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2024

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Articles 781 - 810 of 1632

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Neuroepigenetic Mechanisms Of Brain Development: From Technology To Biological Insights, Allen Yen May 2024

Neuroepigenetic Mechanisms Of Brain Development: From Technology To Biological Insights, Allen Yen

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Each cell in the brain has the same genomic sequence, yet they can have vastly different phenotypes and function. This diversity is a result of complex genetic and signaling pathways, and knowing how these are regulated is key to understanding physiological development and how pathogenic dysfunctions arise. Genomic methods such as chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) have played pivotal roles in dissecting these processes. However, a key limitation is that the cells are destroyed upon observation of their molecular states, which preclude our ability to correlate historical epigenetic information with future …


Whale Harvest Through Time: Unveiling The Hemispheric Contrasts In Whaling, Laura Mooney '24 May 2024

Whale Harvest Through Time: Unveiling The Hemispheric Contrasts In Whaling, Laura Mooney '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Whales have been long known for their oils and rich blubber which has been a dish in many countries in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Some species were being hunted to near extinction. The earliest whaling began in 3000BC by Native American but commercial whaling began by the Basques in the 17th century with a huge increase in the 18th,19th and 20th centuries. This study examines how whale harvest has changed over time in years between 1900 and 1999 in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. I analyzed the data collected by Jr. Robert(2015) and looked to see if …


Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise Leroux '26 May 2024

Sea Surface Temperature Influence On Tropical Storms And Hurricanes, Elise Leroux '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Hurricanes are both dangerous and difficult to predict because of the various factors that influence the size and intensity of storms, where sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the most relevant variables. As temperatures are increasingly rising due to climate change, the effect on storm size, intensity, and frequency is going to be greater. There have been many studies how individual storms are affected, but less so on the overall frequency of hurricanes. This study assesses the number of hurricanes each year in comparison to the SST and the average wind speed of each hurricane. I predict that years …


The Effect Of Population Density On Harmful Algal Blooms In Southwest Florida, Emma Barry '25 May 2024

The Effect Of Population Density On Harmful Algal Blooms In Southwest Florida, Emma Barry '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Karenia brevis is a species of algae native to the Gulf of Mexico. Times when its growth becomes uncontrollable are called harmful algal blooms (formerly called “red tide events”), and they are often caused by increased nutrients in the water. These excessive nutrients come from watersheds and runoff that contain anthropogenic materials like fertilizer, and the phosphate and nitrogen in fertilizers catalyze the growth of algae. As population density in Florida increases, fertilizer runoff increases as well. Harmful algal bloom events are dangerous to both humans and the environment. Thick layers of algal growth on the water’s surface create “dead …


The Effect Sea Temperature Has On Coral Reef Health In The Great Barrier Reef, Elizabeth Glasspool '26 May 2024

The Effect Sea Temperature Has On Coral Reef Health In The Great Barrier Reef, Elizabeth Glasspool '26

Biology Student Scholarship

Coral reef bleaching can happen for many different reasons including storms, disease, sediment and salinity changes, and of change in climate. Mass bleaching is typically a cause of increasing sea temperature in a certain area. Mass bleaching typically kills off many different species of coral. This is detrimental to a large portion of biodiversity, especially in a marine atmosphere. In 2016, records show that it is a record high ocean temperature which led to widespread coral bleaching on Australian reefs. This was part of the third global bleaching event declared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At the …


The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25 May 2024

The Effect Of Temperature On The Invasive Asian Needle Ant, Kaylee Mulligan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

The Asian Needle Ant (Brachyponera chinensis) is an invasive species currently spreading on the Eastern Coast of the United States. They were first reported around the 1930s in Florida and have since migrated to Massachusetts. As an invasive species, this pest originating from Asia has a negative impact on environment ecosystems and other species of ants. Asian Needle Ants displace resident ant colonies, taking over nesting sites by consuming food sources and decreasing the amount of space other ant colonies can use. They are also known to have a sting that contains venom more likely to result in …


Gdp Effects On Bottlenose Dolphins Within The Gulf Of Mexico, Kathleen Kelly '24 May 2024

Gdp Effects On Bottlenose Dolphins Within The Gulf Of Mexico, Kathleen Kelly '24

Biology Student Scholarship

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are highly sensitive to environmental changes and anthropogenic stressors. Making them important indicators of marine ecosystem health. The Gulf of Mexico sustains diverse marine ecosystems and coastal communities. However, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and coastal development have altered marine habitats and increased anthropogenic pressures on marine wildlife. While various factors contribute to these strandings, the potential influence of socio-economic factors, particularly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disparities among Gulf Coast counties, remains underexplored. This number (GDP) is influenced by human activities such as fisheries, shipping, and tourism, all of which directly or indirectly could affect marine …


Michigan Water Supply: Analysis Of Health Violations, Gabriela Guzman Reyes '24 May 2024

Michigan Water Supply: Analysis Of Health Violations, Gabriela Guzman Reyes '24

Biology Student Scholarship

The presence of toxins in water sources poses a significant public health challenge. In Michigan, this issue has garnered widespread attention due to its adverse effects on human health and well-being. The contaminants found in water, including but not limited to lead, industrial pollutants, and agricultural runoff, stem from a variety of sources such as aging infrastructure, industrial activities, and agricultural practices. News articles and Government officials have reported the adverse affects and impact toxin exposure has on Michigan residents. However, there is little research examining the relationship between water quality violations and socioeconomic factors like poverty levels. I predict …


The Effect Of Integrated Pest Management On Nutrition Of Bee Collected Pollen, Kaitlyn Bresnahan '25 May 2024

The Effect Of Integrated Pest Management On Nutrition Of Bee Collected Pollen, Kaitlyn Bresnahan '25

Biology Student Scholarship

Honey bees are the world’s most commercially valuable pollinators, and they face many threats. The greatest challenge facing honey bees is Varroa mites, parasitic mites that feed on bees’ fat bodies, killing bees and spreading diseases. While chemical treatments are available to stop the spread of mites, these treatments are insecticides, which are not ideal to put in a hive of insects. A popular organic method of mite management is using drone comb. Drone brood is preferentially chosen by mites for ovipositing and development because of its larger size and longer development time, so removing drone brood can drastically reduce …


Understanding Gene Regulation By Non-Cg Dna Methylation And Mecp2 At Cellular Resolution In The Brain, Mati Nemera May 2024

Understanding Gene Regulation By Non-Cg Dna Methylation And Mecp2 At Cellular Resolution In The Brain, Mati Nemera

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The mammalian brain features a variety of cell types with distinct functions and properties. This cellular diversity is maintained by epigenomic regulation of gene expression. Neurons in particular express long genes and are uniquely enriched for non-CG methylation, especially methylation at CA dinucleotides (mCA). MeCP2, whose mutation results in Rett syndrome, regulates gene expression by binding to mCA. However, the function of this mCA-MeCP2 pathway in the regulation of fine-tuned neuronal gene expression programs has not been investigated. Here, we provide evidence that mCA-MeCP2 pathway plays a role in the maintenance of neuron type-specific gene expression programs at a high …


Mental Health And Traumatic Occupational Exposure In Wildland Fire Dispatchers, Robin M. Verble, Rachel Granberg, Seth Pearson, Charlene Rogers, Roman Watson May 2024

Mental Health And Traumatic Occupational Exposure In Wildland Fire Dispatchers, Robin M. Verble, Rachel Granberg, Seth Pearson, Charlene Rogers, Roman Watson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Wildland Fire Dispatchers Play a Key Role in Wildland Fire Management and Response Organization; However, to Date, Wildland Fire Studies Have Largely Focused on the Physical Hazards And, to a Lesser Extent, Mental Health Hazards of Wildland Firefighting Operational Personnel, and Dispatcher Studies Have Primarily Focused on 911 and Police Dispatchers. Studies of Other Dispatchers Have Provided Some Limited Insight into Potential Strains Impacting This Workforce, Including Work-Related Fatigue, Burnout, and Traumatic Exposure. However, the Specific Job Hazards that Are Faced by Wildland Fire Dispatchers Are Poorly Understood. in 2023, We Conducted a Cross-Sectional Survey of 510 Wildland Fire Dispatchers …


Alcohol Reward Memory In Drosophila: Investigating Changes In Neural Activity In Response To Cues Alcohol Associations And Their Role In Regulating Other Alcohol-Related Behaviors., Marieke Guitink May 2024

Alcohol Reward Memory In Drosophila: Investigating Changes In Neural Activity In Response To Cues Alcohol Associations And Their Role In Regulating Other Alcohol-Related Behaviors., Marieke Guitink

Honors Projects in Biological and Biomedical Sciences

With more than 200 health conditions associated with Alcohol Use Disorder, excessive drinking can take a serious toll on an individual's health, mental health, and relationships. Despite significant disruptions, there are a few treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder that support long-term abstinence. To develop effective long-term treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder, it is essential to obtain an understanding of the underlying complex changes that alcohol has on the brain, however, the complexity of the mammalian nervous system has precluded researchers from achieving this. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism for investigating how alcohol hijacks neural circuits within the brain …


Survey Of The Boletes From Fish River Nature Preserve, Noah T. Nelson May 2024

Survey Of The Boletes From Fish River Nature Preserve, Noah T. Nelson

Poster Presentations

Boletes are a special kind of mushroom inside of the Kingdom Fungi that are distinguished from other mushrooms by their uniquely pored hymenium, as opposed to gills. Many boletes are ectomycorrhizal, meaning they are mutualists with vascular plants, and thus beneficial to the overall health of the terrestrial ecosystem. Some are well-known for their edibility and are of economic importance. In the United States 59 genus-level clades comprising 290 operational taxonomic units have been reported. The southeastern US and Gulf Coast regions however are less researched and recorded for their mushroom ecology. In Alabama, only 56 bolete species have been …


Gymnosperms Demonstrate Patterns Of Fine-Root Trait Coordination Consistent With The Global Root Economics Space, Jessica R. Langguth, Marcin Zadworny, Karl Andraczek, Marvin Lo, Newton Tran, Kelsey Patrick, Joanna Mucha, Luke Mccormack, Kevin E. Mueller May 2024

Gymnosperms Demonstrate Patterns Of Fine-Root Trait Coordination Consistent With The Global Root Economics Space, Jessica R. Langguth, Marcin Zadworny, Karl Andraczek, Marvin Lo, Newton Tran, Kelsey Patrick, Joanna Mucha, Luke Mccormack, Kevin E. Mueller

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Gymnosperms encompass a diverse group of mostly woody plants with high ecological and economic value, yet little is known about the scope and organization of fine-root trait diversity among gymnosperms due to the undersampling of most gymnosperm families and the dominance of angiosperm groups in recent syntheses. New and existing data were compiled for morphological traits (root diameter, length, tissue density, specific root length [SRL] and specific root area [SRA]), the architectural trait branching ratio, root nitrogen content [N] and mycorrhizal colonization. We used phylogenetic least squares regression and principal component analysis to determine trait-trait relationships and coordination across 66 …


Ultraconserved Elements Based Phylogeny Of The New Zealand Mite Harvester Genus Rakaia, Zade Alafranji May 2024

Ultraconserved Elements Based Phylogeny Of The New Zealand Mite Harvester Genus Rakaia, Zade Alafranji

Biology Honors Projects

New Zealand is home to a remarkable number of endemic taxa, some of which existed on the archipelago before the breakup of Gondwana. The mite harvesters (suborder Cyphophthalmi), tiny arachnids which dwell in forest leaf litter and caves, are one such group. The mite harvester family Pettalidae exhibits a classic Gondwanan distribution, informative for describing ancient patterns of diversification. Within New Zealand, there are three genera of pettalids; our research focuses on the phylogeny of the most widespread and diverse of these: Rakaia. Through phylogenetic analysis, we provide a window into patterns of ancient diversification and infer historical biogeographic trends. …


Use Of Space By Urban Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius Ludovicianus) As A Window Into Habitat Suitability, Katie A. Maddox, Christopher E. Hill May 2024

Use Of Space By Urban Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius Ludovicianus) As A Window Into Habitat Suitability, Katie A. Maddox, Christopher E. Hill

Biology

Wild animals in urban environments face new challenges that may change how they use space and, at the same time, how they use space provides clues to suitability of habitat: bird territories in desirable areas tend to be smaller and populations denser. Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), historically associated with shortgrass habitats such as pasture and shrub steppe, occur widely in urban areas of the southeastern United States. For a complete picture of shrike use of space in urban spaces, we present three measures for a population inhabiting urban areas of Horry County, South Carolina: population density, home range size, and …


West Coast Rock Lobster Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia May 2024

West Coast Rock Lobster Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA) and the Aquatic Resources Management Act …


Isolation Of Aged Mouse Primary Microglia As A Model System For Alzheimer’S Disease Research, Michael Landis May 2024

Isolation Of Aged Mouse Primary Microglia As A Model System For Alzheimer’S Disease Research, Michael Landis

Biology Honors Papers

Microglia and their role as the immune cells of the central nervous system are an emerging area of interest within Alzheimer’s research, particularly as they have shown in a benevolent and malevolent cellular context. Models of Alzheimer’s disease are very light in studying microglia, so in this study a model of microglia isolated from aged mice is established in order to study the phagocytic activity and protein expression of microglia in response to Amyloid Beta. The cells were isolated from aged mice and cultured before being used to confirm cellular identity, as well as to measure phagocytic activity. This study …


Random-Effects Substitution Models For Phylogenetics Via Scalable Gradient Approximations, A. F. Magee, A. J. Holbrook, J. E. Pekar, Itzue W. Caviedes-Solis, F. A. Matsen Iv, G. Baele, J. O. Wertheim, X. Ji, P. Lemey, M. A. Suchard May 2024

Random-Effects Substitution Models For Phylogenetics Via Scalable Gradient Approximations, A. F. Magee, A. J. Holbrook, J. E. Pekar, Itzue W. Caviedes-Solis, F. A. Matsen Iv, G. Baele, J. O. Wertheim, X. Ji, P. Lemey, M. A. Suchard

Biology Faculty Works

Phylogenetic and discrete-trait evolutionary inference depend heavily on an appropriate characterization of the underlying character substitution process. In this paper, we present random-effects substitution models that extend common continuous-time Markov chain models into a richer class of processes capable of capturing a wider variety of substitution dynamics. As these random-effects substitution models often require many more parameters than their usual counterparts, inference can be both statistically and computationally challenging. Thus, we also propose an efficient approach to compute an approximation to the gradient of the data likelihood with respect to all unknown substitution model parameters. We demonstrate that this approximate …


How Neurobehavior And Brain Development In Alternative Whole-Organism Models Can Contribute To Prediction Of Developmental Neurotoxicity, Eva-Maria S. Collins, E. V. S. Hessel, S. Hughes May 2024

How Neurobehavior And Brain Development In Alternative Whole-Organism Models Can Contribute To Prediction Of Developmental Neurotoxicity, Eva-Maria S. Collins, E. V. S. Hessel, S. Hughes

Biology Faculty Works

No abstract provided.


From Cells To Clinics- The Role Of College Biology Education In Shaping Future Physician Assistants, Monica Manley May 2024

From Cells To Clinics- The Role Of College Biology Education In Shaping Future Physician Assistants, Monica Manley

Honors Theses

This thesis provides a personal reflection on translating concepts and techniques learned in multiple biology courses (i.e. microbiology, neuroscience, comparative physiology, and genetics) in to clinical practice as an intern in the emergency room of a hospital. Each selected concept contains a description followed by an example of how this knowledge relates to a specified duty of a physician assistant with in an emergency medical setting.


Analyzing The Effects Of Sex-Biased Gene Expression On Dosage Compensation: An Exploratory Investigation Of Gene Expression Differences In Tribolium Leg Tissue, Preston Q. Truong May 2024

Analyzing The Effects Of Sex-Biased Gene Expression On Dosage Compensation: An Exploratory Investigation Of Gene Expression Differences In Tribolium Leg Tissue, Preston Q. Truong

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

The XX/XY sex chromosome system governs the sex determination of many organisms, where female individuals typically possess the XX sex chromosome pair and male individuals possess the XY pair. However, in some species, the Y chromosome is degraded due to reduced recombination and genetic processes that results in the loss of gene content. Dosage compensation (DC) mechanisms evolve to counteract the significant loss of one copy of genes and serves to maintain the level of gene expression before the loss of one copy of genes. This study will explore how sex-biased gene expression may affect DC evolution by observing the …


Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur May 2024

Phenotypic Plasticity In Pigmentation: Investigating Coloration Patterns In Anablepsoides Hartii Population Responses To Environmental Variation, Jasdeep Kaur

2024 Spring Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

In this study, we investigated the color-changing capabilities of Trinidadian killifish, Anablepsoides hartii, through exposure to varied color conditions over defined periods of time. Our experiment aims to understand adaptive responses when killifish are subjected to different color backgrounds, exploring their mechanisms to change color. By subjecting the species to different environmental color variations, we sought to discern color change patterns, which could indicate adaptive responses related to camouflage, stress, behavior clues, and physiological adjustments. Carefully controlling environmental factors, we monitored and documented the fishes’ color changes, aiming to provide insights into the interplay between fish’s developmental plasticity and its …


The Evaluation Of Compound X In A Mouse Model In Chikv Disease, Kaitlyn Blotter May 2024

The Evaluation Of Compound X In A Mouse Model In Chikv Disease, Kaitlyn Blotter

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an infectious alphavirus spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes alpopictus mosquitoes. Recently, there have been various outbreaks in the Americas, the Caribbean, and across Asia and Africa (Bettis et al., 2022). Although mortality rates of Chikungunya disease are relatively low, the disease has been shown to have high morbidity and chronic effects. Currently, there are no approved antivirals for treatment of CHIKV infection. The goal of this study was to identify whether Compound X is an effective treatment in a mouse model of CHIKV infection. Compound X was active in cell culture models of CHIKV infection, …


Effects Of Humidity On Native And Non-Native Cavity Nesting Solitary Bees, Elleke Grace Kofford Manwill May 2024

Effects Of Humidity On Native And Non-Native Cavity Nesting Solitary Bees, Elleke Grace Kofford Manwill

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Invasive species are defined as those that are not native to an ecosystem but may cause harm to the environment or to human health. Osmia cornifrons, a species introduced to the United States, and Osmia lignaria, a native species, are cavity-nesting solitary bees. Although not officially classified as invasive, O. cornifrons presents competition for the niche that O. lignaria inhabits. O. cornifrons has established populations throughout the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest, while O. lignaria is found all throughout the contiguous United States. This interspecies difference in geographical range exists despite their similar temperature ranges. To determine …


An Analysis Of Targeted Physical Therapy Against Medial Epicondylitis, Rylie Howe May 2024

An Analysis Of Targeted Physical Therapy Against Medial Epicondylitis, Rylie Howe

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Medial epicondylitis, more commonly known as "golfer's elbow", is a musculoskeletal condition involving the common flexor tendon in the forearm at the attachment point of the medial epicondyle of the humerus bone. The repeated use of this tendon causes inflammation, swelling, as well as other types of straining that results in minute damage that accumulates to the overall strain and complications that come with medial epicondylitis. Targeted physical therapy is the overall recommended treatment for this condition. However, there is limited consensus to the most effective interventions. Mixed methods were used to investigate the possibility of the success of certain …


Chemical-Mediated Mate Attraction In Clover Root Curculio (Sitona Hispidulus F.), A Belowground Pest Of Forage Crops, Kristin Leutgeb May 2024

Chemical-Mediated Mate Attraction In Clover Root Curculio (Sitona Hispidulus F.), A Belowground Pest Of Forage Crops, Kristin Leutgeb

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Curculionid beetles are well known for their production of semiochemicals, including contact (e.g. cuticular hydrocarbons) and volatile pheromones that mediate conspecific attraction and mating. Clover root curculio (CRC; Sitona hispidulus) in particular is an emergent, soil-borne pest of significant concern to producers of alfalfa and other leguminous crops in the United States. Producers have few control options for CRC and a greater understanding of chemical-mediated attraction in this species can potentially improve the sustainability of its management. To examine which chemical cues are important for affecting the behavior of CRC and whether there are sex-based differences in response, I …


Characterizing The Effect Of Field-Relevant Levels Of Imidacloprid On Respiration In The Common Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga Bullata Parker (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), During Low- And High-Energy Activities., Morgan Regnier Ms ' 24 May 2024

Characterizing The Effect Of Field-Relevant Levels Of Imidacloprid On Respiration In The Common Flesh Fly, Sarcophaga Bullata Parker (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), During Low- And High-Energy Activities., Morgan Regnier Ms ' 24

All Student Scholarship

Neonicotinoid pesticides are used worldwide due to their effectiveness in protecting crops from pests like aphids, thrips, moths, flies, and beetles. These insecticides are applied on surfaces or absorbed systemically by plants, where insects encounter them through contact or ingestion. While beneficial for agriculture, they also negatively impact nontarget species. Numerous studies have reported the inhibitory effects of sublethal exposure to neonicotinoid-based insecticides on nontarget insects, especially pollinators such as bees, flies, and beetles. While research has demonstrated the toxicity of neonicotinoids, most studies have focused on low-energy activities such as walking or resting. In this research, I examined the …


Utilizing Biomimicry To Design Sustainable Architecture, Virginia Hammond May 2024

Utilizing Biomimicry To Design Sustainable Architecture, Virginia Hammond

Architecture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nature has an integral relationship with architecture and serves as a sustainable role model and inspiration for designers. The process of biomimicry in architecture has the potential to produce more sustainable design solutions and foster a connection between humans and nature. Existing biomimetic design projects have varying strengths and weaknesses as examples of the process. Utilizing guidelines and references from key leaders in biomimetic design consultancy (Biomimicry 3.8), selected case studies are assessed for their ability to demonstrate the benefits of this design strategy. Using these evaluations, the case studies are diagrammed and critiqued to determine how new projects could …


Demography With Drones: Detecting Growth And Survival Of Shrubs With Unoccupied Aerial Systems, Peter J. Olsoy, Andrii Zaiats, Donna M. Delparte, Matthew J. Germino, Bryce A. Richardson, Anna V. Roser, Jennifer S. Forbey, Megan E. Cattau, T. Trevor Caughlin May 2024

Demography With Drones: Detecting Growth And Survival Of Shrubs With Unoccupied Aerial Systems, Peter J. Olsoy, Andrii Zaiats, Donna M. Delparte, Matthew J. Germino, Bryce A. Richardson, Anna V. Roser, Jennifer S. Forbey, Megan E. Cattau, T. Trevor Caughlin

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Large-scale disturbances, such as megafires, motivate restoration at equally large extents. Measuring the survival and growth of individual plants plays a key role in current efforts to monitor restoration success. However, the scale of modern restoration (e.g., >10,000 ha) challenges measurements of demographic rates with field data. In this study, we demonstrate how unoccupied aerial system (UAS) flights can provide an efficient solution to the tradeoff of precision and spatial extent in detecting demographic rates from the air. We flew two, sequential UAS flights at two sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) common gardens to measure the survival and growth of …