Life Sciences Commons^™

Homogenization Of Forest Plant Communities And Weakening Of Species-Environment Relationships Via Agricultural Land Use, Mark Vellend, Kris Verheyen, Kathryn M. Flinn, Hans Jacquemyn, Annette Kolb, Hans Van Calster, George Peterken, Bente Jessen Graae, Jesse Bellemare, Olivier Honnay, Jörg Brunet, Monika Wulf, Fritz Gerhardt, Martin Hermy

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Disturbance may cause community composition across sites to become more or less homogenous, depending on the importance of different processes involved in community assembly. In north-eastern North America and Europe local (alpha) diversity of forest plants is lower in forests growing on former agricultural fields (recent forests) than in older (ancient) forests, but little is known about the influence of land-use history on the degree of compositional differentiation among sites (beta diversity). Here we analyse data from 1446 sites in ancient and recent forests across 11 different landscapes in north-eastern North America and Europe to demonstrate decreases in beta diversity …

Satellite Image Processing For Biodiversity Conservation And Environmental Modeling In Kyrgyz Republic National Park, Galina N. Fet

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

There is a need for extensive surveys of living organisms at a global scale; digital data exchange and storage is an essential part of such studies. Biodiversity inventory of fungi, which play an essential role in the health of the mountainous conifer forests of a developing country – Kyrgyz Republic, was linked to the vegetation classification produced from the high-resolution satellite imagery. Terra ASTER and SRTM90 imagery was used as a base map for the ecosystem modeling of the species and habitat distribution and for the three-dimensional representation, especially valuable for the mountainous landscapes of the Ala Archa National Park. …

Biodiversity In Space And Time: Towards A Grid Mapping For Mongolia, Michael Stubbe, Annegret Stubbe, Henrik Von Wehrden, Nayamsuren Batsaikhan, Ravčigijn Samjaa

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei / Exploration into the Biological Resources of Mongolia, ISSN 0440-1298

In the future, grid mapping of animal and plant organisms will also play a major role in Mongolia. Based on geographical coordinates, a grid with a resolution of 100 x 100 km was created, which contained 561 cells. Methods and level of current understanding are exemplified by means of two raptors and three mammal species. This establishes a basis for an initial project, which will summarize all breeding occurrences of raptors based on all records, publications, or diary notes. For the first time, the short toed eagle was verified in Mongolia as a breeding bird in 2004. By 2006, ten …

Serratula Oligocephala Dc. (Asteraceae), A New Record For The Flora Of Lebanon, Myrna T. Semaan, Ricardus M. Haber

Turkish Journal of Botany

Serratula oligocephala DC. is currently reported as an endemic species of Turkey, where it has limited distribution in east and south Anatolia. Specimens collected from the continental humid slopes beneath the northern summits of the Mount Lebanon Range in the eastern Mediterranean confirm the occurrence of the species in Lebanon.

Xanthoparmelia Isidiovagans (Parmeliaceae), A New Lichen Record For Turkey, Ayşen Özdemi̇r Türk, Mehmet Candan, John Alan Elix

Turkish Journal of Botany

Xanthoparmelia isidiovagans O.Blanco, A.Crespo, Divakar & Elix, previously known only from Spain, has now been found at 2 localities in Eskişehir province, Turkey.

Two New Records From Lebanon: Chamaesyce Nutans (Lag.) Small (Euphorbiaceae) And Eleusine Indica (L.) Gaertner (Poaceae), Ricardus M. Haber, Myrna T. Semaan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Chamaesyce nutans (Lag.) Small (Euphorbiaceae) and Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertner (Poaceae) are described as new records for the flora of Lebanon. Specimens of C. nutans collected from roadsides and rocks in a middle mountain forest confirm the occurrence of the species on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon Range. Additionally, specimens of E. indica were collected from wasteland and roadsides in the coastal town of Kaslik. The species were observed to thrive abundantly in similar habitats along the coastal urban zone of Lebanon.

Lichens From The Maslak Campus Of İstanbul Technical University, Gülşah Çobanoğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

The lichen diversity of the Maslak Campus of İstanbul Technical University is presented in this study. In total, 23 lichen species belonging to 14 genera were recorded. Strangospora pinicola (A.Massal.) Körb. is a new record for the Turkish lichen flora and 5 species are new records for İstanbul province.

A New Record From Lebanon: Panderia Pilosa Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Chenopodiaceae), Ricardus M. Haber, Myrna T. Semaan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Panderia pilosa Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Chenopodiaceae) was never previously reported for the flora of Lebanon, although it occurs in all neighbouring countries. Specimens collected from Mount Mnaitra in the Mount Lebanon range confirm its presence.

A New Record From Lebanon: Scilla Siberica Haw. Subsp. Armena (Grossh.) Mordak (Liliaceae), Ricardus M. Haber, Myrna T. Semaan

Turkish Journal of Botany

Scilla siberica Haw. subsp. armena (Grossh.) Mordak (Liliaceae) has not been previously reported among the flora of Lebanon. In spring 2005 it was collected from the rocky cliffs of a natural rocky bridge in the high mountain zone of the Mount Lebanon Range.

Cadaver Decomposition In Terrestrial Ecosystems, David O. Carter, David Yellowlees, Mark Tibbett

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A dead mammal (i.e. cadaver) is a high quality resource (narrow carbon:nitrogen ratio, high water content) that releases an intense, localized pulse of carbon and nutrients into the soil upon decomposition. Despite the fact that as much as 5,000 kg of cadaver can be introduced to a square kilometer of terrestrial ecosystem each year, cadaver decomposition remains a neglected microsere. Here we review the processes associated with the introduction of cadaver-derived carbon and nutrients into soil from forensic and ecological settings to show that cadaver decomposition can have a greater, albeit localized, effect on below-ground ecology than plant and fecal …

Chumming On The Chesapeake Bay And Complexity Theory: Why The Precautionary Principle, Not Cost-Benefit Analysis, Makes More Sense As A Regulatory Approach, Hope M. Babcock

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay ("Bay") and Puget Sound are in grave trouble. They each suffer from poor water quality, loss of habitat, and declining biodiversity, and efforts to restore their health are straining both public and private resources. While accomplishments are often recorded in the fight against these ills, it is clear these accomplishments "are not yet equal to the scale of the problems." The focus of this article is on the nation's largest estuary, the Bay. Despite the investment of billions of dollars to improve water quality, the Bay continues to suffer from severe environmental degradation that impairs …

Genetic Identification Of Diploid And Tetraploid Wheat Species With Rapd Markers, Rami̇z Tagi̇ Ali̇yev, Mehraj Ali̇ Abbasov, Alamdar Charkaz Mammadov

Turkish Journal of Biology

The genetic diversity of 10 diploid and tetraploid wheat species was estimated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Two species from diploid [Triticum boeticum (wild), Triticum monococcum] and five from tetraploid wheats [Triticum dicoccoides var. arabicum (wild), Triticum dicoccum var. farrum, Triticum dicoccum var. atratum, Triticum durum var. hordeiforme (Bereketli 95), Triticum durum var. leucurum (Sharq), Triticum turgidum var. alboyadurum, Triticum turgidum var. salomonis and Triticum persicum] were included for the analyses. Jacard's cluster analysis algorithm was used to determine genetic similarities. There were two main classes in dendrogram: the varieties [T. boeticum, T. dicoccoides var. arabicum, T. dicoccum …

Hydrologic Connectivity And The Contribution Of Stream Headwaters To Ecological Integrity At Regional Scales, Mary C. Freeman, Catherine M. Pringle, C. Rhett Jackson

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Cumulatively, headwater streams contribute to maintaining hydrologic connectivity and ecosystem integrity at regional scales. Hydrologic connectivity is the water-mediated transport of matter, energy and organisms within or between elements of the hydrologic cycle. Headwater streams compose over two-thirds of total stream length in a typical river drainage and directly connect the upland and riparian landscape to the rest of the stream ecosystem. Altering headwater streams, e.g., by channelization, diversion through pipes, impoundment and burial, modifies fluxes between uplands and downstream river segments and eliminates distinctive habitats. The large-scale ecological effects of altering headwaters are amplified by land uses that alter …

Research Note: Hymenolepis Horrida (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) And Catenotaenia Peromysci (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) In Voles From The Canadian Rockies, Yeen Ten Hwang, Scott Lyell Gardner, John S. Millar

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Cestodes from Clethrionomys gapperi (n=34) and Microtus longicaudus (n=8) from Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada are reported. Two species of cestodes, Hymenolepis horrida (sensu lato) and Catenotaenia peromysci, were found in Clethrionomys gapperi, and one species of cestode, H. horrida, was found in Microtus longicaudus. Clethrionomys gapperi represents a new host record for C. peromysci. The Canadian Rockies is a new locality record for both cestode species.

The Contribution Of Environmental Variables On Small Mammal Species Richness And Relative Abundance In Eastern Nevada, Stephanie Harris

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to determine how four environmental variables: elevation, latitude, soil type, and vegetation impact the relative abundance of Peromyscus maniculatus and the species richness of small mammal populations in Eastern Nevada. In order to complete this study, a survey of small mammals was completed in the following 8 Eastern Nevada valleys: Delamar, Dry Lake, Dry Lake- Muleshoe,Cave, Lake, Snake, Spring, White River. In each valley, transects of Sherman live traps will be set up for 3 consecutive nights (O'Farrell et al 1977). Data on elevation, latitude, soil type, and vegetation were taken at each trap …

Abstracts Of Papers, 84th Annual Meeting Of The Virginia Academy Of Science

Virginia Journal of Science

Full abstracts of papers for the 84th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 25-26, 2006, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Predation On The Eastern Oyster Crassostrea Virginica On Intertidal Reefs Affected By Recreational Boating, Jennifer Stiner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Widely regarded as a keystone species and ecosystem engineer, the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica plays a vital role in estuarine environments. Complex, three-dimensional oyster reefs act as havens for biodiversity and contribute to ecological processes. Recently, concern for this resource has arisen in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida, the southernmost limit along the Atlantic coast for undisturbed, intertidal reefs of C. virginica. Since the 1990s, intense recreational boating activity has caused atypical dead margins (mounds of disarticulated shells) to emerge on the seaward edges of oyster reefs located along major navigational channels. Once dead margins are formed, little is known about their …

Biodiversity Loss And The Taxonomic Bottleneck: Emerging Biodiversity Science, Ke Chung Kim, Loren B. Byrne

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Human domination of the Earth has resulted in dramatic changes to global and local patterns of biodiversity. Biodiversity is critical to human sustainability because it drives the ecosystem services that provide the core of our life-support system. As we, the human species, are the primary factor leading to the decline in biodiversity, we need detailed information about the biodiversity and species composition of specific locations in order to understand how different species contribute to ecosystem services and how humans can sustainably conserve and manage biodiversity. Taxonomy and ecology, two fundamental sciences that generate the knowledge about biodiversity, are associated with …

Lichens Of Gemlik, İznik, Mudanya And Orhangazi Districts In Bursa Province (Turkey), Seyhan Oran, Şule Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Botany

: One hundred and eighty-one lichen taxa are reported from 88 localities in Gemlik, İznik, Mudanya and Orhangazi districts, north of Bursa, Turkey. Three species are new records for Turkey: Arthonia dispersa (Schrad.) Nyl., Lecanora sambuci (Pers.) Nyl. and Opegrapha herbarum Mont.. Sixty-two species are new records for Bursa province.

Lichen Records From Afyonkarahisar And Isparta Provinces, Gülşah Çobanoğlu, Mustafa Yavuz

Turkish Journal of Botany

A list of 89 lichen taxa is reported from the provinces of Afyonkarahisar and Isparta. Fifteen taxa from Afyonkarahisar and 38 from Isparta are new records for these provinces.

The Complex Links Between Governance And Biodiversity, C. Barrett, C. Gibson, B. Hoffman, Mathew D. Mccubbins

Faculty Scholarship

We argue that two problems weaken the claims of those who link corruption and the exploitation of natural resources. The first is conceptual. Studies that use national level indicators of corruption fail to note that corruption comes in many forms, at multiple levels, and may or may not affect resource use. Without a clear causal model of the mechanism by which corruption affects resources, one should treat with caution any estimated relationship between corruption and the state of natural resources. The second problem is methodological: Simple models linking corruption measures and natural resource use typically do not account for other …

Results Of The Alcoa Foundation-Suriname Expeditions. Xiv. Mammals Of Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname, Burton K. Lim, Mark D. Engstrom, Hugh H. Genoways, François M. Catzeflis, Kelly A. Fitzgerald, Sandra L. Peters, Marijem Djosetro, Sandra Brandon, Sutrisno Mitro

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

An inventory of mammals in the vicinity of Brownsberg Nature Park, Suriname, incorporated a number of different sampling methods including examining museum voucher specimens, an animal-rescue operation, transect surveys, camera photo-traps, and interviews with local inhabitants. We document a total of 125 mammal species present in the Park. These include ten opossums, five pilosans, four armadillos, 58 bats, eight monkeys, 13 carnivores, one tapir, four artiodactyls, and 22 rodents. Nine of these species are reported for the first time from Suriname: one mouse opossum (Marmosops pinheiroi); one naked-backed moustached bat (Pteronotus gymnonotus); four fruit-eating bats ( …

Agenda: Endangered Species Act Congressional Field Tour, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Endangered Species Act Congressional Field Tour (August 17-19)

The Center sponsored its third annual field tour for staff members of the United States Congress, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Colorado state legislature.

Day 1: Wednesday, 17 August 2005: Science And The Esa, Joy Nicholopoulos, William Lewis

Endangered Species Act Congressional Field Tour (August 17-19)

43 pages (includes illustrations and map).

Contains references.

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 12 - Mitigation Of The Negative Impacts On Biodiversity And Fisheries Values Of The Refurbishment Of Waroona Dam, South-Western Australia (Final Report For The Water Corporation Of Western Australia), Brett Molony, Stephen Beatty, Chris Bird, Vinh Nguyen

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

In addition to the supply of water for agriculture, irrigation dams of south-western Australia are important systems for recreational activities, including fishing (Molony & Bird 2002, Molony et al. 2002a). Lake Navarino (the reservoir created by Waroona Dam, figures 1 and 2, approx. 115° 55 E 32° 51 S) is the first major public access reservoir south of the Perth Metropolitan Area and is an important component of the Recreational Marron (Cherax tenuimanus') Fishery (RMF) (Molony 2001a, 2002a, 2003a, Molony & Bird 2002, Beatty et al. 2003a). Further, it is the most northerly irrigation dam that is regularly stocked with …

Floristic Lichen Records From Isparta And Burdur Provinces, Şule Öztürk, Şaban Güvenç, Seyhan Oran

Turkish Journal of Botany

Seventy-three taxa from Isparta and Burdur provinces were identified. Thirty-eight taxa are new records for Isparta province. Two taxa, Collema cristatum (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg. and Squamarina cartilaginea (With.) P.James var. pseudocrassa D.Hawksw., were determined from Burdur province and are new records for Burdur.

Lichens Of Giresun District Giresun Province, Turkey, Kadi̇r Kinalioğlu

Turkish Journal of Botany

One hundred and six lichen taxa are reported from the city of Giresun and Giresun Island, Turkey. One of these, Phaeographis dendritica (Ach.) Müll.Arg., is new to Turkey.

Wagin-Woodanilling (Zone 5) : Catchment Appraisal 2005, K Ohlsen, T Schulz, T W. Mathwin, Gina Pemberton, Henry Brockman, J Firth, Mitchell Davies, Heather M. Percy

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this report is to assess the current extent of salinity and other natural resource degradation issues and provide landholders with the best current management options to address natural resource management issues and enhance sustainable agricultural production.

Natural Resource Management Issues For The South Coast Regional Strategy, B Nicholas

Resource management technical reports

This report has been prepared by the Agricultural Resource Management Program of the Department of Agriculture to assist SCRIPT (South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team) in preparing the regional strategy. It records the key natural resource management issues threatening agricultural land on the south coast of Western Australia. Managing agricultural land effectively should be a priority in reducing the risks of land degradation on all assets-productive agricultural land, biodiversity and waterways.

Predicting Plant Extinction Based On Species-Area Curves In Prairie Fragments With High Beta Richness, Brian J. Wilsey, Leanne M. Martin, H. Wayne Polley

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Species-area relationships and island biogeography theory are commonly used to predict how species richness will decline with fragmentation. There are a variety of largely untested assumptions in these approaches, including the assumptions that populations are distributed uniformly before fragmentation, and that local extinctions are due to effects of small population sizes. If populations are not distributed uniformly, then populations can be abundant locally but rare globally. This would cause extinction rates to be smaller than predicted.We tested extinction theory by developing estimates of the number of plant species that should be present in small tallgrass prairie fragments and then testing …