Life Sciences Commons^™

Recent Records Of Formerly Extirpated Carnivores In Nebraska, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

By the early 1900's, several large carnivores had been extirpated from Nebraska as a result of unrestricted hunting and trapping by early European settlers. Recently, there have been several confirmed records of carnivores that were once extirpated from Nebraska. In our study, we present new data for five species that recently were documented in Nebraska: Lynx canadensis, Ursus americanus, Canis lupus, Puma concolor, and Lontra canadensis. Restoration programs and legal protection afforded to these species in Nebraska and in adjacent states have allowed population numbers to increase. Because of the increase in populations of these …

An Evaluation Of The Use Of Technical Conservation Measures Within The Inshore Mixed Fishery Of Dingle Bay, Co. Kerry, Ireland., Tony Holmes

Theses

Discarding has been identified as a global problem in fisheries. ICES, the EU and national governments have prioritised studying discarding as an area of research. In conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Marine Institute, Institute of Technology, Tralee and the Dingle Bay Inshore Management Development committee a study of the impacts of incorporating technical conservation measures (TCM’s) into trawls was undertaken. TCM’s under investigation included 80mm and 90mm square mesh panels inserted in the top-sheet before the cod-end, 100mm codends and a separator trawl. It was found that boats using 100mm cod-ends produced less discards than when towing standard …

The Impact Of Species Concept On Biodiversity Studies, Keith A. Crandall, Paul-Michael Agapow, Olaf R. P. Bininda-Emonds, John L. Gittleman, Georgina M. Mace, Jonathon C. Marshall, Andy Purvis

Faculty Publications

Species are defined using a variety of different operational techniques. While discussion of the various methodologies has previously been restricted mostly to taxonomists, the demarcation of species is also crucial for conservation biology. Unfortunately, different methods of diagnosing species can arrive at different entities. Most prominently, it is widely thought that use of a phylogenetic species concept may lead to recognition of a far greater number of much less inclusive units. As a result, studies of the same group of organisms can produce not only different species identities but also different species range and number of individuals. To assess the …

Slides: Bpi Best Practices Initiative: A Collaborative Approach To Leadership For Improving Management Practices On The Working Landscape, Peter Zimmerman

Best Management Practices and Adaptive Management in Oil and Gas Development (May 12-13)

Presenter: Peter Zimmerman, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

19 slides

Influence Of Fall Grazing By Sheep On Plant Productivity, Shrub Age Class Structure And Herbaceous Species Diversity In Sagebrush Steppe, Ryan Duncan Woodland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Traditional chemical and mechanical treatments of Wyoming Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) are costly and have typically focused solely on increasing forage for livestock production. Managing these systems biologically with grazing can potentially reduce costs and increase both biodiversity and understory production as well as rejuvenate Wyoming Big Sagebrush (ARTRWY). This experiment was conducted on Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch in northern Utah in October 2003. One hundred and twenty sheep (dry ewes) grazed 3, 60m x 40m plots (40 sheep plot^-1). Sheep were provided a protein-energy supplement to facilitate use of the secondary metabolites …

The Asian Umbelliferae Biodiversity Database (Asium) With Particular Reference To South-West Asian Taxa, M. G. Pimenov, M. V. Leonov

Turkish Journal of Botany

An original database, ASIUM, on Asian Umbelliferae has been compiled at the Moscow State University to include all accepted names and synonyms, principal citations in regional Floras, monographs and critical articles, protologue data and distribution in countries, their regions and provinces. A special option permits the arrangement of synomyms, which can be divided into several homotypic groups. It is also possible to extract information for analysis and comparison, for instance, of species sets from different regions to estimate their similarity. ASIUM is a mobile monograph of the Umbelliferae for a continent, with their maximal biodiversity at the generic and specific …

Flora-Writing Exemplified By Classical, Conservational And Unconventional Models, Kit Tan

Turkish Journal of Botany

There are many ways to compile a Flora. The Flora of Turkey is a remarkable 10-volume work completed within a quarter-century of its inception. A review of the factors contributing to the Flora's success is provided. The Flora of Turkey is a classical Flora with an additional supplement recently produced by Turkish botanists. Flora Hellenica is another example of a classical Flora. Some aspects of its background and production are briefly mentioned. Conservationists consider the endemic flora of a country needs protection for all time, and an opportunity arose to prepare a three-volume work on the endemic flora of Greece. …

On The Ecological Status Of The Concept "Boundary Conditions" - A Few Methodological Remarks, Lubomira Burchardt, Krzystof Lastowski, Harold G. Marshall

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Plant and animal populations are frequently found in habitats where the environmental conditions are considered extreme or challenging for life form to exist. These conditions may be classified as either: (1) Supreme: a situation characteristic of degradation conditions where only a few species live under stress, and (2) Extra-ordinary: habitats that provide high biodiversity that are under stress conditions. Due to the differences in what we consider extreme conditions, it is necessary to distinguish between these two categories, because they are not comparable. Our presentation will include examples of these two extreme environmental categories.

Species Diversity And Biogeography Of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In Louisiana With Notes On Their Ecology, Shawn T. Dash

LSU Master's Theses

Over three decades have passed since the completion of Moser and Blum's (1960) treatment of the ants of Louisiana. This research represents a significant contribution to and update of their work. I report the first-ever comprehensive assessment of the Louisiana Formicid fauna. More than 100 species from 38 genera and eight subfamilies are covered. This faunistic survey gives valuable data of biodiversity and macro/microhabitat selection of ant species. Included are keys to all subfamilies, genera, and species with illustrations photographs, and a regional map for each species.

Blackwood Catchment : Beaufort Zone (Zone 4) : Catchment Appraisal 2002, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa ), Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Beaufort zone, located in the mid to southern part of the Blackwood basin, including parts of the shires of Kojonup, West Arthur, Woodanilling, Katanning, Broomehill, Wagin and Boyup Brook, Western Australia. Assesses the condition of, and future risks to agricultural and natural resources, provides information for reducing those risks and identifies the most suitable options to manage the risk.

Sustainability Issues For Agriculture In Western Australia, Anne Bennett, Ross Kingwell, Ross George

Agriculture reports

This paper describes briefly the main challenges to the sustainability of agriculture in Western Australia and outlines some means of responding the the challenges: market-based approaches; agricultural and environmental research and development; accelerated adjustment; and global and national policy initiatives. Challenges include: land resource quality (salinity, soil acidity), biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, water availability, food safety, and pests and diseases.

Butterflies Of The North Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, David L. Threatful

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

An annotated list of 106 species of butterflies known to occur in the north Okanagan area of British Columbia, Canada is presented. Information is provided on flight phenology, elevation and habitat for each species. Field work over the past 100 years shows that this is one of the premiere areas in Canada for butterfly species diversity. More than one third of all known Canadian butterflies have been found in this small area.

Conservation And Restoration Of Pine Forest Genetic Resources In México, C. Sáenz-Romero, Amy E. Snively, R. Lindig-Cisneros

Student Published Works

Deforestation rates in México are about 670,000 ha/year. This threatens the richness of forest genetic resources in México, causing the disappearance of locally adapted populations and rare and endangered pine species. México is one of the six megadiverse countries in the world, with half of the world’s Pinus species. Pinus is one of the most economically and ecologically important forest genera in México. We suggest that delineation of seed zones and the establishment of a network of Forest Genetic Resource Conservation Units (FGRCUs), linked with forest management and ecological restoration programs will protect this valuable resource. We estimate that FGRCUs …

Biodiversity And Biogeography Of The Islands Of The Kuril Archipelago [Abstract], Theodore W. Pietsch, Victor V. Bogatov, Kunio Amaoka, Yuri N. Zhuravlev, Vyacheslav Y. Barkalov, Sarah Gage, Hideki Takahashi, Arkady S. Lelej, Sergey Y. Storozhenko, Noboru Minakawa, Daniel J. Bennett, Trevor R. Anderson, Masahiro Ôhara, Larisa A. Prozorova, Yasuhiro Kuwahara, Sergey K. Kholin, Mamoru Yabe, Duane E. Stevenson, Erin L. Macdonald

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Nature Of Nebraska: Ecology And Biodiversity Paul A. Johnsgard, L. Lareesa Wolfenbarger

Biology Faculty Publications

As a newcomer to Nebraska and someone learning the natural history of this place, I thoroughly enjoyed The Nature of Nebraska. More consequentially, the book will serve as a valuable resource for longtime naturalists, teachers, and others who want to learn about Nebraska's natural history.

Opening with a discussion of geology and ecology, Johnsgard offers a broad overview of Nebraska's ecological diversity, intertwining material on the natural forces that have historically dominated the Plains with a discussion of the anthropogenic forces currently altering the region's unique ecological nature. Approximately half of the book is devoted to more specific descriptions …

Effects Of Range Size On Species–Area Relationships, Andrew P. Allen, Ethan P. White

Biology Faculty Publications

It has been known for some time that the slope of the species–area relationship increases asymptotically at broad spatial scales when richness is plotted against area on logarithmic axes. At continental to global scales, species–area relationships are determined to a large extent by the abundance and size distribution of species ranges. Here we present an analytical model that explicitly quantifies the effects of range size on species–area relationships. The model shows how range size and plot area interact to control the form of species–area relationships at broad spatial scales. It also demonstrates how changes in spatial scale affect biodiversity patterns …

Affects Of Organic Fertilizers On The Growth And Biomass Production Of Agricultural Crops, Deanna Marshik

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Sustainability Issues For Agriculture In Western Australia, Anne Bennett, Ross Kingwell, Ross George

All other publications

Agriculture has been and will continue to be a major component of economic activity in several regions in Western Australia, and agricultural communities will remain an important part of the social fabric and landscape of the State. Promoting the sustainability of agriculture is likely to produce three main outcomes: vibrant rural communities; profitable agricultural systems; and conservation of the natural environment.

This paper describes briefly the main challenges to the sustainability of agriculture and outlines some means of responding to the challenges: market-based approaches; agricultural and environmental research and development; accelerated adjustment; and global and national policy initiatives.

Species Richness, Latitude, And Scale-Sensitivity, S. Kathleen Lyons, Michael R. Willig

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The latitudinal gradient of species richness is well documented for a variety of taxa in both terrestrial and aquatic environs. Moreover, a number of recent attempts to assess the effects of scale on the relationship have concluded that the latitudinal pattern is scale-invariant. Nonetheless, the power of those approaches is predicated on precise knowledge of the forms of the latitudinal gradient, the area relationship, and their interaction. We used a model developed by J. Pastor, A. Downing, and H. E. Erickson for assessing the effects of scale on the productivity–diversity gradient to avoid such complications. More specifically, for 253 sets …

Seed Security For Food Security, Mutizwa Mkute, Doreen Mnyulwa, Sarah Kimakwa

Faculty Publications

'Farmers' dependence on agro-companies for agricultural inputs has been growing in east and southern Africa and beyond. At the same time, local and indigenous knowledge about seed selection, saving and multiplying has been lost.

This manual for development workers outlines traditional and current methods of saving seed. It begins with some basic ground rules for working with communities. The second section gives a comprehensive guide to different ways of propagating plants and saving seed from a full range of common crops and trees. Finally, the third part offers a brief outline of the background history and the current issues and …

Effects Of Fire Frequency And The Red Imported Fire Ant On Native Insects In A Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savanna, Deanna M. Colby

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Ants and ground beetles were collected in pitfall traps from a longleaf pine savanna in the early stages of restoration. Insect abundance and species richness were compared among four treatment combinations of two fire frequencies and presence and absence of an exotic ant, Solenopsis invicta, the red imported fire ant. Amdro® was used to suppress S. invicta. Fire treatments consisted of a single fire in a two year period or two fires in a two year period, one applied each year. Fires were applied late in the growing season both years. Ten of the 28 ground beetle species …

Ecological Problems With Iowa's Invasive And Introduced Fishes, Neil P. Bernstein, John R. Olson

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Since the time of European settlement, at least 59 non-indigenous fish species have been introduced, reached, or moved within Iowa waters. At least 28 nonnative fish species have been introduced into, or reported from Iowa waters since settlement. Of that number, 10 are established at this time through natural reproduction. In addition, many species of native fishes have been translocated within the state, and we provide documentation for 31 of these species. Two translocated species, gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and yellow bass (Marone mississippiensis), have had adverse impacts on Iowa's aquatic ecosystems. While many introductions are thought to be benign, …

Agenda: A Cartography Of Governance: Exploring The Province Of Environmental Ngos, University Of Colorado Boulder. School Of Law, University Of Colorado Boulder. Environmental Program, University Of Tulsa. National Energy-Environment Law & Policy Institute, University Of Colorado Boulder. United Government Of Graduate Students

A Cartography of Governance: Exploring the Province of Environmental NGOs (April 7-8)

Presented by: the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy on April 7 & 8, 2001. Symposium director: Lakshman D. Guruswamy.

Co-sponsored by: University of Colorado School of Law, University of Colorado Environmental Program, University of Tulsa National Energy-Environment Law and Policy Institute, University of Colorado United Government of Graduate Students.

The papers and edited proceedings of the conference will be published in a special symposium issue of the Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law & Policy (CJIELP).

"The first objective of the Symposium was to understand and explore the growing importance of nongovernmental actors, and delineate the manner …

Biodiversity And Decomposition In Experimental Grassland Ecosystems, Johannes M. H. Knops, David A. Wedin, David Tilman

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We examined the impact of biodiversity on litter decomposition in an experiment that manipulated plant species richness. Using biomass originating from the experimental species richness gradient and from a species used as a common substrate, we measured rates of decomposition in litterbags in two locations: in situ in the experiment plots and in an adjacent common garden. This allowed us to separate the effects of litter quality and decomposition location on decomposition. We found that plant species richness had a significant, but minor negative effect on the quality (nitrogen concentration) of the biomass. Neither litter type nor location had a …

Worms, Nematoda, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Nematodes are the most speciose phylum of metazoa on earth. Not only do they occur in huge numbers as parasites of all known animal groups, but also they are found in the soils, as parasites of plants, and in large numbers in the most extreme environments, from the Antarctic dry valleys to the benthos of the ocean. They are extremely variable in their morphological characteristics, with each group showing morphological adapta­tions to the environment that they inhabit. Soil-dwelling forms are extremely small; many marine species have long and complex setae; and parasitic species man­ifest amazingly great reproductive potential and large …

Status Survey Of Aquatic Cave Fauna In Arkansas, G. O. Graening, Arthur V. Brown

Arkansas Water Resources Center Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Life In A Pine Cone, David L. Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

This exercise focuses on a little-known microhabitat -- the pine cone. A pine cone's primary function is, of course, reproduction ... housing the seeds of the next generation of conifer trees. However, pine cones are also the basis of a food web that provides both resources and living space for a wide variety of small arthropod species. The procedure outlined below is designed to examine this microhabitat and compare its community diversity among different species of conifers and habitats.

The exercise is based on a 1985 paper, Life in a Pine Cone, by David L. Kulhavy, Robert S. Baldridge and …

Livestock As A Tool For Biodiversity In The Sagebrush Steppe, Usu Extension

All Current Publications

Biodiversity, or the variety of plant and animal species in a given location, has declined in many areas in the West. For example, woody plants, such as sagebrush and juniper now dominate many western landscapes.

Deforestation In The Tropics: Reconciling Disparities In Estimates For India, Shaily Menon, Kamaljit S. Bawa

Peer Reviewed Publications

Here we examine recent disparate estimates of deforestation obtained for India. We discuss the sources of disparity and the implications of inaccurate estimates and suggest ways in which future attempts at estimating deforestation might reconcile the disparity. Despite the importance of deforestation and its consequences, no attempt has been made to reconcile the different estimates obtained for India.

Landscape Management Challenges On The California Channel Islands, William L. Halvorson

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Managing for sustained biodiversity and restoration of natural habitat has become increasingly important over the last two decades, first as mitigation for development (especially in wetlands), and , more recently in natural areas. The latter has come about as land managing agencies like the Department of Defense and Bureau of Land Management have seen the need to reverse the impact of past land uses and agencies like the National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy have taken on the responsibility for less-than-pristine lands.

On the California Channel Islands, the need for restoring and managing biodiversity is great, but this restoration …