Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Leaf Optical And Indirect Lai Measurements In Wheat And Alfalfa At Maciv: Agmet Progress Report 89-4, E. A. Walter-Shea, B. L. Blad

School of Natural Resources: Documents and Reviews

No abstract provided.

Multi-Type Branching Processes In Time-Varying Environments, Arash Jamshidpey

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Evolution Of Altruistic Punishment Using A Pde Model For Multilevel Selection, Daniel Cooney

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Mathematically Modeling Stoichiometric Drivers Of Nitrogen Fixation, Rebecca Everett, Corday Selden, Mohamed Hatha Abdulla, Jabir Thajudeen, James Powell, Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Luca Schenone, Renn Schipper, Megan Berberich, Halvor Halvorson, Robinson Fulweiler, Amy Marcarelli, Thad Scott

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Selection During Reproduction In Mimulus Guttatus, Desmond C. Willson, Karla De Lima Berg, Mitch Cruzan

Student Research Symposium

A lack of genomic studies examining gametophytic selection and selective embryo abortion—which occur during the reproduction of angiosperms—leaves questions regarding the adaptive and evolutionary effects of these processes. Analyzing deviations from Mendelian segregation offers an avenue for identifying loci targeted by GS and SEA, and their contributions to purging of genetic load. However, other selective processes such as meiotic drive and cytonuclear interactions, as well as pollen and ovule abortion, can cause distortion. To distinguish the effects of GS and SEA from other causes of distortion, we will perform reciprocal crosses between highly homozygous and highly heterozygous individuals of Mimulus …

Relationship Between Trunk Cross-Sectional Area Growth And Water Stress In Garry Oaks (Q. Garryana): A Species Of Conservation Concern, John Cochrane

Student Research Symposium

In the Pacific Northwest, Quercus garryana (Garry oak trees) support over 627 native species. Garry oak natural habitat was originally maintained by indigenous practices but has been reduced to 5-10% of its range due to change in land management strategies. To support oak conservation, we need to understand heat and water affect the growth and physiology of this species. In this study, we created a fixed linear model of trunk cross-sectional growth with water stress (Ψ), photosynthetic water-use efficiency (δ¹³C), and leaf Carbon-Nitrogen ratio. We collected branch samples from the canopies of 47-64 mature Garry oaks in the …

Phytoplankton Community Dynamics In The Northern California Current System, Kristin Forgrave

Student Research Symposium

The Northern California Current system is a productive coastal ecosystem that encompasses a variety of temporal and spatial features. The photosynthetic microbial community plays a crucial role in supporting the rich ecosystem and economically important fisheries. My research integrates data across distance and two years to investigate the community composition of two major phytoplankton groups in this system: picocyanobacteria and picoeukaryotes. The abundances and sizes of the phytoplankton were measured using flow cytometry. Picoeukaryotes were found to be present at similar concentrations in both summer and winter. Abundances of both cell types were comparable in the winter, but picocyanobacteria were …

Riparian Expansion Post-Restoration Efforts Along The Upper Clark Fork River, Makena Tanko

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Floodplain restoration is an intricate process aimed at promoting water quality, biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance. However, mapping vegetation patterns on a restored floodplain can be challenging due to different geomorphic locations across a river sections, including flooding regimes, sediment characteristics, elevation, and ground water availability. This study investigates the drivers of vegetation succession in floodplains post-restoration along the Upper Clark Fork River, encompassing Phases 1, 2, 3, and 5. We analyzed key factors influencing vegetation response, including total canopy cover and woody vegetation health, in comparison to soil compaction, geomorphic location, distance from streambank, time post-restoration, and metal levels …

New Records Of Mesobuthus Rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 In Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Zhale Baghernavesi, Zahra Taherkhani, Parsa Akbari, Mohammad Moradi

Euscorpius

Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was so far known only from the type locality in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. We give a list of numerous new records of this species from the same province. A map and detailed illustrations are provided.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Disease: Social And Environmental Drivers Of Movement, Connectivity, And Disease Transmission In Bighorn Sheep, Lauren E. Ricci

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Movement is a fundamental component of animal ecology. Animals move in order to access resources and avoid risk. Movement decisions aggregated across time determine how individuals use space, contact dynamics between individuals within a population, and connectivity across a species range. These patterns that emerge from movement decisions have downstream implications for many ecological processes and a mechanistic understanding of movement can help answer broader questions about ecology.

Disease dynamics are intrinsically tied to movement. Understanding the mechanisms that drive movement can elucidate how disease will spread and impact host populations. In this vein, I employed a suite of movement …

Analyzing Phototaxis And Related Visual Behaviors Among Diverse Species Of Drosophila, Madeline M. Hill

Honors Theses

Phototaxis and related visual behaviors can vary between species, and thus members of the genus Drosophila make an excellent study system to examine the evolution of vision. While some existing research points to these phototactic behaviors arising due to mating requirements or due to their species-specific ecology or environmental factors, there exists a lack of understanding as to why striking behavioral differences can exist between closely related species, or between members belonging to the same genus. The present research seeks to uncover the specifics regarding these discrepancies in visual evolution and aims to provide a foundation of knowledge about visual …

Evaluating Aspen Seedling Outplanting Success Following High Severity Wildfire In The Southwest, Sarah M. Kapel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is an ecologically important forest species in the western U.S. Aspen forests host a variety of understory species, are critical wildlife habitat, and are considered a "natural fuel break" since they are less likely to support crown fires than conifers. Because of climate change and altered disturbance regimes, populations are declining, and innovative strategies are needed to restore aspen. Planting aspen seedlings is a solution, though not a common practice in the West and has been met with high mortality in past experiments. For aspen planting to be more broadly implemented, managers need guidance …

Do Heat Waves Drive Natural Selection In Damselflies?, Adam Baranyk

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Climate change has led to changes in both mean temperatures and temperature extremes over the recent years. These changes have had differential effects on animals throughout the world. Ectotherms depend on their external environment for thermal regulation, making them especially susceptible to temperature extremes. It is not yet clear whether there is a relationship between physical traits in ectotherms, and survivorship throughout a heat wave. That is, whether or not temperature extremes driven survival selection. In this study, a heat wave was simulated artificially using thermally regulated mesocosms at different temperatures (18°C, 22° C, 26° C, 30° C) with a …

Top-Down Vs Bottom-Up Effects On Predator-Prey Interactions In Aquatic Communities, Catherine Mary Mcclure

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Ecology is studied at multiple scales to better understand how small changes at the individual level scale up to affect our ecosystems and global systems. These ecological scales include individuals (single organism), populations (group of organisms of the same species), communities (populations of different species interacting with each other), and ecosystems (species interacting with other species and their local environment). The research in this document is focused on the individual, population, and community scale. In particular, this research addresses questions regarding how changes in environmental conditions (i.e., predation and resources) affect species interactions which ultimately affects the composition of ecological …

Experimental Nonnative Wood Addition Enhances Instream Habitat For Native Fishes And Investigating Dryland River Alterations, Benjamin J. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The rivers of the Colorado River Basin (CRB) have been degraded by human activities such flow regulation, water overallocation, and the introduction of invasive riparian vegetation (primarily tamarisk tamarix spp. and Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia). These stressors have resulted in widespread habitat loss and simplification, which is a major contributor to the endangerment of native fishes in the CRB.

The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the effectiveness of enhancing native fish habitat by experimentally adding cut wood from nonnative Russian olive to the San Juan River, a highly degraded dryland river, and 2) determine the …

Causes And Consequences Of Space-Use Behavior Under Predation Risk In A Free-Living System, Brian J. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Predators can have important ecological effects through killing and eating their prey, the so-called consumptive effect, but predators can also have a nonconsumptive effect (NCE) on their prey – this happens when the risk of predation itself causes prey to alter their behaviors or other traits and these alterations ultimately reduce prey survival, reproduction, or population size. While scientists understand the consumptive effects of predators well, we are still unsure whether NCEs are important in free-living systems. In this dissertation, I sought to better understand the potential NCEs of predators (wolves and cougars) on elk in northern Yellowstone National Park …

The Effects Of Aboveground Herbivory On Root Traits And Root Decomposition, Emily A. Chavez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Soil holds more carbon (C) than the Earth's atmosphere and vegetation combined. Soil loses carbon through soil respiration and releases CO₂ from the soil. The soil respiration rate can vary based on the chemistry of the plant litter inputs and physical factors, such as soil temperature and nutrient content. In Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim (YK) Delta, grazing by geese affects the chemistry of plants and the soil's physical qualities, thus altering the rate of soil respiration. Although we know that goose herbivory leads to changes in the rate of soil respiration, we know very little about how goose herbivory affects the …

Revegetation Strategies For Native Wetland Plant Restoration In The Face Of Phragmites Australis Reinvasion And Hydrologic Extremes, Maddie Houde

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Reestablishing native plant communities in degraded habitats through seeding or planting ("revegetation") is a necessary step to restore ecosystems and their functions (e.g., supporting biodiversity, nutrient cycling, etc.). Globally, wetlands have suffered high rates of degradation and also experience numerous invasions. Invasive species are those that cause environmental, economic, or societal harm. Phragmites australis is a widespread invasive species that outcompetes native plants and reduces habitat diversity. Reestablishing native plant communities can limit P. australis invasion, yet effective methods to do so remain somewhat untested in wetlands. Additionally, stressful environmental conditions can increase plant mortality in revegetation efforts. In semi-arid …

Examining Population Structure Of Cismontane And Desert Populations Of Zebra-Tailed Lizards (Callisaurus Draconoides) Using Mitochondrial And Nuclear Intron Dna., Lauren Nicole Morrison

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Callisaurus draconoides, also known as the Zebra-Tailed lizard, belongs to the family Phrynosomatidae family (Pianka, et al. 1972). C. draconoides is a widespread desert lizard found western North America. In California, this species can be found in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. There are currently several populations that reside in the San Bernardino basin on the cismontane side of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges. These mountain ranges have the potential to have isolated the cismontane populations from their typical desert ranges. In addition, geological passes have the potential to serve as migration corridor between the Deserts and cismontane regions. The …

Movement Behavior And Habitat Selection Of Juvenile Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) During Three Behavioral States Of Dispersal, John F. Randolph

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Juvenile dispersal, the act of moving from their natal range to the place where they eventually reproduce and establish an adult home range is hazardous. Juveniles must travel and find food across unfamiliar landscapes, where they must also cross roads, avoid harvest, and navigate developed landscapes. Despite the inherent dangers of dispersal, this demographic process is important for finding suitable mates and reducing inbreeding depression. Wildlife conservation concerns arise when individuals are unable to disperse due to a loss of connectivity, as this can negatively impact population demographics and genetic diversity. We explored the effects of hunting and human-developed landscapes …

New Records Of Mesobuthus Mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) In Iraq And Mesobuthus Faiki Sp. Nov. From Turkey (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, František Kovařík, Victor Fet, Ridvan Kurt, Fenik S. Hussen, Azhar M. Al-Khazali, Hamid S. Kachel, Ali A. Al-Fanharawi

Euscorpius

New locality records for Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) are given from Iraq. The populations from southeastern Turkey, earlier identified as M. mesopotamicus by Kovařík et al. (2022), are examined and compared with the specimens from the area close to the type locality of M. mesopotamicus. These populations are described as a new species, Mesobuthus faiki sp. nov. Detailed illustrations of both species and a map are given.

An Examination Of The Eastern Nebraska And Western Iowa Flash Flood Event Of 6-7 August 1999, Catherine M. Zapotocny

NOAA Technical Reports and Related Materials

Flash flooding occurs each summer in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. While 10-inch rains are extraordinary, it is not uncommon to have at least one excessive rain event during the annual convective season. A significant flash flood occurred in east central Nebraska and western Iowa the night of August 6, 1999 into the morning of August 7, 1999. Antecedent hydrologic conditions limited the loss of life, however considerable property damage resulted as the heavy rain fell over the urbanized areas in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Several flash flood ingredients came together over the area. These meteorological factors are typical …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xxxii. Barbaracurus Hofereki Sp. N. From Djibouti, František Kovařík

Euscorpius

Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti is described and compared with other species of the genus. B. hofereki sp. n. is the only species of the genus with pedipalp movable finger with 8 rows of granules and pectinal tooth count 27–28 in female. Also, its pedipalp chela with very narrow manus (chela length/width ratio 6.07 in female), narrower than in all other African species of the genus. A map of the distribution of the genus in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula is provided.

Trophic Ecology Of Black Swallowers (Scombriformes: Chiasmodontidae: Chiasmodon) In The Deep-Pelagic Gulf Of Mexico, Travis J. Kirk

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The ecology of deep-pelagic predatory fishes remains poorly understood despite their importance as ecosystem regulators and energy transfer vectors. This study investigated the trophic ecology of three species of the predatory fish genus Chiasmodon (“black swallowers”) in the Gulf of Mexico, a region that serves as an analog for the global low-latitude deep pelagial, the world’s largest cumulative ecosystem. Foraging habits (e.g., selectivity, chronology, daily ration) of an “advanced” evolutionary fish in a system that is otherwise dominated by basal fish taxa, were quantitatively estimated via high-resolution stomach content analysis. A quantitative dataset of both predator and prey abundance, the …

Understanding Mechanisms Underlying Changes In Parental Care Behaviour In Response To Perceived Paternity In Sunfish, Emma Churchman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parental care is essential for the survival of many young animals but presents significant costs to the caring parent. To mitigate these costs, parental care systems have evolved to optimize survival and fitness. According to parental investment theory, care allocation is influenced by the offspring’s value, which is often linked to their relatedness to the parent. In this thesis, I explore how hormones and gene expression influence parental care, focusing on bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and the hybrids they produce with pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). By manipulating direct and indirect paternity cues – swapping eggs between …

The Decline In Monarch Butterfly, Danaus Plexippus, Populations: An Example Of The Global Threat To Biodiversity, Olivia Sidoti

Honors Projects

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of all life on Earth and how these aspects of nature interact with each other. To have stable and abundant biodiversity, vast amounts of species and organisms are required within an ecosystem. As a result of the increase in negative impacts of human activities and behaviors on the health of nature, biodiversity has been decreasing. An example of the decrease in biodiversity is depicted by the recent decline of the monarch butterfly species. The monarch butterfly is an iconic North American insect that is experiencing a decline in its population due to threats such as deforestation, …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Part Xxxi. Two New Genera From Somaliland: Sanaag Gen. N. And Sahil Gen. N. (Buthidae), František Kovařík

Euscorpius

Two new monotypic buthid genera are described: Sanaag gen. n. and Sahil gen. n. from Somaliland, both belonging to the ‘Buthus’ group. Sanaag gen. n. (type species Gint maidensis Kovařík et al., 2018) differs from Gint Kovařík et al., 2013 in the structure of its hemispermatophore, which has a large, tall, subtriangular hook-like basal lobe, and in the shape of its telson which is rather bulbous. Sahil gen. n. (type species Sahil elmii sp. n.) differs from all morphologically similar small-sized genera of the Horn of Africa in having the ventral aspect of cheliceral fixed finger with two denticles, …

Length-Weight Relationship Of Flier (Centrarchus Macropterus) In Moro Creek, Jeffrey G. Phillips

ATU Research Symposium

Length-weight relationships provide foundational knowledge for managing fisheries populations. However, there are many species where the length-weight relationships are not widely understood. The Flier (Centrarchus macropterus) is one species where there is a lack of information regarding its length-weight relationship and spatial variation associated with this relationship. A new study was needed to assess the length-weight relationship for this species. Fliers were collected from upper Moro Creek during October 2023. Multiple gears (backpack electrofishing and seining) were employed to increase detection of this species. Length (mm), and weight (g) were recorded for every individual observed. A total of 85 Flier …

A Survey Of Mussels In Small Tributaries Of The Ouachita River Headwaters, Aaron J. Huckeba, Seth Drake, Kendall Moles, Risa Mccollough, Nathan Mansor

ATU Research Symposium

Understanding species distributions is of utmost importance for effective conservation of aquatic resources. Freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled taxonomic groups as they are experiencing rapid declines in the southeastern United States. Standard mussel surveys are typically conducted on larger streams and rivers, leaving small headwater tributaries unsampled. Our study looked to document mussels in headwater tributaries of the Ouachita River watershed. We conducted standardized time-based surveys at 19 sites across nine tributaries using snorkeling, grubbing, and raking methodologies in the summer of 2023. Furthermore, we collected measurements on water quality (pH, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids, and temperature) …

Changes In Animal Vocalizations In Response To A Total Solar Eclipse, Colton W. Morris

ATU Research Symposium

My proposed research project will study the changes in animal vocalizations in response to the total solar eclipse that will take place in Russellville, Arkansas, on April 8, 2024. I will use audio recordings before, during, and after the eclipse to quantify changes in animal vocalizations. Most recordings will be in the range of normal hearing, and will primarily detect birds, frogs, and insects. Additionally, I will deploy one ultrasonic recorder capable of detecting bats. From these recordings I will be able to quantify overall and species-specific call rates. Audio recordings will be paired with continuous measurements of light intensity …