Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Fishing For A Sustainable Future: Aquaponics As A Method Of Food Production, Richard Ramsundar

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis compares and explains the advantages aquaponics farming has over modern industrial intensive farming. Through a comparison natural capital usage, conservation, recycling and cost, the thesis advocates for the expansion of aquaponics usage in urban settings. The thesis also explains the history of intensive farming and aquaponics in America, the science of how aquaponics operates, the economic and environmental costs of modern intensive farming versus aquaponics farming, and the social implications of aquaponics. Lastly, I propose a policy that reallocates farm subsidies by modifying the Farm Bill. Then I propose policies that support creating a new standard of farm …

Plant Diversity Affects Performance Of Invasive Thistles In Restored Nebraska Grasslands, Katilyn J. Price

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Invasive plant species threaten native grasslands, affecting nutrient cycling, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and usable land for production. Consequently, preventing establishment of invasive species is critical before removal becomes difficult and expensive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of grassland plant diversity on musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) establishment and determine which environmental factors (light penetration, soil moisture, plant diversity, and soil nitrogen) account for resistance to invasions. In a field experiment at The Nature Conservancy’s Wood River site (Nebraska), the two invasive thistle species were planted into replicated …

Forest Sustainability In An Altered Landscape Requires Human Intervention, Adam C. Labatore

Biology Theses

Recruitment success determines the abundance and composition of plant communities. Successful recruitment can be summarized as a simple dichotomy of establishment versus seed limitations. Establishment limitation occurs when plant populations are inhibited by habitat availability and quality, whereas seed limitation occurs when seeds fail to arrive in necessary densities. Recruitment failure undermines overstory sustainability if the existing trees cannot replace themselves. Preliminary analysis indicated tree recruitment failure at an urban nature preserve with too few tree seedlings to replace mature canopy trees. These data suggested that the urban forest was not sustainable. The overarching goal of the study was to …

Consequences Of Pre-Inoculation With Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizae On Root Colonization And Survival Of Wyoming Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata Ssp. Wyomingensis) Seedlings After Transplanting, Bill Eugene Davidson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Inoculation of seedlings with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a common practice aimed at improving seedling establishment. The success of this practice largely depends on the ability of the inoculum to multiply and colonize the growing root system after transplanting. These events were investigated in Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Wyoming big sagebrush) seedlings inoculated with native AMF. Seedlings were first grown in a greenhouse in sterilized soil (non-inoculated seedlings) or soil containing a mixture of native mycorrhizae (inoculated seedlings). Three-month old seedlings were transplanted to 24 L pots containing soil from a sagebrush habitat (mesocosm experiments) or to a recently …

How Does The Exploitation And Degradation Of Finite Natural Resources By Industrial Oil Producers Effect Our Future Planetary Environment?, Zachary J. King Mr.

Symposium of Student Scholars

Zachary King

Dr. Tu

26 March 2015

GEOG 3700

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to communicate content of the reports given by credible institution on the degradation and exploitation of finite natural resources by corporate institutions, for short term financial gain, and how it will effect the future planetary environment. Methods used in obtaining this research range from point source observation directly from oil spills in the Gulf or pipe leaks in the Mid-West, to analytical and numerical data quantifications gathered over a period of two decades. This presentation encompasses a wide scope of information concerning the way …

Effects Of Temperature And Pollinator Availability On Plant Reproductive Success In The Indiana Spring Ephemeral Community, Asya Robertshaw

Open Access Dissertations

Temperature is a key driver of phenology in both plants and insects, and even small changes in temperature can impact the reproductive success of insect-pollinated plants by influencing access to pollinator services. While it is well-established that temperature variation directly impacts the flowering phenology of many plant species, the mechanisms by which it ultimately influences seed production via the pollinator community are not well understood. Climate change has the potential to disrupt the temporal synchrony between plants and their primary pollinators, especially if the two rely on different seasonal cues for the timing of their life history events. If the …

Elevational Gradients In Β-Diversity Reflect Variation In The Strength Of Local Community Assembly Mechanisms Across Spatial Scales, J Sebastián Tello, Jonathan A. Myers, Manuel J. Macia, Alfredo F. Fuentes, Leslie Cayola, Gabriel Arellano, M Isabel Loza, Vania Torrez, Maritza Cornejo, Tatiana B. Miranda, Peter M. Jørgensen

Biology Faculty Research

Despite long-standing interest in elevational-diversity gradients, little is known about the processes that cause changes in the compositional variation of communities (β-diversity) across elevations. Recent studies have suggested that β-diversity gradients are driven by variation in species pools, rather than by variation in the strength of local community assembly mechanisms such as dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, or local biotic interactions. However, tests of this hypothesis have been limited to very small spatial scales that limit inferences about how the relative importance of assembly mechanisms may change across spatial scales. Here, we test the hypothesis that scale-dependent community assembly mechanisms shape …

An Individual-Based Model Of Chaparral Vegetation Response To Frequent Wildfire, Timothy Lucas, Dayna Mann, Reanna Dona

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

In recent years, the Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) have been plagued by frequent wildfires which threaten the native chaparral species. Nonsprouting chaparral species are completely killed by a fire, but their seeds germinate in response to fire cues. Facultative sprouters both resprout after a wildfire and release seeds that germinate post-fire. This project is based on data collected since 1986 at a biological preserve adjacent to the Malibu campus of Pepperdine University with an average fire return interval of 7.5 years. We present a spatial model that simulates the growth, seed dispersal and resprouting behavior of individual shrubs that compete …

Historical Common Names Of Great Plains Plants, With Scientific Names Index. Volume Ii: Scientific Names Index, Elaine Nowick

Zea E-Books Collection

Containing thousands of entries of both vernacular and scientific names of Great Plains plants, the literature that informs this exhaustive listing spans nearly 300 years. Author Elaine Nowick has drawn from sources as diverse as Linnaeus, Lewis and Clark, and local university extension publications to compile the gamut of practical, and often fanciful, common plant names used over the years. Each common name is accompanied by a definitive scientific name with references and authority information. Interspersed with scientifically-correct botanical line drawings, the entries are written in standard ICBN format, making this a useful volume for scholars as well as lay …

Tallgrass Prairie Vegetation Response To Spring Fires And Bison Grazing, Stephen L. Winter, Brady W. Allred, Karen R. Hickman, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Spring fires in tallgrass prairie can create environmental conditions conducive to plant growth in the subsequent growing season. Following fires, burned areas can also be attractive to grazing animals such as bison (Bison bison). Sustained grazing activity within recently burned areas can alter vegetation structure relative to nearby landscape patches that haven’t burned recently. In 2007, we collected data on bison grazing activity, vegetation structure, and the growth and reproduction of a perennial forb, Arnoglossum plantagineum, in Oklahoma tallgrass prairie. We compared these variables in landscape patches that had burned in the spring of 2007 to measurements …

Building Resilience Into Quaking Aspen Management, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

Throughout the 20^th century, forest scientists and land managers were guided by principles of succession with regard to aspen forests. The historical model depicted aspen as a "pioneer species" that colonizes a site following disturbance and is eventually overtopped by conifers. Aspen systems are more diverse, however, than previously described. Not only are there distinctive seral and stable aspen, but variations within these types require appropriate management considerations (Rogers et al. 2014). We recommend a strategic approach to aspen resilience that builds upon traditional aspen ecology and incorporates knowledge of varying aspen functional types, effective monitoring, historical disturbance ecology, …

Managing Ungulate Browsing For Sustainable Aspen, Samuel B. St. Clair, Paul C. Rogers, Michael R. Kuhns

Aspen Bibliography

In montane forests of the Intermountain West composition and function are often defined by what happens with quaking aspen. Aspen is a pioneer species that regenerates quickly following disturbance and then establishes ecological conditions under which the rest of the biological community develops. Quaking aspen forests have high biodiversity and provide ideal habitat for many animals. Aspen regeneration from root sprouts is highly palatable to wildlife and livestock. When browsing becomes chronic it leads to regeneration failure and eventual loss of aspen forests and associated species. Ironically, this can result in habitat and forage loss for wildlife and livestock. Here …

Stand Dynamics, Humus Type And Water Balance Explain Aspen Long Term Productivity Across Canada, Kenneth A. Anyomi, Francois Lorenzetti, Yves Bergeron, Alain Leduc

Aspen Bibliography

This study examined the relative importance of soil, stand development and climate hypotheses in driving productivity for a species that is widely distributed in North America. Inventory plots, 3548 of such, either dominated by aspen or made up of species mixture of which aspen occurs in dominant canopy position were sampled along a longitudinal gradient from Quebec to British Columbia. Site index (SI), was used as a measure of productivity, and soil, climate and stand attributes were correlated with site index in order to determine their effects on productivity. Results show a decline in productivity with high moisture deficit. Soil …

Year-End Report On Rac Project Entitled "Propagating Aspen Clones: Survival In The 21st Century", Ralph Baierlein

Aspen Bibliography

Initial damage caused by wild ungulates was minimal. In August 2013, a large elk pulled off five cones and destroyed three saplings on the exposed, eastern side of the exclosure. Although deer tracks were plentiful in the bare earth of the fire line, there was no evidence that deer had harmed the saplings. The combination of a cone and a mesh sleeve on the exposed saplings sufficed.

Understory Diversity And Composition Drives Carabid Assemblages, Tierney Brosius, Michael Reisner

Biology: Faculty Scholarship & Creative Works

Fire suppression has nearly eliminated fire as a disturbance in temperate deciduous forests. Lack of fire is transforming these ecosystems through a positive feedback loop termed mesophication: cool, damp, shady conditions become continually more favorable for a few mesophytic species, while deteriorating for diverse array of heliophytic ones. Disturbances caused by urbanization fragment and degrade remnant forests. In urban settings, human management (or lack thereof) is often a dominate driver of succession. Carabid diversity, understory vegetation, patch size, patch connectivity, and permeable surface area were all examined in multiple forest plots in Rock Island and Moline. The result of this …

Mesa Verde Vegetal Survey, Stanley L. Welsh

Books by Faculty of the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

Abstract

This write-up is mainly concerned with plant specimens recovered and examined from major prehistoric cliff dwellings being excavated during the Wetherill Mesa Project. It also includes anecdotes from the author’s experiences in Mesa Verde. An overall summary of the species identified is presented at the end of this work, including suggestions as to how plants may have been used based on modern Native American surveys.

Table of Contents

Preface

Prologue

Introduction

Wetherill Mesa

Climate

Collections

Identification

Modern Plant Assemblage

Contemporary Species Compliment

Archeological Plant Assemblage

Plant Species Recovering from the Major Ruins

Kinds of Plant Materials Recovered

Wood-worked Items …

A Fistful Of Polemoniaceae: New Names And Combinations, J. Mark Porter, Robert W. Patterson

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

New taxa, names, and combinations are provided for five genera in Polemoniaceae: Dayia, Giliastrum, Leptosiphon, Linanthus, and Loeselia. Combinations include the transfer to Dayia of two species formerly included in Ipomopsis and one in Bryantiella (Dayia glutinosa, D. havardii, and D. sonorae), as well as the return of Giliastrum stewartii to species rank. A new name is offered for Linanthus aureus when transferred into Leptosiphon: Leptosiphon chrysanthus and its subspecies, L. chrysanthus subsp. decorus. New combinations for infraspecific taxa are made available for Linanthus californicus (subspp. glandulosus and tomentosus …

Changes In Plant Species Composition And Structure In Two Peri-Urban Nature Preserves Over 10 Years, Rebecca W. Dolan, Jessica D. Stepens, Marcia E. Moore

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Peri-urban natural areas, at the boundaries of cities and adjacent agricultural/rural land, are subject to ecological threats endemic to both land use types. We used permanent plots to document changes in habitat quality by monitoring herbaceous-layer plant species presence and cover over a decade (1996/97 and 2007) in two peri-urban nature preserves in central Indiana, U.S.A. The preserves are comprised of different forest community types: wet-mesic depressional forest and mesic upland forest. Habitat characteristics, based on Floristic Quality Assessment parameters, showed only a single change for either preserve between survey years: wetness values were lower in the wet-mesic depressional site …

An Evolutionary Perspective On Human Cross-Sensitivity To Tree Nut And Seed Allergens, Amanda E. Fisher, Annalise M. Nawrocki

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Tree nut allergies are some of the most common and serious allergies in the United States. Patients who are sensitive to nuts or to seeds commonly called nuts are advised to avoid consuming a variety of different species, even though these may be distantly related in terms of their evolutionary history. This is because studies in the literature report that patients often display sensitivity to multiple nut species (cross-sensitivity) if they have an existing nut allergy. These reports suggest that cross-sensitivity in patients with nut allergies may be caused by an IgE antibody reacting with epitopes present in the seed …

Rarity In Astragalus: A California Perspective, Philip W. Rundel, Thomas R. Huggins, Barry A. Prigge, M. Rasoul Sharifi

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

Astragalus (Fabaceae), the largest genus of plants in the world with an estimated 3270 species, is known for large numbers of rare endemic species. An inventory of patterns of climatic, topographic, and edaphic diversity of Astragalus taxa in California (98 native species and 144 named taxa) provides a means to understand the occurrence of rarity in relation to climatic equitability and regional species richness of congeneric taxa. Most taxa in the genus have relatively small ranges of distribution, with 50% restricted geographically to a single Jepson Bioregion. The California Native Plant Society lists 51 Astragalus taxa (35% of the native …

Phylogeny Of Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae), Noravit Chumchim, Lucinda A. Mcdade, Amanda E. Fisher

Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany

The pantropical and poorly known genus Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae) is sister to Strobilanthopsis within subtribe Petalidiinae. The present study included 38 accessions of 28 species as sources of DNA data for one nuclear (nrITS) and four chloroplast (intergenic spacers: psbA-trnH, trnS-trnG, ndhF-rpl32, rpl32- trnL^(uag)) regions to provide an estimate of the phylogeny of the genus. We found that Dyschoriste is strongly supported as monophyletic inclusive of Apassalus, Chaetacanthus, and Sautiera. Within Dyschoriste, three geographically cohesive lineages were recovered with moderate to strong support: a mainland African clade, a Caribbean and southeastern United …

Riqueza De Helmintos Parásitos De Vertebrados Silvestres Del Estado De Hidalgo, México, Jorge Falcón-Ordaz, Scott Monks, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Luis García-Prieto, Georgina Lira-Guerrero

Estudios en Biodiversidad

La diversidad de helmintos parásitos de vertebrados del estado de Hidalgo, en México es poco conocida, a pesar de que su estudio se inició desde 1937. Asimismo, mucha de la información generada se ha publicado de manera dispersa, lo que dificulta aún más el establecer con precisión los valores actuales. Por ello, el objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la riqueza de la fauna helmintológica asociada a vertebrados silvestres de Hidalgo. Para alcanzar dicho objetivo, se realizaron tres acciones: 1) recopilación bibliográfica retrospectiva de información; 2) consulta al acervo de diversas colecciones científicas nacionales e internacionales, e 3) incorporación de …

Calidad Del Agua En La Subcuenca Fluvial La Garita, Acapulco, Guerrero Por Monitoreo Con Insectos, Ana Yolanda Rosas-Acevedo, Audel Sánchez-Infante, José Luis Rosas-Acevedo

Estudios en Biodiversidad

La subcuenca La Garita (Región Hidrológica: Rh19Ac) ha sufrido la influencia del hombre, presenta escorrentía y momentos de estiaje, además de puntos aislados de contaminación por basura y descargas. Se realizó un monitoreo de insectos. Se exploró la posibilidad del uso del índice BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party), para arroyos y ríos, en la determinación de la calidad del agua y del ecosistema. En la parte alta o cabecera (BMWP=122) correspondió a excelente (ecosistema no impactado), en la zona media o de transferencia (BMWP-CR=118) fue buena (ecosistema no alterado de manera sensible) y en la parte baja o zona de …

Problemática De Contaminación En La Zona Agrícola De La Reserva De La Biosfera Barranca De Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Maritza López-Herrera, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma E. Soria-Mercado, Amelia Portillo-López

Estudios en Biodiversidad

El presente trabajo se generó con el objetivo de dar a conocer la problemática que existe actualmente en una zona agrícola de gran importancia en el estado de Hidalgo, la “Vega de Metztitlán”, zona que forma parte de la Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán, sitio declarado como reserva federal. El aporte de agua residual que se hace a través de los acuíferos que irrigan a la zona, ha generado que este sitio se vea expuesto a un gran riesgo de contaminación por metales pesados, hidrocarburos y demás contaminantes, los cuáles quedan biodisponibles para las plantas e indirectamente existe …

Los Hongos Poliporoides De La Subcuenca Del Río Metztitlán, Hidalgo, México, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Miguel Ángel Islas-Santillán, Maritza López-Herrera, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma Estela Soria-Mercado, Amelia Portillo-López, Tania Raymundo-Ojeda, Ricardo Valenzuela-Garza

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Los hongos poliporoides son excelentes descomponedores de la madera, aunque también hay ectomicorrizógenos; su importancia ecológica radica en que ayudan a mantener el equilibrio del ciclo del carbono en la naturaleza. Además presentan potencial biotecnológico dadas sus características nutrimentales, medicinales y degradadoras, por su capacidad de producir metabolitos secundarios y ser potencialmente cultivables. Se analiza la importancia del impacto ambiental en los ecosistemas de la subcuenca del río Metztitlán y la diversidad de este grupo de hongos asociados a ellos. Se revisaron ejemplares de herbario y se realizaron exploraciones micológicas en 13 comunidades vegetales de 11 municipios, y 37 localidades …

Physical And Biological Effects Of Modified Polysorbate 20, Kevin Penfield, Bryan Young, Julie K. Young, Greg R. Kruger, Ryan Henry, Greg Lindner

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Three experimental polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate derivatives were synthesized with molecular fingerprinting techniques applied to experimental materials, confirming the target compounds had been produced. Chemical property measurements were compiled that aligned with theoretical predictions and physical property measurements confirmed their intentional differences yielded the anticipated changes in surfactant behavior. Imidacloprid uptake data confirmed penetration of leaf cuticles was enhanced in the presence of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurates with several experimental materials providing uptake equivalent to reference material. Select materials were included in field and greenhouse trials where observations included good biological response with a range of individual herbicides as well as improved …

Corn Residue Stocking Rate Affects Cattle Performance But Not Subsequent Grain Yield, L. A. Stalker, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Jennifer A. Gigax, A. L. Mcgee, T. M. Shaver, S. J. Van Donk

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

This study investigated effects of stocking rate on cattle performance, quality and quantity of corn residue, and impact of residue removal on grain yield for 5 yr at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln West Central Water Resources Field Laboratory near Brule, NE. Four removal treatments—1) no removal (control), 2) grazing at 2.5 animal unit month (AUM)/ ha, 3) grazing at 5.0 AUM/ha, and 4) baling—were applied to a center pivot–irrigated corn field (53 ha). The field was divided into eight 6.6-ha paddocks to which replicated treatments were assigned. Samples of residue were collected in October and March (before and …

Indicadores Bióticos De Calidad Ambiental Del Sur Del Estado De Tamaulipas, México. Caso De Estudio: Aves, René Bernardo Elías Cabrera-Cruz, Marco Antonio González-González, Julio César Rolón-Aguilar, Juan Carlos Gaytán-Oyarzún

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Este trabajo plantea una evaluación de prioridad biológica para la conservación de aves en la región sur de Tamaulipas, México. La metodología empleada fue la técnica Evaluación Rápida de Prioridad Biológica (ERPBIO). Esta permite determinar las principales zonas y grupos a conservar en flora y fauna para amplias zonas de estudio de manera rápida y precisa. La región sur de Tamaulipas comprende los municipios de Aldama, Altamira, Ciudad Madero, González y Tampico, con una superficie total de 8,969.05 km2. Dentro de los resultados obtenidos se elaboró una base de datos por municipio, encontrando una amplia cantidad de estudios con un …

La Biodiversidad De Los Hongos Ectomicorrízicos Y Su Importancia Para La Conservación Del Bosque En La Zona Poblana Del Parque Nacional Malintzi, Marco Antonio Marín-Castro, Virginia Silva-Díaz, Gladys Linares-Fleites, Ana María Castagnino, José Antonio Ticante-Roldán

Estudios en Biodiversidad

El Parque Nacional Malintzi comprende una superficie de 45,852 hectáreas, de las cuales corresponden 14,544 al estado de Puebla. El deterioro a su riqueza forestal tiene sus inicios desde la época colonial y hasta nuestros días la presión sobre los recursos de este parque nacional aumenta debido a que los pobladores de la zona, tradicionalmente ven en la montaña su fuente de sustento mediante la agricultura y la extracción de madera, que aunadas a la tala clandestina inmoderada, han influido drásticamente en la pérdida de biodiversidad y cambio de uso del suelo. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron describir la …

Los Hongos Agaricales De Las Áreas De Encino Del Estado De Baja California, México, Nahara Ayala-Sánchez, Irma E. Soria-Mercado, Leticia Romero-Bautista, Maritza López-Herrera, Roxana Rico-Mora, Amelia Portillo-López

Estudios en Biodiversidad

Se realizó una recopilación de las especies de hongos del orden Agaricales (regionalmente conocido como “agaricoides”) de los bosques Quercus spp. de la península de Baja California (México), con la pretensión de contar con un panorama de la diversidad de este grupo taxonómico en el área, su distribución y dinámica dentro de estos ecosistemas y el papel ecológico de cada una de las especies citadas. Para la realización del presente estudio se reunió la información obtenida de las especies recolectadas de las diferentes localidades de las áreas de encino del estado de Baja California desde 1996 hasta el presente, ejemplares …