Biodiversity Commons^™

Better Understanding The Barred Owl, Adam Lee Potts

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis research presents an analysis of barred owl nest site selection in an understudied region of their expanded range. The barred owl has dramatically expanded its range westwards over the last 150 years, prompting multiple conflicting reinterpretations of their species account. Hypotheses of range expansion are reviewed to provide context for this study’s research. This study gathers empirical data on nest site selection in the mixed conifer forests of Montana’s Seeley-Swan and Mission Valleys. Eight barred owl nests were located following extensive territory surveys. Field measurements of tree height and diameter using USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plot …

Coexistence Conservation: Time To Change The Paradigm, Jorge Tobajas

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This letter to the editor recommends that coexistence conservation should be recognized as a new discipline within conservation biology with vast potential for the future of biodiversity conservation. The term “coexistence conservation” must be broadened to accommodate different techniques and their development, regardless of the context of invasive species.

Endophytic Fungi Associated With Galls And Host Plants Of Asphondylia Borrichiae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Shannon Lynn Sharpe

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Asphondylia borrichiae, like other gall-forming gnats, are obligate symbionts to the endophytic fungi (EF) they deposit when laying eggs. Asphondylia spp. and EF are important biocontrol agents, yet details surrounding their diversity, life cycles, and host interactions remain poorly understood. Galls and leaf-stem tissues from two host plants were surveyed to identify and compare EF diversity between the host tissues and species of A. borrichiae. Identification of 114 isolates was carried out by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS 1/4 primers). Pairwise alignments in multiple genetic databases were bolstered by phylogenetic analyses using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood …

Effects Of Subchronic Oral Pfos Exposure Via Drinking Water On Gut Microbiota Composition, Emma Ann Loder

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) has been phased out of production in the United States, but because of its resistance to degradation and its persistence in the environment, PFOS can be found in drinking water across America. Oral exposure to PFOS has been linked to adverse developmental, immunological, hepatic, and endocrine health. Oral PFOS exposure may alter the gut microbiota and cause dysbiosis, which is implicated in the pathology of inflammatory diseases like Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and ulcerative colitis. The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of subchronic oral PFOS exposure on the composition of the gut microbiota. Adult …

Population Viability Of Egyptian Tortoises: Analyzing Demographics Sensitivities And Extinction Risk In North Sinai, Basem Ahmed Rabia Motwaly

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigated the population viability of the critically endangered Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni) across five populations in North Sinai, Egypt. The research aimed to assess demographic sensitivities, extinction risks, and the influence of environmental variables to guide conservation strategies. Using multistate mark-recapture models within a Bayesian framework, survival, transition, and recapture probabilities were estimated across life stages, integrating site-specific environmental data such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The analysis revealed stark contrasts between populations, with three sites demonstrating high extinction risk due to lower juvenile survival and limited recruitment. In contrast, two populations exhibited demographic …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 31: Amphilinidea Poche 1922 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Cestodaria], Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode (tapeworm) order Amphilinidea Poche, 1922, a large group of large endoparasitic worms infecting the body cavity of freshwater and marine teleost (bony) fishes and freshwater turtles. Covers the morphology of the adults and larvae and the life cycle of a representative species, Austramphilina elongata, and a discussion of other species in the group, including their taxonomy and phylogeny.

Chapter 31 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Klaus Rohde. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap031

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 27: Litobothriidea Dailey, 1969 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Luis García-Prieto, Berenice Adán-Torres, Brenda Atziri García-García, Omar Lagunas-Calvo

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode (tapeworm) order Litobothriidea Dailey, 1969. The 9 species included in the order, all belonging to the genus Litobothrium, infect the spiral intestine of sharks in the order Lamniformes in the tropical eastern Pacific to the central Indo-Pacific marine ecoregions. Covers their main morphological characteristics, description and summary of a representative species, L. amplificum (Kurochkin and Slankis, 1973) Euzet, 1994, taxonomy, and life cycles.

Chapter 27 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Luis García-Prieto, Berenice Adán-Torres, Brenda Atziri García-García, and Omar Lagunas-Calvo. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 30: Relics Of “Tetraphyllidea” Van Beneden, 1850 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Berenice Adán-Torres, Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, Luis García-Prieto

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the relics of cestode (tapeworm) order “Tetraphyllidea” van Beneden, 1850, parasites found in the spiral intestine and occasionally the stomach of species from all orders of elasmobranch fishes. Includes a discussion of their main morphological characteristics, a description and summary of a representative species, Duplicibothrium cairae Ruhnke et al., 2000, taxonomy, and life cycle.

Chapter 30 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Berenice Adán-Torres, Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, and Luis García-Prieto. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap030

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 32: Gyrocotylidea (Order): The Most Primitive Group Of Tapeworms [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Cestodaria], Willi E. R. Xylander, Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode order Gyrocotylidea, the most primitive group of tapeworms, including a discussion of their taxonomy, a description of the structure of the adult and the larva, life cycle, and ecological and economic importance.

Chapter 32 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Willi E. R. Xylander and Klaus Rohde. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap032

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 33: Aspidogastrea (Subclass) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Aspidogastrea], Klaus Rohde

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) subclass Aspidogastrea, a very small group of trematodes with around 80 species, none of them of economic importance, but are of great interest because of their unique structure, their simple life cycles (which may well be the most primitive or ancestral one among the trematodes, and the extraordinarily complex sensory/nervous systems found in some species. Includes a desciption of their general morphology, life cycles, taxonomy and phylogeny, infection process, localization in the host, and ecological infection dynamics.

Chapter 33 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Klaus Rohde. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 34: Introduction To Diplostomida Olson Et Al., 2003 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Diplostomida], Lucrecia Acosta Soto, Bernard Fried, Rafael Toledo

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An introduction to the trematode (fluke) order Diplostomida Olson et al., 2003, one of the two main lineages from which subclass Digenea have diversified. Includes a discussion of Diplostomida systematics, general morphology, and human pathogenesis, including schistosomiasis.

Chapter 34 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Lucrecia Acosta Soto, Bernard Fried, and Rafael Toledo. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap034

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 36: Introduction To Plagiorchiida La Rue, 1957 (Order)[Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Rafael Toledo, Bernard Fried, Lucrecia Acosta Soto

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An introduction to the large trematode (fluke) order Plagiorchiida La Rue, 1957, one of two fundamental branches of the Digenea (along with the Diplostomida). Includes a classification and basic morphological characteristics.

Chapter 36 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Rafael Toledo, Bernard Fried, and Lucrecia Acosta Soto. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap036

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 38: Echinostomata La Rue, 1926 (Suborder) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Rafael Toledo, Bernard Fried, Lucrecia Acosta Soto

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) suborder Echinostomata La Rue, 1926, which includes numerous species of trematodes that are parasites of humans and domestic animals and are of great health significance. Includes taxonomy, general morphological characteristics, identification, and life cycles for several groups, as well as brief discussions of human echinostomiasis, fascioliasis, and fasciolopsiasis.

Chapter 38 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Rafael Toledo, Bernard Fried, and Lucrecia Acosta Soto. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap038

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 35: Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912 (Family): Fish Blood Flukes [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Diplostomida], Russell Q.-Y. Yong

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode family Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912, also known as the fish blood flukes. Covers identification methods, general morphology, taxonomy, life cycles, and effect on the aquaculture industry.

Chapter 35 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Russell Q.-Y. Yong. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap035

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 39: Haplosplanchnata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Two Hosts With Half The Guts [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Daniel C. Huston

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the suborder Haplosplanchnata Olson et al., 2003, a small, but distinct lineage within the Plagiorchiida. Includes a discussion of the methods of identification, general morphological characteristics, taxonomy, and life cycles.

Chapter 39 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Daniel C. Huston. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap039

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 37: Bivesiculata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Small, Rare, But Important [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Thomas H. Cribb, Scott C. Cutmore

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the the small, rare, but important group of trematodes (flukes) in suborder Bivesiculata Olson et al., 2003, found in the intestine of marine bony fishes in the class Osteichthyes. Includes identification methods, general morphology, life cycles, and taxonomy.

Chapter 37 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Thomas H. Cribb and Scott C. Cutmore. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap037

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 40: Hemiurata Skrjabin & Guschanskaja, 1954 (Suborder) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Lucrecia Acosta Soto, Bernard Fried, Rafael Toledo

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) suborder Hemiurata Skrjabin & Guschanskaja, 1954, one of the most diverse groups of digeneans. They usually occur in the stomach and intestine mainly of marine teleost fishes but also in freshwater teleosts, elasmobranchs, amphibians, and reptiles, and have a wide geographical distribution, found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Includes discussion of general morphological characteristics, taxonomy, and life cycles.

Chapter 40 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Lucrecia Acosta Soto, Bernard Fried, and Rafael Toledo. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 42: Opisthorchis (Genus) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

A very brief overview of the trematode (fluke) genus Opisthorchis, including taxonomy, human medical importance, and life cycle.

Chapter 42 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, compiled by Sue Ann Gardner from information from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap042

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 43: Allocreadiidae Looss, 1902 (Family) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Gerardo Pérez-Ponce De León, David Iván Hernández-Mena, Brenda Solórzano-García

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Allocreadiidae Looss, 1902, mainly found as parasites of the digestive tracts of freshwater fishes. Includes a discussion of the taxonomy and classification, main morphological characteristics, morphological variability, life cycle, population biology, phylogenetic relationships, species diversity, and descriptions of representative species.

Chapter 43 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Gerardo Pérez-Ponce de León, David Iván Hernández-Mena, and Brenda Solórzano-García. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap043

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 44: Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964 (Family) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Virginia León-Règagnon

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964, parasites of the lungs of amphibians that are found on every continent except Antarctica. Their life cycle includes a snail and an aquatic arthropod as first and second intermediate hosts, respectively, and a frog or salamander as the definitive host. Includes a discussion of the main characters, taxonomy, phylogenetics, life cycles, host range, and biogeography.

Chapter 44 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Virginia León-Règagnon. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap044

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 45: Lecithodendriidae Lühe, 1901 (Family) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Jeffrey M. Lotz

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Lecithodendriidae Lühe, 1901, which inhabit the intestinal tract of insectivorous bats and occasionally birds. Includes a discussion of identification, general morphological charcteristics, systematics, taxonomy, life cycles, human and veterinary health significance, and ecology.

Chapter 45 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Jeffrey M. Lotz. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap045

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 46: Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925 (Family): The Richest Trematode Family [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Storm B. Martin

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925, the richest of all trematode families, comprising over 1,000 described species presently arranged into about 100 genera. Adult opecoelids are benign endoparasites, typically residing in the intestines, pyloric ceca, or rectum of phylogenetically and ecologically diverse teleost fishes worldwide. They exploit both marine and freshwater fishes and are among the best represented trematode lineages known from polar and deep sea fishes. Therefore, although no opecoelids are known to have any economic importance, they are often among the lineages of trematodes most frequently encountered by ichthyoparasitologists in the field.

Includes a …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 41: Monorchiata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Two Families Separated By Salinity [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Nicholas Q.-X. Wee

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the speciose trematode (fluke) suborder Monorchiata Olson et al., 2003, which parasitizes fishes as adults. Includes general morphology, systematics, taxonomy, life cycles, and biogeography for several groups.

Chapter 41 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Nicholas Q.-X. Wee. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap041

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 47: Summary Of The Digenea (Subclass): Insights And Lessons From A Prominent Parasitologist [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea], Robin M. Overstreet

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the digenean trematodes (subclass Digenea) including insights and lessons from a prominent parasitologist, Robin M. Overstreet. Includes discussion of general morphology, biology, preparation methods, phylogeny, classification, life cycles, host-digenean relationships, effects on host behavior, hyperparasitism, ecology, digeneans as indicators, and literature on the digeneans.

Chapter 47 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Robin M. Overstreet. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap047

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 48: Introduction To Endoparasitic Nematodes (Phylum Nemata) [Nemata], Scott L. Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An introduction to endoparasitic nematodes (phylum Nemata, at times referred to as Nematoda). Includes a discussion of general morphology, host range, diversity, the (highly unsettled) classification, ancient historical accounts, and trace or fossil history.

Chapter 48 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Scott L. Gardner. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap048

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 49: Trichuroidea And Trichinelloidea (Superfamilies) [Nemata, Adenophorea], María Del Rosario Robles, Rocío Callejón Fernández

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the nematode (roundworm) superfamilies Trichuroidea and Trichinelloidea. Includes a discussion of the taxonomy, morphological and molecular characteristics, biology, life cycle, and species of human medical and veterinary importance.

Chapter 49 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by María del Rosario Robles and Rocío Callejón Fernández. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap049

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 50: Ascarididae And Anisakidae (Families): Large Intestinal Nematodes [Nemata, Secernentea], Larry S. Roberts, John J. Janovy Jr., Steven A. Nadler, Scott L. Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the large intestinal nematodes (roundworms) in the families Ascarididae and Anisakidae. Includes a discussion of the taxonomy, as well as the biology and other aspects of ascarids and anasakids of human medical and veterinary importance, such as Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara canis, Anasakis spp., and other species.

Chapter 50 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Larry S. Roberts, John J. Janovy, Jr., Steven Nadler, and Scott L. Gardner. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap050

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 51: Heterakoidea (Superfamily): Cosmopolitan Gut-Dwelling Parasites Of Tetrapods [Nemata, Secernentea], F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cosmopolitan gut-dwelling nematodes (roundworms) in the superfamily Heterakoidea, which occur most often in the cecum and large intestine of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Discusses the general morphological characteristics, diagnosis, distribution and host associations, general biology, evolution, systematics, phylogeny, ecology, and conservation, including coverage of species of veterinary importance, Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis.

Chapter 51 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap051

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 52: Oxyurida (Order): Pinworms [Nemata, Secernentea], Haylee J. Weaver

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the pinworms, order Oxyurida, discussing their key features, life history, ecology, health effects on hosts, systematics, taxonomy, and including summaries of the main groups.

Chapter 52 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Haylee J. Weaver. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap052

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 53: Spirurida (Order) [Nemata, Secernentea], Valentin Radev

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the nematode (roundworm) order Spirurida including the morphology and locations within the host, and taxonomic hierarchy and classification history with description of groups.

Chapter 53 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Valentin Radev. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap053