabloom, Elizabeth T. Borer, Pedro M. Tognetti, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Forbs (“wildflowers”) are important contributors to grassland biodiversity but are vulnerable to environmental changes. In a factorial experiment at 94 sites on 6 continents, we test the global generality of several broad predictions: (1) Forb cover and richness decline under nutrient enrichment, particularly nitrogen enrichment. (2) Forb cover and richness increase under herbivory by large mammals. (3) Forb richness and cover are less affected by nutrient enrichment and herbivory in more arid climates, because water limitation reduces the impacts of competition with grasses. (4) Forb families will respond differently to nutrient enrichment and mammalian herbivory due to differences in nutrient …

A Checklist Of The Bees Of Utah, Joseph S. Wilson, Anthony Hunsaker, Terry L. Griswold, Olivia Messinger Carril

Biology Faculty Publications

Understanding bee distributions is essential to protecting these vital pollinators. Since conservation efforts and policies are often made at the state level, maintaining state-specific bee species lists can aid conservationists and policy makers. While several North American state- and province-level bee species lists have been published, few exist for the arid western states, where bee diversity tends to be higher. Here we provide a bee species list for Utah, compiled from online occurrence records from the Symbiota Collection of Arthropods Network (SCAN) and specimen records housed in the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insect Research Unit (BBSL). In total we document 1167 bee …

Initial Responses Of Carabidae (Coleoptera) To Intensive Biomass Harvesting And Soil Compaction In Aspen Stands Of The Huron-Manistee National Forest, Oscoda County, Michigan, Robert Haack, Robert E. Acciavatti, Robert L. Davidson, Toby Petrice

The Great Lakes Entomologist

During the 1990s, the United States Forest Service implemented several studies to measure the impacts of organic matter removal and soil compaction on forest productivity in forest ecosystems throughout the country. One site was in northeastern Lower Michigan on the Huron-Manistee National Forest in Oscoda County. This site was dominated by mature quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata Michx.) growing on sandy loam soils. The three organic-matter removal treatments at the site included: 1. stem-only harvesting (SOH); 2. whole-tree harvesting (WTH); and 3. whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (FFR). The three soil compaction …

Integrated Gamebird Farming As An Incentive To Promote Biodiversity And Conservation Of Rangelands, P J. Wiljoen, C R. Hurt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The popularity of gamebird hunting as a sport in Southern Africa serves as an incentive to rangeland owners to increase biodiversity on their properties. Gamebird utilisation is compatible with virtually all forms of land use, be it crop, domestic stock or wildlife production or a combination thereof, The range in habitat requirements, behaviour patterns and feeding niches of indigenous gameblrds ensures that at least one species is compatible with a specific agricultural practice, climate or vegetation type. Marginal and wasteland areas such as marsl}es, gullies, road verges and rocky outcrops, are prime gamebird production areas. The prospects of sport and …

Conservation Of Biodiveristy In Managed Rangelands, With Special Emphasis On The Ecological Effects Of Large Grazing Ungulates, Domestic And Wild, Patrick Duncan, Peter J. Jarman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Biodiversily with its different components (genes, species and ecosystems) is defined in relation to rangelands, whose Importance in its conservation is described. At the fine scale grasslands are much more diverse than tropical rain forest, and are comparably diverse at a regional scale, at least in Africa. Rangelands are crucially important world wide for 1he conservation of plants, and also for birds and large mammalian herbivores. Large ungulates (and other large herbivores) ace "keystone" species in these·ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the maintenance of diverse communities of plants, birds and invertebrates associated with such grasslands. Modification of the natural …

Climate Change Aggravates Bird Mortality In Pristine Tropical Forests, Jared Wolfe, David A. Luther, Vitek Jirinec, Jeremy Collings, Erik I. Johnson, Robert O. Bierregaard, Philip C. Stouffer

Michigan Tech Publications

Stable understory microclimates within undisturbed rainforests are often considered refugia against climate change. However, this assumption contrasts with emerging evidence of Neotropical bird population declines in intact rainforests. We assessed the vulnerability of resident rainforest birds to climatic variability, focusing on dry season severity characterized by hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall. Analyzing 4264 individual bird captures over 27 years, we found that harsher Amazonian dry seasons significantly reduced apparent survival for 24 of 29 species, with longer-lived species being more strongly affected. Our model predicted that a 1°C increase in average dry season temperature would reduce the mean apparent survival …

The Role Of Anthropogenic Influences On A Tropical Lake Ecosystem And Its Surrounding Catchment: A Case Study Of Lake Sentani, Sulung Nomosatryo, Daniel Lipus, Alexander Bartholomäus, Cynthia Henny, Iwan Ridwansyah, Puguh Sujarta, Sizhong Yang, Dirk Wagner, Jens Kallmeyer

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Lake Sentani is a tropical lake in Indonesia, consisting of four interconnected sub-basins of different water depths. While previous work has highlighted the impact of catchment composition on biogeochemical processes in Lake Sentani, little is currently known about the microbiological characteristics across this unique ecosystem. With recent population growth in this historically rural area, the anthropogenic impact on Lake Sentani and hence its microbial life is also increasing. Therefore, we aimed to explore the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the microbial diversity of Lake Sentani. Here, we present a detailed microbiological evaluation of Lake Sentani, analyzing 49 different …

Land Use Change Consistently Reduces Α- But Not Β- And Γ-Diversity Of Bees., Toby P N Tsang, A A Amado De Santis, Gabriela Armas-Quiñonez, John S Ascher, Eva Samanta Ávila-Gómez, András Báldi, Kimberly M Ballare, Mario V Balzan, Weronika Banaszak-Cibicka, Svenja Bänsch, Yves Basset, Adam J Bates, Jessica M Baumann, Mariana Beal-Neves, Ashley Bennett, Antonio Diego M Bezerra, Betina Blochtein, Riccardo Bommarco, Berry Brosi, Laura A Burkle, Luísa G Carvalheiro, Ignacio Castellanos, Marcela Cely-Santos, Hamutahl Cohen, Drissa Coulibaly, Saul A Cunningham, Sarah Cusser, Isabelle Dajoz, Deborah A Delaney, Ek Del-Val, Monika Egerer, Markus P Eichhorn, Eunice Enríquez, Martin H Entling, Natalia Escobedo-Kenefic, Pedro Maria Abreu Ferreira, Gordon Fitch, Jessica R K Forrest, Valérie Fournier, Robert Fowler, Breno M Freitas, Hannah R Gaines-Day, Benoît Geslin, Jaboury Ghazoul, Paul Glaum, Jose L Gonzalez-Andujar, Adrian González-Chaves, Heather Grab, Claudio Gratton, Solène Guenat, Catalina Gutiérrez-Chacón, Mark A Hall, Mick E Hanley, Annika Hass, Ernest Ireneusz Hennig, Martin Hermy, Juliana Hipólito, Andrea Holzschuh, Sebastian Hopfenmüller, Keng-Lou James Hung, Kristoffer Hylander, Jordi Izquierdo, Mary A Jamieson, Birgit Jauker, Steve Javorek, Shalene Jha, Björn K Klatt, David Kleijn, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki, Jochen Krauss, Michael Kuhlmann, Patricia Landaverde-González, Tanya Latty, Misha Leong, Susannah B Lerman, Yunhui Liu, Ana Carolina Pereira Machado, Anson Main, Rachel Mallinger, Yael Mandelik, Bruno Ferreira Marques, Kevin Matteson, Frédéric Mccune, Ling-Zeng Meng, Jean Paul Metzger, Paula María Montoya-Pfeiffer, Carolina Morales, Lora Morandin, Jane Morrison, Sonja Mudri-Stojnić, Pakorn Nalinrachatakan, Olivia Norfolk, Mark Otieno, Mia G Park, Stacy M Philpott, Gideon Pisanty, Montserrat Plascencia, Simon G Potts, Eileen F Power, Kit Prendergast, Robyn D Quistberg, Davi De Lacerda Ramos, André Rodrigo Rech, Victoria Reynolds, Miriam H Richards, Stuart P M Roberts, Malena Sabatino, Ulrika Samnegård, Hillary Sardiñas, Karina Sánchez-Echeverría, Fernanda Teixeira Saturni, Jeroen Scheper, Amber R Sciligo, C Sheena Sidhu, Brian J Spiesman, Tuanjit Sritongchuay, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Katharina Stein, Alyssa B Stewart, Jane C Stout, Hisatomo Taki, Pornpimon Tangtorwongsakul, Caragh G Threlfall, Carla Faleiro Tinoco, Teja Tscharntke, Katherine J Turo, Chatura Vaidya, Rémy Vandame, Carlos H Vergara, Blandina F Viana, Eric Vides-Borrell, Natapot Warrit, Elisabeth Webb, Catrin Westphal, Jennifer B Wickens, Neal M Williams, Nicholas S G Williams, Caleb J Wilson, Panlong Wu, Elsa Youngsteadt, Yi Zou, Lauren C Ponisio, Timothy C Bonebrake

Entomology Faculty Publications

Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e., γ-diversity), either due to reduced β-diversity amplifying diversity loss or increased β-diversity dampening diversity loss. Additionally, studies often focus on taxonomic diversity, while other important biodiversity components, including phylogenetic diversity, can exhibit differential responses. Here, we evaluated how agricultural and urban land use alters the taxonomic and phylogenetic α-, β-, and γ-diversity of an important pollinator taxon-bees. Using a multicontinental dataset of 3117 bee …

Looking For Manna, Dung, And Craters - Uncovering Hidden Diversity In Circinaria Lichens, Lizzie Perry, Ginny Basset, Steve Leavitt

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

• Lichens, symbiotic partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic organisms, are often overlooked in biodiversity studies due to their cryptic nature. The lichen genus, Circinaria —historically, described as “Manna Lichens”, “crater lichens”, “pigeon dung lichens”, and “excrement of the earth”¹ —remains understudied.
• This genus includes approximately 40 formally described species worldwide, however, only 13 have been documented in North America³.
• To better understand species-level diversity of Circinaria in Western North America, we used an integrated data set – DNA, morphology, and ecology – to characterize diversity and delimit potential candidate species.

A New Species Of Allotriopsis Champion From Guatemala (Coleoptera: Elateridae), E. R. Fuller

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

Allotriopsis schusteri Fuller (Coleoptera: Elateridae), new species, is described from cloud forest habitat in Zacapa Department, Guatemala, and compared with Allotriopsis nasalis Champion from Quezaltenango Department, Guatemala.

Resumen

Se describe Allotriopsis schusteri Fuller (Coleoptera: Elateridae), nueva especie, del hábitat del bosque nuboso en el departamento de Zacapa, Guatemala, y se compara con Allotriopsis nasalis Champion del departamento de Quezaltenango, Guatemala.

The Arctic Ocean Region : Biodiversity, Governance And Protective Measures, Antonios Andreadakis, Graeme Chesters, Dimitrios Dalaklis, 90 North Foundation

Reports

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• The Arctic Ocean region stands at the forefront of global environmental transformation, serving as a harbinger of climate change and a frontier for emergent geopolitical and economic interests.

• The Arctic region's economic potential, particularly in shipping and resource extraction, appears to offer shorter trade routes, reduced fuel consumption, and increased access to high-value resources. However, this analysis largely ignores the complex geo-physical, environmental and geographical limitations of the region.

• The fragility of Arctic Ocean ecosystems – characterized by slow ecological recovery, specialised biodiversity, and extreme environmental conditions – renders them especially vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. …

The Future Of Shipping At The Biodiversity-Climate Nexus : Round Table Report, Mary S. Wisz, Fabio Berzaghi, Mikaela Gomez, Maud C. Quinzin, Renis Auma Ojwala, Emily Nuckolls

Reports

This report presents the outcomes of a cross-disciplinary Round Table hosted by the World Maritime University (WMU) from May 13-15, 2024, in Malmö, Sweden. The event brought together 51 experts from academia, industry, NGOs, and international organizations, including the IMO, to explore shipping’s role at the biodiversity-climate nexus. The Round Table had a particular focus on the impacts of shipping that are currently unregulated or under-regulated, and opportunities to address biodiversity loss and pollution as the sector decarbonizes. The report highlights the need to apply comprehensive, ecosystem-based approaches to effectively manage shipping's impacts, including cumulative impacts, on the environment, people, …

Bioremediation In The Chesapeake Bay: Anthropogenic Ocean Acidification Mitigation In An Interactive Multi-Trophic Ecosystem, Cree Taylor

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Zostera marina is a species of marine macrophyte that has been largely prioritized in past submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration initiatives within the Chesapeake Bay because of its 1) previous abundance, 2) demonstrated carbon burial abilities, and 3) observed ability for meadows of Z. marina to ameliorate low pH conditions. Due to the temperature variability and poor water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, Z. Marina beds have experienced several die-off events with limited capacity for regrowth. Ruppia maritima, an opportunistic species with tolerance to temperature shifts within the bay, may have the potential to maintain SAV coverage in areas …

Biotime 2.0: Expanding And Improving A Database Of Biodiversity Time Series, Maria Dornelas, Laura H. Antão, Amanda E. Bates, Viviana Brambilla, Jonathan M. Chase, Cher F. Y. Chow, Ada Fontrodona-Eslava, Anne E. Magurran, Inês S. Martins, Faye Moyes, Alban Sagouis, Samuel Adu-Acheampong, Daniel Acquah-Lamptey, Dušan Adam, Penelope A. Ajani, Aitor Albaina, Pablo Almaraz, Jeongseop An, Roger Sigismund Anderson, Madelaine Jean Robertson Anderson, Alexsander Z. Antunes, Ivan Arismendi, Linda Armbrecht, Pedro Aros-Mardones, Sreejith Kalpuzha Ashtamoorthy, Narayanan Ayyappan, Gal Badihi, Joseph J. Bailey, Andrew H. Baird, Mark Edward Baird, Sreekumar Vadakkethil Balakrishnan, José António L. Barão-Nóbrega, Adi Barash, Miguel Barbosa, Jos Barlow, Claus Bässler, Matthieu Beaumont, Natalie Beenaerts, Tiago Octavio Begot, Wallace Beiroz, Ricardo Beldade, David M. Bell, Alecia Bellgrove, Jonathan Belmaker, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Cassandra E. Benkwitt, Pamela Medina-Van Berkum, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Matthew C. Betts, Maxwell Kelvin Billah, Anne D. Bjorkman, Magdalena Błażewicz, Christopher P. Bloch, Shane A. Blowes, Antonio Bode, Juliano A. Bogoni, Thomas Bolger, Timothy C. Bonebrake, Erik Bonsdorff, Roberta Bottarin, Luke N. Brokensha, Rob W. Brooker, Andrew J. Brooks, Helge Bruelheide, Thiago Almeida Bueno, Claire Laguionie, Mariana Lopes Campagnoli, James Cant, Erica Pellegrini Caramaschi, Alexandre Caron, Tadhg Carroll, Tancredi Caruso, Juan Carvajal-Quintero, Giuseppe Castaldelli, Edward Castañeda-Moya, Pedro V. Castilho, Sonia Zanini Cechin, Shahar Chaikin, Uchangi Manjunatha Chandrashekara, Tory J. Chase, Chaolun Allen Chen, Jorge José Cherem, Sei-Woong Choi, Erica M. Christensen, Alexander V. Christianini, Jackson Wing Four Chu, Peter Coad, Carl Van Colen, Lise Comte, Elisabeth J. Cooper, J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Eddy Cosson, Unai Cotano, Luc Crevecoeur, Shannan Kyle Crow, Graeme S. Cumming, Vanessa S. Daga, Gabriella Damasceno, Gergana N. Daskalova, Claire H. Davies, Robert A. Davis, Frank P. Day, Sussy De-La-Zerda, Amy Elizabeth Deacon, Indradatta De Castro-Arrazola, Steven Degraer, Kharran Deonarinesingh, Juan C. Diaz-Ricaurte, Christopher R. Dickman, Tara Dirilgen, Ciaran John Dolan, J. Emmett Duffy, Timothy E. Dunn, Giselda Durigan, Ciara Dwyer, Steven Earl, Dor Edelist, Graham John Edgar, Sally Edmonson, Ashley K. Elgin, Kari Elsa Ellingsen, Sarah C. Elmendorf, Ruth S. Eriksen, S. K. Morgan Ernest, Ruben Escribano, Paula Cabral Eterovick, Brian S. Evans, Jason D. Everett, Vesela Evtimova, Dan A. Exton, Andrew J. Fairbairn, Filipe Moreli Fantacini, Fabiano Turini Farah, Fábio Zanella Farneda, Mario E. Favila, Philippe Fernandez-Fournier, Braulio Fernández-Zapata, Diogo F. Ferreira, Carola Ferronato, Christopher R. Du Feu, Alessandra Fidelis, David A. Fifield, Vilmar Picinatto Filho, Walter Mesquita Filho, Robert N. L. Fitt, Carlos A. H. Flechtmann, William R. Fraser, Donna L. Fraser, Lídia Freixas, John Fryxell, Garrett J. Fundakowski, Scott Stanley Gabara, Elise Gallois, Mariana Garcia Criado, Emili García-Berthou, Joaquim Garrabou, Andrew R. Gates, Roberto Cazzola Gatti, Anna Gavioli, Tal Gavriel, Benoit Gendreau-Berthiaume, Xingli Giam, Carina Gjerdrum, Michael Glemnitz, Jasmin Annica Godbold, Daniel Gómez-Gras, Rodrigo Barbosa Gonçalves, Andy Goold, Richard R. Gordon, Menachem Goren, Fernando Vilas Boas Goulart, William G. Gould, Meagan M. Graboski, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Maurício Eduardo Graipel, Laura J. Grange, Aaron C. Greenville, Gary D. Grossman, Valeria A. Guinder, Peter Haase, Gary N. Haskins, Kris Havstad, Luise Hermanutz, Michael Julian Hames Hickford, Pamela Hidalgo, Pedro Higuchi, Andrew S. Hoey, Gert Van Hoey, Annika Hofgaard, Kristen T. Holeck, Robert D. Hollister, Richard T. Holmes, Mia Odell Hoogenboom, Joaquín Hortal, Tammy Horton, Chih-Hao Hsieh, Christine L. Huffard, Ida-Maria Huikkonen, Allen H. Hurlbert, Julian Hynes, Pascal Irz, Natalia Macedo Ivanauskas, Akemi Iwayama, Darren K. James, Ute Jandt, Anna M. Jażdżewska, Merlijn Jocque, Sophie T. Johnston, Samuel E. I. Jones, Faith A. M. Jones, Julia A. Jones, Edite Jucevica, Ugis Kagainis, Maiko Kagami, Jungwon Kang, Xuejia Ke, Erin Colleen Keeley, Rebecca Kinnear, Kari Klanderud, Uwe Klinck, Roel Van Klink, Stefan Klotz, Carolien Kockaert, Halvor Knutsen, Matti Koivula, Alessandra Kortz, Peter Kriegel, Chao-Yang Kuo, David J. Kushner, Rosina Kyerematen, Raphaël Lagarde, Lesley T. Lancaster, Ori Frid Landau, Wouter Van Landuyt, Eric R. Larson, Mai Lazarus, Cheol Min Lee, Jonathan S. Lefcheck, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Renato A. Ferreira De Lima, Romullo Guimarães Lima, Nathália G. S. Lima, Cristina Linares, Sandra C. Lindstrom, Francisco Lloret, John David Lloyd, Cleonice Maria Cardoso Lobato, David M. Lodge, Peter Richard Long, Celeste López-Abbate, Adrià López-Baucells, Julio Louzada, Maite Louzao, Antonella Lugliè, Micheli Ribeiro Luiz, S. Ellen Macdonald, Joshua S. Madin, André Lincoln Barroso Magalhães, Rajindra Mahabir, David Maphisa, Thomas Edward Martin, Marcio Martins, Patrick T. Martone, Silvia Matesanz, Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki, Thomas J. Matthews, Iain Mccombe Matthews, Connie J. Maxwell, Kent P. Mcfarland, Brian J. Mcgill, Diane Marie Mcknight, Michael J. Mcwilliam, Jason Meador, Henning Meesenburg, Kristin Meier, Viesturs Melecis, Peter L. Meserve, Christoph F. J. Meyer, Anders Michelsen, Natali Olivia Roman Miiller, Marco Milardi, Nataliya Milchakova, Robert J. Miller, Jonathan Millett, Tom Moens, Luciano F. A. Montag, Jon Moore, Jörg Müller, Akhil Murali, Shauna Ann Murray, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Randall W. Myster, Masahiro Nakamura, Sasi Nayar, Francis Neat, James A. Nelson, Michael Paul Nelson, Boris P. Nikolov, Rym Nouioua, Collins Ayine Nsor, Michael O' Connor, Edward Adzesiwor Obodai, Amy Marie Offland, Romà Ogaya, Hisako Ogura, Thomas A. Okey, Julian D. Olden, Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues Oliveira-Santos, Jeffrey C. Oliver, Esben Moland Olsen, Vladimir G. Onipchenko, Daniel Oro, Dais Ozolins, Krzysztof Pabis, Bachisio Mario Padedda, Facundo X. Palacio, Alain Paquette, Sinta Trilestari Pardede, David M. Patersib, Sarah Pausina, Raphaël Pélissier, Steven C. Pennings, Josep Penuelas, Felipe Walter Pereira, Nivaldo Peroni, Sergio Picó, Francesca Pilotto, Hudson Tercio Pinheiro, Oscar Pizarro, Roberto Pizzolotto, Francesco Pomati, Paulo Santos Pompeu, Dominique Ponton, Eric Post, Nicolas Poulet, Juha Pöyry, Steven J. Presley, Herbert H. T. Prins, Pieter Provoost, Kathleen L. Prudic, Vignesh Punjayil, Petr Pyšek, Pascal Querner, Juan Pablo Quimbayo, Indar W. Ramnarine, Daniel C. Reed, Peter Bernard Reich, Suzanne M. Remillard, Cerren Richards, Anthony James Richardson, Itai Van Rijin, Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Christian Rixen, Kevin Peter Robinson, Ricardo Rocha, Ricardo R. Rodrigues, Cassy Rodrigues, Bjørn De Roos, Denise De C. De Rossa-Feres, Loreta Rosselli, Peter Charles Rothlisberg, Ana Rubio, Lars G. Rudstam, Catalina S. Ruz, Nancy B. Rybicki, Gunther Van Ryckegem, Andrew L. Rypel, Jon P. Sadler, Victor Satoru Saito, Sofia Sal, Renato Portela Salomão, Nathan J. Sanders, Flavio A. M. Santos, Tiago Gomes Dos Santos, Swapan Kumar Sarker, Sara E. Scanga, Marcus Schaub, Jochen Schmidt, Inger Kappel Schmidt, Robert L. Schooley, Alfred Schultz, Alberto Scotti, Amanda Serpell-Stevens, Filipe C. Serrano, Elizabeth H. Shadwick, Matthew Shaft, Thomas W. Sherry, Erika Mayumi Shimabukuro, Jacek Siciński, Caya Sievers, Fernando Rodrigues Da Silva, Ana Carolina Da Silva, Juliana M. Silveira, Tadeu Siqueira, Arunkumar Kavidapadinjattathil Sivadasan, Prasad Theruvil Parambil Sivan, Agnija Skuja, Amalia L. Slaughter, Jasper A. Slingsby, Joseph R. Smith, Bruno Eleres Soares, Martin Solan, Flaviana Maluf Souza, Gabriel B. G. Souza, Joshua L. Sprague, Ulrich Stachow, J. John Stadt, Christopher D. Stallings, Radoslav Hristov Stanchev, Emily H. Stanley, Brian M. Starzomski, Jose Mauro Sterza, Maarten Stevens, F. Gary Stiles, Stefan Stoll, Rick D. Stuart-Smith, Yzel Rondon Súarez, Laura Super, Sarah R. Supp, Tapio Sutela, Iain M. Suthers, Anna Suuronen, Kerrie M. Swadling, Daniel K. Szydlowski, Hisatomo Taki, Sara Jeanne Snell Taylor, Pablo A. Tedesco, Nils Teichert, Akira Terui, Gary P. Thiede, Anne Thimonier, Oliver Thomas, Peter Allan Thompson, Simon Thorn, Jeremy S. Tiemann, Luís Felipe Toledo, Anne Tolvanen, Maria Teresa Zugliani Toniato, Ignasi Torre, Marcos Adriano Tortato, Kumiko Totsu, Andrew Trant, Robert R. Twilley, Hirokazu Urabe, Pierre Valade, Nelson Valdivia, Martha Isabel Vallejo, Thomas J. Valone, Jan Vanaverbeke, Tiago Silveira Vasconcelos, Teppo Vehanen, Fábio Venturoli, Hans M. Verheye, Hendrik Jannes Wietse Vermeulen, Arne Verstraeten, Marcelo Vianna, Rui Vieira, João Paulo Santos Vieira-Alencar, Marc Vilella, Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule, Lien Van Vu, Robert B. Waide, Paige S. Warren, Joseph Paul Wayman, Sara L. Webb, Benjamin Weigel, Ellen A. R. Welti, Fritha West, Fulgor Westermann, Matthew A. Whalen, Ethan P. White, Claire E. Widdicombe, Richard Williams, Mark Williamson, Michael R. Willig, Sonja Wipf, Eric J. Woehler, Alje Woldering, Kerry D. Woods, Wu-Bing Xu, Ruthy Yahel, Zeren Yang, Kyle J. A. Zawada, Camila Zornosa-Torres, Assaf Zvuloni

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Motivation: Here, we make available a second version of the BioTIME database, which compiles records of abundance estimates for species in sample events of ecological assemblages through time. The updated version expands version 1.0 of the database by doubling the number of studies and includes substantial additional curation to the taxonomic accuracy of the records, as well as the metadata. Moreover, we now provide an R package (BioTIMEr) to facilitate use of the database.

Main Types of Variables Included: The database is composed of one main data table containing the abundance records and 11 metadata tables. The data are organised …

A Vascular Flora Of The Sacatar Trail Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California, Kimberly Schaefer Pivetti

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The Sacatar Trail Wilderness in Inyo and Tulare counties, California, encompasses a bioregional transition zone in the southeastern Sierra Nevada. The ca. 233 km 2 (90 mi 2 ) study area, located 32 km (20 mi) northwest of the city of Ridgecrest, ranges from 930 to 2698 m (3051–8851 ft) in elevation. The highly diverse California Floristic Province, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert converge in the region including the Wilderness creating conditions to support a broad spectrum of vegetation assemblages. The Bureau of Land Management has prohibited vehicular activity in this area since its wilderness designation in 1994; consequently, recent …

Analog Digital Frame: User Centered Design In Arts-Based Neighborhood Resilience Modeling, David Robledo, Sydney F. Walker, Zlatka Rebolledo Sánchez, Richard Nickel

English Faculty Publications

We explicate a mapping of digital documents through computer machinery as an analog frame for Research and Design in neighborhood environmental literacy, within an applied interdisciplinary ecosystem theory. In the arena of communicating localized climate phenomena and solutions, the design of communication frameworks has provided a core methodology to map climate adaptive conclusions as analogs for actionable community interpretive media. In this experience report, we articulate User Centered Design (UCD) in project research and development, while reporting on difficulties and solutions in shaping an analog digital frame to integrate student driven research and design with mentor based interdisciplinary project theorization. …

A Multi-Objective Optimization Model For Cropland Design Considering Profit, Biodiversity, And Ecosystem Services, Caleb H. Geissler, Nathan L. Haan, Bruno Basso, Ames Fowler, Douglas A. Landis, Tyler J. Lark, Christos T. Maravelias

Entomology Faculty Publications

More sustainable agricultural methods are needed to alleviate the decreases in biodiversity and ecosystem services that have occurred because of industrial agriculture. One such method is the inclusion of alternative crops into croplands that can support biodiversity, reduce erosion and chemical runoff, and sequester carbon in the soil. However, the question of where such crops should be planted to balance competing economic and environmental objectives remains open. To this end, we develop a mixed-integer quadratically constrained program to optimize the layout of a cropland considering economic, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and water quality objectives. We include spatially varying fertilization as …

Using Lateral Flow Assay To Assess The Prevalence Of Trachemys Hybridization, Lillian Groves

Honors Program Theses

The current study focuses on Trachemys species, which is a group of freshwater turtles found throughout the Greater Antilles. The role of studying an isolated island, such as the Dominican Republic, is significant because it serves as a way to better understand how the combined effects of species migration, mass tourism, and climate change can greatly impact isolated species. Of particular significance is how these forces interact in complex ways to reshape habitats and threaten biodiversity. Additionally, the introduction of a highly invasive species, Trachemys scripta elegans (T. scripta), in this environment pressures native species by acting as a source …

Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations, Angie M. Martin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Arthropods, or phylum Arthropoda, are the largest group of animals, accounting for over three quarters of all animal records on NCBI Taxonomy. And yet, only 40% of all deposited sequences on NCBI Nucleotide come from arthropods. Clearly, arthropods are an understudied group of animals: they are small, often drab, and lead lives very alien to our own. Arthropods have chitinous exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, and include crabs, barnacles, insects, spiders, and millipedes. Since the era of DNA based studies took off in the 1980s, DNA and other small molecules have been integral to our understanding of the Earth …

A Blueprint To Greener Shorelines: Advancing The Effectiveness, Sustainability, And Widespread Adoption Of Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Through Transdisciplinary Research, Taylor M. Sloey, Sierra Hildebrandt, Rebecca L. Morris, Matthew V. Bilskie, Aaron Bland, David Bushek, Gabriella Dipetto, Daniel Elefant, Vincent Encomio, Ramin Familkhalili, Christine Hladik, Danielle Kreeger, Avery B. Paxton, Cindy M. Palinkas, Latina Steele, Andrew Scheld, Daisuke Taira, Jason D. Toft, Armando J. Ubeda, Christine Whitcraft, Donna Marie Bilkovic

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Coastal nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as powerful tools to enhance sustainable development and ecological restoration goals. As a rapidly growing field spanning across social, political, ecological, economic, and engineering disciplines, it is critical that researchers working in coastal NbS regularly attempt to identify emerging focal areas for scientific inquiry. Following the 27th Biennial meeting of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, we provide a transdisciplinary perspective (including biologists, engineers, oceanographers, geoscientists, economists, and facilitators of workforce training programs) of pertinent research questions that, if answered, will advance the effectiveness, sustainability, and widespread adoption of coastal NbS. These suggestions for …