Biodiversity Commons^™

Quantifying Public Support For Culling Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster Spp.) On The Great Barrier Reef, Stewart Lockie, Henry A. Bartelet, Brent W. Ritchie, Lintje Sie, Gillian Paxton

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

Population surges of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) (Acanthaster spp.) are a leading cause of coral cover loss on Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR). While COTS culling has been undertaken since 2012 little is known about how the public perceive COTS culling or how perceptions vary among social groups. Drawing on survey data collected in 2018 and 2022 we test the relative influence of demographic variables, social and institutional variables, and beliefs concerning the risks and benefits of culling, on public acceptance for the culling of COTS on the GBR. In contrast with previous research suggesting a polarization of views, we found …

How Environmental Variation Affects Bumblebee Cognition And The Gut Microbiome, Parker Madison Campbell

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This master's thesis examines the influence of environmental variables on cognitive processes in Bombus impatiens, focusing on the effects of ingested microbial communities on gut microbiota and their subsequent impact on associative color learning. The study implemented controlled feeding trials with isolated microbe species (Candida bombi, Metschnikowia reukaufii, Lactobacillus micheneri and a control with no microbes) to analyze shifts in gut microbial composition in foraging bees. Results indicated minor alterations in the microbial profiles of bees, yet no statistically significant correlation was found between these modifications and variations in learning or memory performance. Furthermore, the study assessed the impact of …

New Records For 23 Species Of Nearctic False Click Beetles Including New Country Records For Protofarsus Convexus (Fisher) (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dirhagini), Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

New state records for 22 species of Eucnemidae (Coleoptera: Elateroidea) are reported from the eastern United States, based on examination and identification of specimens from four institutional and two private collections throughout 2024. Additionally, specimens of Protofarsus convexus (Fisher) from Texas represent new USA records for the species, known previously from Panama and Nicaragua. Images of several eucnemid species are provided. An identification key for Protofarsus Muona in the United States is provided.

Additions To The Millipede Family Caseyidae Verhoeff, 1909, Iii: Proposal Of The New Subfamily Ochrogrammatinae, New Records Of Vasingtona Irritans (Chamberlin, 1910), Established Species Of Ochrogramma Gardener And Shelley, 1989, A New Species Of Ochrogramma From Washington State, Usa (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Striariidea), And Observations On Spermatozoa And Spermatophores, William A. Shear, Paul E. Marek

Insecta Mundi

The genera Ochrogramma Gardner and Shelley, 1989 and Vasingtona Chamberlin, 1941 (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida: Striariidea: Caseyidae) are assigned to the Ochrogrammatinae Shear and Marek, new subfamily. The new subfamily is diagnosed by the broad ventral lamina of the mandibular stipes and extremely long gonapophyses (found in males), the peculiar, elaborately branched processes of the gonopods, and other characters. New records and new SEM illustrations are provided for the species Vasingtona irritans (Chamberlin, 1910), Ochrogramma bentona (Chamberlin, 1952) and Ochrogramma haigi Gardner and Shelley, 1989. The range of O. bentona is extended north from the Columbia River to the Puget …

Anthrenus (Nathrenus) Peacockae (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae), A New Species From Pakistan, Graham J. Holloway

Insecta Mundi

A new species, Anthrenus (Nathrenus) peacockae Holloway (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) from Pakistan is described and compared with A. narani Háva and Ahmed, 2014, the most similar species. Images of the habitus, ventrites, antenna, aedeagus, sternites VIII and IX are presented. Anthrenus peacockae is only the third species in the subgenus Nathrenus Casey, 1900 to be recorded from Pakistan.

First Record Of The Mexican-M Hairstreak Parrhasius Moctezuma (Clench, 1971) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) In Texas, Usa, And Possible Sighting Of The Tequila Giant Skipper Aegiale Hesperiaris (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), Sajan Kc, Anisha Sapkota

Insecta Mundi

We report two significant butterfly sightings in the United States, observed during an opportunistic photographic survey conducted in south Texas between December 2022 and January 2023. Parrhasius moctezuma (Clench, 1971) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) was sighted at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, on January 5, 2023, marking the first documented record of the species in Texas and only the second in the United States, as confirmed by photographic evidence. Additionally, Aegiale hesperiaris (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) was potentially observed at the same location on December 4, 2022, although lacking photographic documentation or a collected specimen, highlighting the need for further …

Enriching The Knowledge Of The Biodiversity Of The South American Fauna: Descriptions Of New Species Of Cerambycinae And Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Josef Vlasak, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Six new species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described from South America: Compsibidion volcanense Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species (Cerambycinae: Tropidini: Neoibidionina), from Bolivia; Hyperplatys striatus Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species, Hyperplatys vilcabambaensis Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species, Sporetus boteroi Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species, and Urgleptes colibri Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species (Lamiinae: Acanthocinini), from Ecuador; and Estola apicomaculosa Vlasak and Santos-Silva, new species (Lamiinae: Desmiphorini), from Ecuador.

Anthrenus (Anthrenus) Querneri (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae), A New Species From Austria, Graham J. Holloway

Insecta Mundi

A new species, Anthrenus (Anthrenus) querneri Holloway (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) from Austria is described and compared with A. pimpinellae (Fabricius, 1775), the most similar species. Images of the habitus, ventrites, antenna, aedeagus, and sternite IX are presented. Anthrenus querneri represents the 26^th species belonging to the Palaearctic Anthrenus pimpinellae complex.

Review Of North American Eucnemis Ahrens, 1812 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Eucneminae: Eucnemini) With Description Of A New Species From Eastern United States And Canada, Jyrki Muona, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

Eucnemis Ahrens, 1812 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Eucneminae: Eucnemini) is reviewed from the Nearctic region. Eucnemis americanus Horn is redescribed and illustrated and a new species, Eucnemis piceous Muona and Otto, is described and illustrated from Ontario, Canada and the United States from Wisconsin south to Kentucky, east to Massachusetts and West Virginia, north to Connecticut and Rhode Island. Thus, E. americanus is restricted to the western coastline of northern North America from northern California to northern Washington. A key is provided for the two species.

A New Species Of Therates Latreille, 1816 (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) From China, Jürgen Wiesner, Xinxin Xiong

Insecta Mundi

Therates yunnanensis Wiesner and Xiong, new species (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), is described from Yunnan, China. It is distinguished from its allies by the shape of the aedeagus, labrum and elytral maculation.

Anthaxia (Anthaxia) Amandae (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae), A New Species From Mallorca, Spain, Graham J. Holloway

Insecta Mundi

A new species, Anthaxia (Anthaxia) amandae (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Buprestinae), from Mallorca, Spain is described. Anthaxia amandae belongs to the A. dimidiata species group and externally very closely resembles A. dimidiata (Thunberg). External and internal features are presented enabling the two species to be differentiated from each other.

Aporus (Aporus) Niger (Cresson), A Reclusive Spider Wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae: Aporini) From Eastern North America, Frank E. Kurczewski

Insecta Mundi

There is no host or nesting information for Aporus (Aporus) niger (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae: Aporini). Wasps in the tribe Aporini and, specifically, the genus Aporus Spinola capture only mygalomorph spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae). Purse-web spiders of the genus Sphodros Walckenaer (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Atypidae) are the most likely host spiders of A. (A.) niger based on Aporus-Mygalomorphae parasitoid-host relationship, Aporus comparative morphology, geographic and habitat sympatry, seasonal synchrony, abundance, and retreat confinement. Aporus niger is the only aporine wasp in Wisconsin, lower Michigan, and southern Ontario. Sphodros niger is the only mygalomorph spider in Wisconsin, …

Lessons From An Iconic Grouper: Sex, Science, And Serendipity, Yvonne J. Sadovy De Mitcheson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

From a common little damselfish and spectacular grouper aggregations, to disappearing reef fishes and the dark side of the international seafood trade, my journey has passed through a fascinating and worrying period of change in the way we view and treat our oceans. Although much of my career has been in the Indo—Pacific, I focus here mainly on my professional ‘roots’ in the Caribbean and on the Nassau Grouper Epinephelus striatus, a species that kept me curious, taught me patience, never to assume and always to stay hopeful. This fish is almost an obsession; why can we not better safeguard …

Analyzing The Belowground Biomass Of The Camp Wilkes Living Shoreline​, Ally Matheny, Wei Wu Dr., Makenzie Holifield

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

By utilizing natural materials, living shorelines contribute to coastal resilience. While traditional concrete seawalls stabilize the land and reduce erosion, living shorelines do so too while also providing a variety of species with a place to live, maintaining or enhancing habitats, and improving the quality and flow of water. Living shorelines are made up of naturally occurring materials like plants, sand, shells and rocks. The Camp Wilkes’ Living Shoreline project entails building 150 linear feet of breakwater along Camp Wilkes’ south facing shoreline in the Back Bay of Biloxi, northwest in the city of Biloxi, Mississippi.

The Morphological Evolution Of The Inner Ear In Lacertoidea (Squamata), Cristian Hernandez

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The popularization of high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) has produced a revolution in the field of comparative anatomy. This technology allows us to reach a level of morphological detail in our observations that has never been possible previously. Now we can perform digital dissections isolating structures of interest such as individual bones, soft tissue organs, and even generate 3D models of body cavities (endocasts) such as the braincase and inner ear. Encompassed with the progress of the HRCT, 3D geometric morphometrics have emerged as a common tool to address morphological questions in a statistical context that outperforms the traditional 2D geometric morphometrics. …

Towards Sustainable Exhibition Practices: Assessing And Enhancing Sustainability In Art Exhibitions, Cato Wong

MA Theses

Given the high degree of environmental impact of mega-scale art exhibitions, it is imperative to have strict environmental conservation policies in place to improve sustainability in the art industry. Sustainability is an inevitable future; thus, this study is designed to find the reality of sustainability in the art sector through surveys. Fundamentally, the study aims to study the current sustainable practices, identify the challenges, and discover the intervention points that can be used to enhance environmental stewardship. This study establishes a solid scientific basis for making knowledgeable decisions with the goal of improving environmental efficiency, lessening carbon emission intensity, and …

Road Salt Intrusion Drives Changes In Wetland Plant Communities In Great Marsh, Pennsylvania, Benjamin Langey

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Freshwater salinization, especially the use of road salts for deicing, poses significant threats to freshwater wetlands. The Great Marsh in Elverson, Pennsylvania, is a unique and valuable freshwater ecosystem, and the largest contiguous freshwater wetland complex within the highly developed Philadelphia suburban landscape. Recently documented water quality and vegetative community degradation within the Marsh could be attributed to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, present along the Marsh’s southern boundary. Constructed in the 1950s, the Turnpike is a source of road salts and pathway for invasive species, namely the salt-tolerant Phragmites australis. To investigate the effects of road salt intrusion on emergent …

Spatiotemporal Distribution Of Mangrove Along The Egyptian Red Sea Coast And Analysis Of Hydrological Impact On Growth Patterns, H. Sewilam, B. T. Hassan, B. S. Khalil

Faculty Journal Articles

This study presents an in-depth spatiotemporal analysis of mangrove ecosystems along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, utilizing satellite imagery and GIS to examine changes from 2003 to 2022. We evaluate the effects of hydrological factors, specifically rainfall and runoff -presented by Stream Power Index-, on mangrove growth patterns. Results indicate a significant increase in mangrove areas, with a notable annual growth rate, despite a reduction in a specific region. This research highlights the integral role of catchment area runoff (R2 = 0.735, R = 0.857, P-value = 0.003 < 0.05, CV = 70.26%), rather than direct rainfall, in mangrove expansion, contributing to the understanding of mangrove resilience and informing sustainable coastal management strategies. The study bridges a significant research gap by mapping decadal mangrove changes, offering insights into the dynamics affecting these crucial ecosystems.

Influence Of Seeding Strategy On Insect Communities Within Utility Lands, Kylee E. Nissen

Masters Theses

Pollinator populations are in decline globally due to anthropogenic changes, particularly in areas affected by agricultural expansion and urbanization. Utility lands - managed to prevent tall vegetation encroachment - represent an opportunity to establish native grasslands and support pollinator communities. This study investigates how different seeding strategies used by utility companies influence pollinator community composition within a 15-acre electric right-of-way (ROW) outside St. Louis, Illinois. Despite the logical benefits of native seeding to pollinators, utility companies are often hesitant to do this, often favoring seeding to turf. Seeded in late 2021, the site incorporates randomized plots with turfgrass seeding (no …

Examining Bigheaded Carp Ichthyoplankton Drift In Tributary And Mainstem River Systems Of Two Midwestern Rivers, Adam Landry

Masters Theses

The bigheaded carp invasion in North America continues to negatively impact ecosystems making it essential to understand their reproductive dynamics at various spatial scales. Previous studies have highlighted the suitability of tributaries of large rivers for bigheaded carp reproduction, and the importance of tributaries for ichthyoplankton drift to mainstem rivers. This study investigated patterns in tributary-mainstem ichthyoplankton drift dynamics in two invaded river systems of the Midwestern United States, with distinct hydrology, the Illinois and Wabash Rivers. From May-September 2021, I sampled ichthyoplankton from three tributaries and three mainstem sites in each river basin. I analyzed bigheaded carp egg and …

Variation In Las Vegas Tree Diversity Based On Socioeconomic Status, Fabrizio Ciccone

Calvert Undergraduate Research Awards

An increased level of plant biodiversity has been observed in urban communities of above average socioeconomic status. This phenomenon was previously termed the luxury effect. This study aimed to identify potential disparities in tree diversity of different communities across Las Vegas and Henderson. Communities were selected based on the zip code’s median income for 2023; this information was gathered from the Healthy Southern Nevada database. Public parks were chosen from a range of zip codes, with trees initially being identified with PictureThis, then cross-referenced with Southern Nevada Water Authority’s regional plant list for validity. Trees were counted, identified, and …

Exploring The Impact Of Invasive On Grassland Diversity: A Study In Montana, Ella Gaffney

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

For the capstone project with the University of Montana Davidson Honors College, I investigated the diversity index of grassland and rangeland plots across the state of Montana. My study, conducted from June to August 2023, includes data collected by my team. The purpose of this research project was testing the hypothesis that the diversity index decreases in plots containing invasive grass species.

During the summer of 2023, the Spatial Analysis Lab surveyed over 1000 plots in rangelands and grasslands across the state of Montana to locate an invasive grass, Ventenata dubia. Data collected includes species identification, ocular estimates of …

Arctic Report Card 2024, United States National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Technical Reports and Related Materials

The Arctic Report Card from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 2024.

23 Extinct Redwork Quilt Project: Repairing Relationships With Our More-Than-Human Kin, Stitch By Stich, Heather Kerley

Textile Society of America: Symposium Proceedings

In 2021, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposed 23 species for delisting from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction. I would like to present my redwork quilt, Mourning Lost Kin (23 Extinct), which honors each of these species. I plan to share my process from researching and sketching each species to the embroidering of each block and the over-all construction of the quilt. But most importantly, I would love to share the stories of these species, the layers of meaning in this quilt, and the many questions it raised for me over the course of two years. …

Effects Of Land Cover Changes And Hydropower Development On Fish Communities In Amazonian Floodplain Rivers, Samuel Baron Grinstead Hessburg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In Amazonian River systems, diverse fish communities depend on the floodplains for providing feeding opportunities and critical spawning habitat during the seasonal flood pulse, which annually submerges floodplain forests. In the Amazon, large-scale deforestation and hydroelectric dam construction can have profound impacts on entire ecosystems by altering river-floodplain connectivity. This study attempts to improve understanding of Amazonian fish responses to these two stressors. The first chapter aims to understand how deforestation impacts floating meadow fish assemblages. For this study, we surveyed fish in floodplain lakes along the lower Amazon River, recording their abundance in relation to forest cover and local …

Seasonal Abundance Of The Nudibranch Dondice Jupiteriensis On The Colonial Hydroid Eudendrium Carneum, Erika Molina, Daniela Gutierrez-Andrade, Samantha Schlegel, Julia Piper, Louis J. Ambrosio, Michael L. Middlebrooks

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Benthic colonial hydroids often serve as a host to a large variety of invertebrate taxa. The colonial hydroid Eudendrium carneum Clarke, 1882 is host to a variety of epifauna, including the recently described nudibranch Dondice jupiteriensis García—Méndez & Valdés, 2022. Like many species of heterobranch sea slugs, little is known about the natural history and population biology of D. jupiteriensis. Here we describe a year—long study recording the population density and size structure of D. jupiteriensis on E. carneum colonies in Tampa Bay, FL USA. We found that the D. jupiteriensis population persists year—round but is the densest during …

Investigating The Relationships Between Biotic And Abiotic Factors Affecting Migratory Behavior In Westslope Cutthroat Trout Within The Priest River System, Kyle M. Keenan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Numerous salmonid species demonstrate diverse life histories, encompassing both resident and migratory behaviors. Migratory life histories play a pivotal role in maintaining metapopulations for various reasons, facilitating genetic exchange between populations and yielding larger-sized females with increased fecundity relative to residents. This study took place in northern Idaho, within the lower Priest River system, which is highly susceptible to degrading habitat. Previous research has discovered this system as a significant contributor to migratory Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus lewisi, WCT) in the Lake Pend Oreille and Priest River systems. Expanding on these results, we compared four Priest River tributaries that produced …

Temporal Distribution Of Potential Waterborne Pathogens In Sequiota Spring, William J. Durstock

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Waterborne pathogens from human fecal matter pose a significant health risk in karst environments, where domestic wastewater can easily be transferred to the shallow groundwater system via old, leaky septic tanks and damaged sewer lines. This study monitored fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and potential pathogens in Sequiota Spring located in the karst region of southwest Missouri, using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) and Illumina DNA sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. MST identified high levels of human fecal indicator bacteria (HFIB) (up to 110,000 cells/L) in July 2020. By June 2022, HFIB levels had dropped significantly (55-fold reduction) after the City …

A Case Of One Step Forward And Two Steps Back? An Examination Of Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management Using A Simple Agroecosystem Dynamics Model, Srinadh Kodali, Chris Flores-Lopez, Isabelle Lobdell, Branson Kim, James C. Russell, Lane Michna, Benjamin L. Turner

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Global herbicide-resistant weed populations continue rising due to selection pressures exerted by herbicides. Despite this, herbicides continue to be farmers’ preferred weed-control method due to cost and efficiency relative to physical or biological methods. However, weeds developing resistance to herbicides not only challenges crop production but also threatens ecosystem services by disrupting biodiversity, reducing soil health, and impacting water quality. Our objective was to develop a simulation model that captures the feedback between weed population dynamics, agricultural management, profitability, and farmer decision-making processes that interact in unique ways to reinforce herbicide resistance in weeds. After calibration to observed data and …

Urban Nature Indexes Tool Offers Comprehensive And Flexible Approach To Monitoring Urban Ecological Performance, Jennifer Rae Pierce, Laura Costadone, Lelani Mannetti, Joeri Morpurgo, Charlyn Elaine Green, Michael D. Halder, Pablo Arturo Lopez Guijosa, Abner L. Bogan, Russell Galt, Jonathan Hughes

ODU Articles

We present the Urban Nature Indexes (UNI), a comprehensive tool that measures urban ecological performance under one standard framework linked to global commitments. The UNI was developed by interdisciplinary experts and evaluated by practitioners from diverse cities to capture each city’s ecological footprint from local to global scale. The UNI comprises six themes (consumption drivers, human pressures, habitat status, species status, nature’s contributions to people, and governance responses) that encompass measurable impacts on climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem services, pollution, consumption, water management, and equity within one comprehensive system. Cities then adapt the UNI to their context and capacity by …