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Animal Sciences Commons

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Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephauls L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka Nov 2019

The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephauls L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka

ELAIA

Declines in animal populations worldwide are of critical conservation concern. However, without an understanding of optimal habitat preference, it is often difficult to determine what factors are driving these losses. Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus L.) populations have declined by over 70% in the last fifty years, yet in some areas the birds seem to maintain stable populations. The aim of this study was to empirically test the effects of various habitat factors on red-headed woodpecker presence and abundance in both the summer and winter seasons. As oak acorns are a critical food source for this bird, we were particularly interested …


The Effects Of Native And Domestic Grazers On The Health Of Bumble Bee (Bombus Spp.) Populations In A Historical Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem, Mckenna L. Conforti Nov 2019

The Effects Of Native And Domestic Grazers On The Health Of Bumble Bee (Bombus Spp.) Populations In A Historical Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem, Mckenna L. Conforti

ELAIA

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) play an important role in the pollination of ecologically and economically significant plants worldwide. In recent years, bumble bee populations have suffered decline throughout North America, particularly in the Midwest. Many factors likely contribute to this decline, including the use of pesticides, disease, and habitat loss. Although cattle grazing space is a common use for Midwestern grassland, a comparison had not been made between the capacity of cattle pasture to support bumble bee communities with the capacity of tallgrass prairie, a habitat thought to be optimal for requisite floral resources. Additionally, the reintroduction of bison is …


Assessing The Stability And Distribution Of A Newly Discovered Endangered Bumble Bee Population In Northeastern Illinois, Barbara Locascio Jul 2019

Assessing The Stability And Distribution Of A Newly Discovered Endangered Bumble Bee Population In Northeastern Illinois, Barbara Locascio

Pence-Boyce STEM Student Scholarship

Many species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) have been declining in abundance across North America. In the Midwest declines, including that of B. affinis, recently listed as a federally endangered species, are attributed to several factors including habitat loss. Native tallgrass prairies could be ideal areas for Bombus spp. communities to sustain populations, due to native floral resources. However, few studies have been done to determine this. Our objective was to determine the stability and consistency of B. affinis populations at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and to investigate whether Goose Lake Prairie, a nearby prairie remnant, …


The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka May 2019

The Role Of Endangered Oak (Quercus Spp.) Savanna Characteristics In Supporting Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus L.) Populations, Kimberly J. Zralka

Honors Program Projects

Declines in animal populations worldwide are of critical conservation concern. However, without an understanding of optimal habitat preference, it is often difficult to determine what factors are driving these losses. Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus L.) populations have declined by over 70% in the last 50 years, yet in some areas the birds seem to maintain stable populations. The aim of this study was to empirically test the effects of various habitat factors on red-headed woodpecker presence and abundance in both the summer and winter seasons. As oak acorns are a critical food source for this bird, we were particularly …


Food Preferences Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) And The Relationship With Season Change, Crystal Sauder Apr 2019

Food Preferences Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes Erythrocephalus) And The Relationship With Season Change, Crystal Sauder

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) used to be easy to find out in the wild, but as humans encroached on their habitats, their populations started to become impacted. They have a habitat range from Southern Canada down to the Gulf Coast. In several states their numbers are threatened due to loss of habitat. Red-headed woodpeckers prefer to live in open woodlands with dead, or dying, trees to nest in. As humans take away the dead trees from the forests, red-headed woodpeckers are losing their nesting sites. Preservation of red-headed woodpecker habitats are needed to ensure the population starts to …


Dominance And Aggression Among Hummingbirds In The Cloud Forests Of The Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica, Crystal Sauder, Aileen Scarim Apr 2019

Dominance And Aggression Among Hummingbirds In The Cloud Forests Of The Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica, Crystal Sauder, Aileen Scarim

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are known for being aggressive and territorial. By knowing hummingbirds are not very social, nor appear to enjoy having interactions with others, we wanted to observe how multiple species of Trochilidae interact with one another. The study was completed to observe if males of different Trochilidae would be more aggressive at hummingbird feeders over females. Three different feeder locations were decided on, spread across the Savegre Valley region near the Quetzal Education Research Center (QERC). Symbols were agreed upon in order to shorthand the exact series of events that were happening while we observed the feeders. Species and …


The Effects Of Native And Domestic Grazers On The Health Of Bumble Bee (Bombus Spp.) Populations In A Historical Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem, Mckenna Conforti Jan 2019

The Effects Of Native And Domestic Grazers On The Health Of Bumble Bee (Bombus Spp.) Populations In A Historical Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem, Mckenna Conforti

Honors Program Projects

Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) play an important role in the pollination of ecologically and economically significant plants worldwide. In recent years, bumble bee populations have suffered decline throughout North America, particularly in the Midwest. Many factors likely contribute to this decline, including the use of pesticides, disease, and habitat loss. Although cattle grazing space is a common use for Midwestern grassland, a comparison had not been made between the capacity of cattle pasture to support bumble bee communities with the capacity of tallgrass prairie, a habitat thought to be optimal for requisite floral resources. Additionally, the reintroduction of bison …