Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Environmental Factors Affecting Coleoptera Biomass In The Ozark Mountain Range In Arkansas, Hayley J. Springsteen

ATU Research Symposium

Abstract:

Terrestrial invertebrates including species of Coleoptera (beetles) play an important role in many ecosystem services including soil formation and fertility, pollination, decomposition and nutrient turnover, population regulation of other organisms through predation. Coleoptera are often vital in determining biodiversity and conservation techniques. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge of how environmental factors and different management practices are affecting Coleoptera populations and further assist ecologists in improving management techniques in the future. The insect data in this study was collected over the course of two weeks in the Arkansas portion of the Boston Mountain range. …

Analysis Of The Population Structure And Migration Habits Of The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates Pipiens) At Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Gretchen A. Brinkman

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Massive amphibian declines of recent years have pushed researchers to pursue population genetics surveys and to assess the status of these essential components of many ecosystems. The Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) has been continuously experiencing population declines across the continental United States due to a combination of habitat loss and environmental change. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie houses a considerable portion of Northern Leopard Frog (L. pipiens) in Illinois, and within this location, two creeks provide ideal conditions to support these animals. Because this prairie restoration project is a relatively recent development, further assessments on the …