Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Discipline
-
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (602)
- Evolution (452)
- Zoology (452)
- Biodiversity (450)
- Aquaculture and Fisheries (112)
-
- Population Biology (44)
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (38)
- Other Animal Sciences (34)
- Biology (29)
- Behavior and Ethology (27)
- Cell and Developmental Biology (21)
- Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (16)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (13)
- Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (12)
- Environmental Sciences (9)
- Forest Sciences (7)
- Medicine and Health Sciences (7)
- Structural Biology (7)
- Animal Experimentation and Research (6)
- Cell Biology (6)
- Research Methods in Life Sciences (6)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (6)
- Marine Biology (5)
- Molecular Biology (5)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health (5)
- Plant Sciences (5)
- Agriculture (4)
- Genetics and Genomics (4)
- Keyword
-
- Buthidae (102)
- Scorpiones (85)
- Scorpions (44)
- Euscorpiidae (23)
- Vaejovidae (23)
-
- West Virginia (18)
- Arachnida (15)
- Turkey (15)
- Scorpionidae (14)
- Iran (12)
- Ethiopia (11)
- Scorpion (11)
- Euscorpius (10)
- Greece (10)
- Vaejovis (10)
- Arizona (9)
- Morocco (9)
- Oman (9)
- Horn of Africa (8)
- Morphology (8)
- Somaliland (8)
- Crayfish (7)
- Buthus (6)
- Chaerilus (6)
- India (6)
- Iuridae (6)
- Behavior (5)
- Chaerilidae (5)
- Colombia (5)
- Mexico (5)
- Publication Year
- Publication
- Publication Type
Articles 541 - 570 of 672
Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences
The Importance Of Fallback Foods In Primate Ecology And Evolution, Paul J. Constantino, Barth W. Wright
The Importance Of Fallback Foods In Primate Ecology And Evolution, Paul J. Constantino, Barth W. Wright
Biological Sciences Faculty Research
The role of fallback foods in shaping primate ranging, socioecology, and morphology has recently become a topic of particular interest to biological anthropologists. Although the use of fallback resources has been noted in the ecological and primatological literature for a number of decades, few attempts have been made to define fallback foods or to explore the utility of this concept for primate evolutionary biologists and ecologists. As a preface to this special issue of the American Journal of Physical Anthropology devoted to the topic of fallback foods in primate ecology and evolution, we discuss the development and use of the …
The Occurrence Of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis In Salamander Populations Of West Virginia, Casey John Bartkus
The Occurrence Of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis In Salamander Populations Of West Virginia, Casey John Bartkus
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), otherwise known as the amphibian chytrid fungus, is a pathogen that causes the amphibian disease, chytridiomycosis. While Bd has been found in amphibian populations in other states across the country, little is known of its occurrence in West Virginia. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is highly associated with amphibians in montane habitats. Because West Virginia has the highest mean elevation of any state east of the Mississippi River, amphibians in the state may be at high risk of an outbreak. The goal of this study was to determine the status of Bd in salamander species of concern in West Virginia. …
The Natural History Of Cave-Associated Populations Of Eurycea L. Longicauda With Notes On Sympatric Amphibian Species, Kevin Wayne Saunders
The Natural History Of Cave-Associated Populations Of Eurycea L. Longicauda With Notes On Sympatric Amphibian Species, Kevin Wayne Saunders
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The purpose of this study was to collect data on the natural history of the Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea l. longicauda) in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. The objectives of this research included characterization of epigean and hypogean habitat for this species, recording distances moved by individuals in populations associated with caves, and collection of data on courtship, oviposition, and larval development. The primary study site was Carter Caves State Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky. This area was visited from October 2007 to December 2008. Salamanders were photographed for identification based on unique pattern aberrancies and distances were measured between the …
Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasite Infection In Symptomatic And Asymptomatic Dogs In Southwestern West Virginia: The Potential Impact On Human Health, Tashina Marie Savilla
Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasite Infection In Symptomatic And Asymptomatic Dogs In Southwestern West Virginia: The Potential Impact On Human Health, Tashina Marie Savilla
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Most dog owners are unaware of asymptomatic infection and of the possibility of contracting zoonotic parasites from their dogs. We hypothesized that parasite infection is: associated with one or more symptoms; independent of gender and age; and independent of anthelmintic usage. Stool samples were collected from 231 dogs in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and were examined by simple fecal flotation. Parasitic prevalence was found to be 23% for Ancylostoma caninum, 8% for Trichuris vulpis, 7% for Toxocara canis, 4% for Isospora species, and 32.5% overall. There was no significant relationship between infection and gender, nor between infection and symptom for …
Distribution And Status Of The Northern Leopard Frog, Rana Pipiens, In West Virginia, Amanda Nicole Spriggs
Distribution And Status Of The Northern Leopard Frog, Rana Pipiens, In West Virginia, Amanda Nicole Spriggs
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens, is listed as a species of concern by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Because this species is uncommon in West Virginia, information is needed to understand its distribution and conservation needs. I surveyed 14 historic R. pipiens locations and 70 Wildlife Management Areas throughout West Virginia beginning in March 2008. Rana pipiens was found in four locations; Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area was confirmed through both auditory and visual surveys and the rest were confirmed through visual observations. Besides Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area, all other sites were confirmed by the presence of a …
A Reconnaissance Of The Intersex Condition In Micropterus Dolomieu Of The Upper Ohio River Basin As An Indicator Of Anthropogenic Endocrine Disruptors, Christopher Barry
A Reconnaissance Of The Intersex Condition In Micropterus Dolomieu Of The Upper Ohio River Basin As An Indicator Of Anthropogenic Endocrine Disruptors, Christopher Barry
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The intersex condition has been used as a marker of endocrine disruption in West Virginia. Fifty-two male smallmouth bass from 6 basins on the upper Ohio River were examined for the presence and severity of intersex. Vitellogenin (VTG) RNA levels were quantified as marker of estrogenic contaminants. A significant increase in intersex (p=0.02), ranging from 83.3% to 100%, corresponds with higher population densities and agricultural land (p=0.003). At reference sites, smallmouth bass had intersex frequencies of 16.7% to 33.3%. Vitellogenin results were significantly lower (p< 0.001) at impacted sites, consistent with previously reported results in female fish. VTG levels in males were not significantly different. Increased intersex occurrence in males and lowered VTG expression in females have shown that agricultural chemicals and common residential wastewater constituents are likely targets for exploring the relationship between individual EDCs and intersex. There may be a natural background level of the intersex condition.
Distribution Of Woodland Salamanders Of The Valley And Ridge In West Virginia, H. Reid Downer
Distribution Of Woodland Salamanders Of The Valley And Ridge In West Virginia, H. Reid Downer
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Two terrestrial woodland salamanders of the genus Plethodon, P. punctatus and P. virginia, are endemic to the Valley and Ridge Physiographic Province in West Virginia and Virginia and occupy limited geographic ranges. Two common and widespread species, P. cylindraceus and P. cinereus, also inhabit this region. To evaluate the distribution and habitat of these terrestrial salamanders I surveyed wooded ridges and slopes throughout the geographic range of the two endemic species by conducting daytime cover object searches and nocturnal visual encounter surveys. From March through November 2008, I recorded the presence of 321 woodland salamanders at 91 sites. I used …
A Study Of The Morphology Of Tatenectes Laramiensis, A Cryptocleidoid Plesiosaur From The Sundance Formation (Wyoming, Usa), Hallie P. Street
A Study Of The Morphology Of Tatenectes Laramiensis, A Cryptocleidoid Plesiosaur From The Sundance Formation (Wyoming, Usa), Hallie P. Street
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Tatenectes laramiensis is a cryptocleidoid plesiosaur from the Late Jurassic Sundance Formation. This study primarily concerns a partial skeleton comprised of dorsal vertebrae, ribs, gastralia, and pelvic girdle. Even though the skeleton is incomplete, it is hypothesized that the preserved fossils are sufficient to indicate the overall body shape and also the preferred habitat of Tatenectes. Possibly the most notable of the novel characters is the pachyostotic state of the gastralia. In relation to the ribs and overall size of Tatenectes, in comparison to the gastralia in related taxa, these gastralia are disproportionately robust. The combination of these morphologies suggests …
Demographics, Activity, And Habitat Selection Of The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene C. Carolina) In West Virginia, Justin Adam Weiss
Demographics, Activity, And Habitat Selection Of The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene C. Carolina) In West Virginia, Justin Adam Weiss
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Little is known about the eastern box turtle, Terrapene c. carolina, in West Virginia. The purpose of this study was to compare demographic data between two populations of box turtles, to determine which environmental parameter(s) influence activity patterns, and to describe the optimal habitat of the box turtles at two study sites (Lake and State Park) at Beech Fork Wildlife Management Area. I observed male-skewed sex ratios and low numbers of juveniles in both populations. Male turtles were larger than females in carapace length, but females were larger in carapace height. Turtles at the Lake site exhibited greater body mass …
A Plesiosaur Containing An Ichthyosaur Embryo As Stomach Contents From The Sundance Formation Of The Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, F. Robin O’Keefe, Hallie P. Street, Jean Pierre Cavigelli, John J. Socha, R. Dennis O'Keefe
A Plesiosaur Containing An Ichthyosaur Embryo As Stomach Contents From The Sundance Formation Of The Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, F. Robin O’Keefe, Hallie P. Street, Jean Pierre Cavigelli, John J. Socha, R. Dennis O'Keefe
Biological Sciences Faculty Research
Herein we report the discovery of an ichthyosaur embryo from the Upper Member of the Sundance Formation (Oxfordian) of the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. The specimen is the first known ichthyosaur embryo from the Upper Jurassic, and is the first Jurassic ichthyosaur embryo from North America. The embryo was discovered in close association with the abdomen of an articulated partial plesiosaur skeleton, and several lines of evidence support the interpretation of the embryo as plesiosaur stomach contents. The small size and extremely poor ossification of the embryo indicate that the animal was probably not a neonate. Although the taxonomic affinities of …
Osteology Of The Cryptocleidoid Plesiosaur Tatenectes Laramiensis, With Comments On The Taxonomic Status Of The Cimoliasauridae, F. Robin O’Keefe, Hallie P. Street
Osteology Of The Cryptocleidoid Plesiosaur Tatenectes Laramiensis, With Comments On The Taxonomic Status Of The Cimoliasauridae, F. Robin O’Keefe, Hallie P. Street
Biological Sciences Faculty Research
Recent field work in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming has recovered significant new material of the plesiosaur Tatenectes laramiensis. The majority of cryptocleidoid plesiosaurs have been recovered from Middle and Upper Jurassic units (Oxford and Kimmeridge Clays, respectively) in the United Kingdom, but Tatenectes laramiensis is one of at least two cryptocleidoids known from the Upper Sundance Member of the Sundance Formation (Oxfordian) of North America. Although poorly known, they bear directly on both the phylogeny and biogeography of the cryptocleidoid plesiosaurs. Here we describe new fossil material of Tatenectes, and reevaluate the phylogenetic position of this genus based on all …
Ecology, Reproduction And Morphometrics Of The Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis Sauritus) And Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis Sirtalis) In West Virginia, Noah Mccoard
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Two species of gartersnakes, Thamnophis, are found in West Virginia. Thamnophis sauritus , a semi-arboreal and semi-aquatic species, is listed as very rare and imperiled (S2) by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) while the other Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, a terrestrial species, is secure (S5). During the summer of 2007, I traveled to 53 counties in West Virginia searching for habitat and these two species.Several Thamnophis sirtalis were found in a variety of habitats throughout the state, but only three Thamnophis sauritus were found. Reproductive aspects were compared between the two species by holding gravid females in captivity …
West Virginia Streamside Salamander Guilds And Environmental Variables With An Emphasis On Pseudotriton Ruber Ruber, Kathryn Rebecca Pawlik
West Virginia Streamside Salamander Guilds And Environmental Variables With An Emphasis On Pseudotriton Ruber Ruber, Kathryn Rebecca Pawlik
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Amphibian distributions are greatly influenced by environmental variables, due in part to semi-permeable skin which makes amphibians susceptible to both desiccation and toxin absorption. This study was conducted to determine which streamside salamander species were sympatric and how environmental variables may have influenced habitat choices. One hundred sixty streams were surveyed throughout 55 counties in West Virginia during the summer of 2007. At each site, a 10 m 2 quadrat was established around a central aquatic habitat. While surveying, I looked under natural cover objects, in vegetation, and through leaf litter. I recorded species, cover object type, and location on …
A Continued Study Of The Use Of Created Ponds For Amphibian Breeding In Fragmented Forested Areas, Amy Elizabeth Schneider
A Continued Study Of The Use Of Created Ponds For Amphibian Breeding In Fragmented Forested Areas, Amy Elizabeth Schneider
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Amphibian populations are declining worldwide due to factors such as habitat degradation, fragmentation and destruction. I conducted a study to explore the use of created ponds in a forested habitat by breeding amphibians, specifically Rana sylvatica and Ambystoma maculatum. The objectives were to examine the movement of these animals after leaving the ponds, the survival and movement of juveniles, how both respond to fragmentation, and how similar the created ponds were to natural ones. Nine ponds were constructed in December 2003 in the MeadWestvaco Wildlife Ecosystem Research Forest (MWERF) in Randolph County, West Virginia. All trapped amphibians were measured and …
The Natural History And Distribution Of The Mountain Earthsnake (Virginia Valeriae Pulchra) In West Virginia, Daniel Ware
The Natural History And Distribution Of The Mountain Earthsnake (Virginia Valeriae Pulchra) In West Virginia, Daniel Ware
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Mountain Earthsnake, Virginia valeriae pulchra, has received little attention in the literature to date. It is imperiled in West Virginia with only 6 to 20 populations known throughout the Allegheny Mountain and Ridge and Valley Physiographic provinces. Eighty snakes were collected during the 2006 and 2007 summers. Typical habitat is open fields with short grass, flat to moderate slopes that have scattered fine sandstone rocks near a source of water and forest edge. Fine sandstone rocks were the primary cover objects used. Snakes were sexually dimorphic with males having longer tails expressed as a percent of total body lengths …
Comparing Digit Morphology Of An Arboreal Salamander With Potential Competitors, Eric Hugh Diefenbacher
Comparing Digit Morphology Of An Arboreal Salamander With Potential Competitors, Eric Hugh Diefenbacher
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus) are the only salamanders in West Virginia to exhibit an arboreal lifestyle. The focus of this study was to determine the cellular anatomy of the distal digit structures and how these structures may influence climbing ability. Comparative histology, comparative morphometrics, and comparative osteology of Green Salamanders, Cumberland Plateau Salamanders (Plethodon kentucki), and Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus), were also used to determine if Cumberland Plateau Salamanders had the potential to compete with Green Salamanders for arboreal habitats. Histologically, Cumberland Plateau Salamanders had cell layer thickening similar to that of Green Salamanders. Morphometrically, Green Salamanders and Cumberland Plateau …
Habitat Comparison Of Pseudacris F. Feriarum And Pseudacris C. Crucifer With Emphasis On Associated Plant Communities And Distribution Of Clemmys Guttata And Pseudacris F. Feriarum In West Virginia, Scott Joseph Albaugh
Habitat Comparison Of Pseudacris F. Feriarum And Pseudacris C. Crucifer With Emphasis On Associated Plant Communities And Distribution Of Clemmys Guttata And Pseudacris F. Feriarum In West Virginia, Scott Joseph Albaugh
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Upland Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris f. feriarum) are a rare species in West Virginia. They occur in aquatic habitats across parts of the eastern and southern U.S. Pseudacris f. feriarum collection records in West Virginia suggest that their distribution is limited to the eastern panhandle and Ridge and Valley region where they are very rare and imperiled. Distribution information is needed for future management strategies. To help conserve this rare species, key life history habits were identified through the investigation of plant communities that are associated with them. Data on Pseudacris f. feriarum distribution in West Virginia was determined by conducting …
A Taxonomic Study Of The Genus Acris And The Status Of Acris Crepitans Blanchardi (Harper), Blanchard's Cricket Frog, In Southern Ohio And Western West Virginia, Amy M. Hamilton
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Distributions of Acris crepitans and Acris gryllus cover most of the eastern United States with some overlap, and the subspecies Acris crepitans blanchardi and Acris crepitans crepitans also occur sympathric in parts of their ranges. My study analyzed 15 morphological characteristics of A. c. blanchardi, A. c. crepitans, and A. g. gryllus using Canonical Discriminate Analysis. Results support current taxonomy, showing the most separation between A. crepitans and A. gryllus and some overlap between A. c. blanchardi and A. c. crepitans. Sexual dimorphism was seen only in A. c. blanchardi and A. c. crepitans with females being larger …
A Study On The Population Size And Natural History Of The Eastern Six‐Lined Racerunner, Aspidoscelis Sexlineata, In West Virginia, With Notes On Other Lizard Species, Emmy Johnson
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Species will expand ranges through natural or human‐alterations. Such an occurrence has happened in West Virginia with Eastern Six‐lined Racerunner, Aspidsocelis sexlineata, a species that has been found to thrive in areas of high disturbance from humans. While found abundantly in other states, they are thought to occur only in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia (Morgan County) where they are believed to have come from Maryland via a railroad bridge. Without the bridge, the Potomac River forms a natural barrier between these two states. The objectives of my study were to determine the population size and natural history …
Terrestrial Habitat Use Of Marbled Salamanders Ambystoma Opacum: A Site Specific Approach, Frank Piccininni
Terrestrial Habitat Use Of Marbled Salamanders Ambystoma Opacum: A Site Specific Approach, Frank Piccininni
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation have contributed heavily to the decline of amphibian populations such as Marbled Salamanders (Ambystoma opacum). Often, ambystomatid water resources are conserved without consideration for the equally important terrestrial habitat. This is partly due to a lack of information regarding the relationship between ecological succession, plant community composition, microhabitat and salamander abundance. Three sampling transects consisting of drift fence arrays, vegetation assessments and microhabitat surveys were extended 100 m into the terrestrial habitat surrounding a seasonal wetland at Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County, West Virginia. Principal components analysis was used to identify …
Cranial Anatomy And Taxonomy Of Dolichorhynchops Bonneri New Combination, A Polycotylid (Sauropterygia: Plesiosauria) From The Pierre Shale Of Wyoming And South Dakota, F. Robin O’Keefe
Biological Sciences Faculty Research
The taxonomic identity of two well-preserved polycotylid plesiosaur skeletons from the Pierre Shale of far northern Wyoming and southern South Dakota has been controversial since their discovery. Originally referred to Dolichorhynchops osborni, the material was almost immediately christened Trinacromerum bonneri Adams 1997; more recently the material has been referred toPolycotylus. Recent preparation of the well-preserved skull of one specimen permits detailed examination of the cranial morphology of this animal for the first time, and allows for its inclusion in a cladistic analysis of the Polycotylidae. This analysis reveals a stable sister-taxon relationship with Dolichorhynchops osborni. However, …
Acquiring Three-Dimensional Data From Small Mammalian Teeth : Laser Scanning Eocene Marsupials, Nicholas E. Smith
Acquiring Three-Dimensional Data From Small Mammalian Teeth : Laser Scanning Eocene Marsupials, Nicholas E. Smith
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Three-dimensional laser scanning is an effective method of digitization in paleontology, but has traditionally been restricted to larger specimens. The goal of this study was to develop a laser scanning technique applicable to small mammalian (< 5 mm) dentition. Modeling protocols were developed, and a morphometric error study showed the system highly accurate (percent error = 1D- 0.4%, 2D- 0.05%, 3D- 1.74%). Automation and standardization were accomplished by implementation of a multiscan platform and autosurfacing macro reducing modeling time by 60%. To highlight one morphometric application, 3D models (n=61) of three sympatric Eocene marsupials were digitized, and traditionally qualitative diagnostic characters were quantified and assessed. All but two of the 19 characters examined proved diagnostic (p < 0.05), and exploratory canonical discriminant analysis confirmed three distinct species. Incorporating type specimens revealed a familial overlap, therefore, this novel modeling technique can be employed in a full revision of early Eocene marsupials.
Chronic Acetaminophen Treatment Influences Indices Of Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation In The Aging Fisher 344 X Brown Norway Rat Aorta, Sarath Meduru
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
We have previously reported that aging in the Fisher 344 X Brown Norway (FBN) rat aorta is characterized by increased levels of ROS and alterations in cell signaling. Acetaminophen was found to scavenge free radicals in recent ischemia-reperfusion studies. Here we examined if chronic treatment with a therapeutic dose of acetaminophen attenuates age-associated increase in aortic ROS accumulation and signaling. FBN rats (27 month old; n=8) were subjected to 6 months of treatment with a therapeutic dose of acetaminophen (30mg/kg/day), with age-matched untreated FBN rats as controls. Protein oxidation levels were altered in control and treated aortae compared to aortae …
Turtle Assemblages In The Eastern Panhandle Of West Virginia With An Emphasis On Pseudemys Rubriventris (Leconte), Ashley Renea Fisher
Turtle Assemblages In The Eastern Panhandle Of West Virginia With An Emphasis On Pseudemys Rubriventris (Leconte), Ashley Renea Fisher
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Little is known about turtle assemblages in West Virginia, especially in the eastern panhandle. The only published work on Pseudemys rubriventris (Le Conte) in the state is by Green and Pauley (1987). Pseudemys rubriventris are considered an S2 species by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources which means they are considered rare and imperiled in the state (WVDNR, Wildlife Diversity Program). Their range includes the Coastal Plains rivers of the mid-Atlantic region, from northern North Carolina to central New Jersey (Ernst et al. 1994). In West Virginia, they inhabit the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, which is the only …
Morphological And Molecular Analyses Of The Blacknose Dace Species Complex (Genus Rhinichthys) In A Large Zone Of Contact In West Virginia, Geoffrey D. Smith
Morphological And Molecular Analyses Of The Blacknose Dace Species Complex (Genus Rhinichthys) In A Large Zone Of Contact In West Virginia, Geoffrey D. Smith
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The blacknose dace species complex (Rhinichthys atratulus, Rhinichthys obtusus obtusus, and Rhinichthys obtusus meleagris) are among the most common freshwater fishes in eastern North American. Despite this fact, the taxonomy of this group is still in question. This study focuses on the relationship of the members of this species complex along an unusually large zone of contact in the high Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Morphological, distributional, and molecular analysis of the relationships of this complex were conducted in this area to try to shed light on the systematics of this group. Morphological analysis of coloration patterns of nuptual males …
Ecology And Morphological Comparison Between Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys A. Aestivus) And Eastern Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys V. Vernalis) In West Virginia, Timothy Earl Baldwin
Ecology And Morphological Comparison Between Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys A. Aestivus) And Eastern Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys V. Vernalis) In West Virginia, Timothy Earl Baldwin
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Since 1971, documented Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) occurrences in West Virginia have declined from approximately 100 to less than 20 occurrences in the last 10 years. In contrast to the decline of Rough Greensnakes in WV, Smooth Greensnake (O. vernalis) populations appear to be stable over the same period of time. Historic sites from the West Virginia Biological Survey were cross referenced with habitat descriptions in published literature to establish research locations. One hundred nineteen Rough and Smooth Greensnakes were measured for snout-vent length and total body length, and of these, 78 were measured in detail for external head morphology …
A Study Of The Genus Desmognathus In West Virginia, With Emphasis On Desmognathus Welteri, The Black Mountain Salamander, Tristan Bond
A Study Of The Genus Desmognathus In West Virginia, With Emphasis On Desmognathus Welteri, The Black Mountain Salamander, Tristan Bond
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Black Mountain Salamander, Desmognathus welteri, is listed as S2 by the WVDNR. Given the threat of extirpation, this species is in need of studies to facilitate a conservation effort. The following studies were completed as part of this work: Comparative morphology of the genus Desmognathus in West Virginia; Distribution of D. welteri in West Virginia; Habitat partitioning of Desmognathine salamanders; and Phenology of Desmognathus spp. Ratios of morphometrics of the tail were found to be most useful for distinguishing Desmognathus spp. D. welteri was found in three of 22 streams searched, meaning there are now 21 documented occurrences of …
Arsenic Toxicity In Plhc-1 Cell Line And The Distribution Of Arsenic In Central Appalachia, Yeong Nam Jeong
Arsenic Toxicity In Plhc-1 Cell Line And The Distribution Of Arsenic In Central Appalachia, Yeong Nam Jeong
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Our ecosystem has geobiophysical relationships. Environmental pollution can lead to immediate consequences like organism death or lack of reproduction. It can also lead to long-range consequences through mutations and DNA damage. Fish can be affected very directly by environmental contamination in water but the study of fish is not performed well. We are developing a quantitative assay to assess DNA damage in vitro due to heavy metal contamination using a tissue culture line of Poeciliopsis lucida, the desert pupfish, which is used for other toxicology assays. To detect DNA damage, Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet Assay) is very useful. …
Habitat Preferences Of The Eastern Hellbender In West Virginia, S. Conor Keitzer
Habitat Preferences Of The Eastern Hellbender In West Virginia, S. Conor Keitzer
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Eastern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis, is a species of concern in West Virginia and is in need of management. An important component of conservation efforts will involve identifying suitable habitat for protection. The goal of this research was to locate populations and examine hellbender habitat preferences to help managers identify habitat for protection. Populations were located using rock turning surveys from May through November, 2006. Hellbenders may be sensitive to water chemistry, so the dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, specific conductivity, and water temperature were measured. Substrate composition may influence populations, so substrate was characterized with Wolman pebble counts. …
A Taxonomic Investigation Of The Black Ratsnake, Elaphe O. Obsoleta (Say) [Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae], In West Virginia Using Morphometric Analyses, Adam M. Mann
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
A recent genetic study by Frank T. Burbrink (2000) determined that the common Black Ratsnake, Elaphe o. obsoleta, evolved from three separate evolutionary lineages and can no longer be classified under a single species name. The newly assigned species, which possess ranges that are separated into three regions of the eastern United States by geologic features such as rivers and mountains, are also said to possess distinct morphologic characteristics (Burbrink, 2001). This thesis study was initiated to mirror Burbrink’s previous morphometric study and augment a previous lack of specimen data from West Virginia. Black Ratsnake museum specimens, collected from ranges …