Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Toxic Plants In Zimbabwe: The Lantana Camara Species, Frank Kapungu, Cecilia Masvingwe

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Lantana camara is a major invasive plant species in Zimbabwe. Its toxic effects pose a threat to livestock production, biodiversity, and development. A survey was carried out throughout the country to investigate the distribution of L. camara in Zimbabwe and assess the extent of its spread. Identification was done by toxicologists with the support of an experienced botanist from the National Herbarium of Zimbabwe. The location of the plants was identified using a portable Garmin eTrex® 10 Handheld GPS navigation device., and the coordinates were recorded. Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) was used to plot the map. L. camara was …

Implementation Of The Trojan Sex Chromosome Approach In The San Juan River: Investigation And Validation Of Feminization Methods For Channel Catfish, Chad Teal

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Hwi 20th Volume Milestone

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human-Wildlife Interactions is entering a milestone volume in 2026.

Best Practices For Managing Human–Beaver Conflicts In North America: Balancing Ecological Benefits And Human Interests, Alec J. Sundelius, Jerry Altermatt, Doug Brimeyer, Derek J. Broman, Jared Duquette, Cory Mosby, Falyn Owens, Shawn Rossler, David B. Ruid, Brian F. Wakeling, H. Bryant White

Human–Wildlife Interactions Monographs

We explore the complexities of managing beaver (Castor canadensis) conflicts in North America, describing the most common approaches used by natural resource management agencies to address conflicts. We identify specific conflicts caused by beavers, the ecological benefits beavers provide, and the tools commonly used to address conflicts. We discuss regional differences in beaver management strategies, including ecosystem restoration and conflict prevention. We specifically discuss a variety of management practices including public education, land use management, trapping, translocation, exclusion, shooting, dam removal, repellants, and harvest incentive programs; we then review the challenges and benefits of these tools. We discuss …

Understanding The Impact Of Environmental Change On Shorebird Abundance And Distribution Across The Intermountain West Over The Past 30 Years, Sharon Montecino

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Shorebirds have declined worldwide over the past century, mainly due to wetland loss and degradation. Wetlands are sites that are temporarily or permanently flooded and provide critical habitat for shorebirds, especially in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Intermountain West. However, climate change and human water use threaten these wetlands, and how these threats may affect shorebirds in this region remains poorly understood. In the early 1990s, shorebird counts at over 160 wetlands across the Intermountain West provided a broad assessment of shorebird populations in the region. These counts remained the only large-scale surveys until 2022, when the Intermountain …

Secure Agricultural Futures: Re-Defining And -Imagining Agricultural Water Landscapes In The Us West, Britta L. Schumacher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Aridity is swiftly becoming the US West’s new normal. As agricultural communities adjust to persistent growing-season scarcity, they find their livelihoods under increasing threat. This points to the urgency of finding paths toward more secure water futures. A piece of this future puzzle includes water (re-)distribution – taking excess from one place and delivering it to another in need. To begin thinking about (re-)distribution, this dissertation engages with three mixed-methods and multiscale studies. The first study pairs county-level data across the 11 westernmost US states with survey data collected from individual producers in Utah to assess past and current trends …

Integrating Space Use And Demography To Support Management Of An Endangered Alpine Ungulate, Danielle J. Berger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The places animals choose to live affect the food they find, the dangers they face, and the weather conditions they experience. These experiences influence whether individual animals survive and reproduce, which in turn affects the size and health of animal populations. Although scientists have long believed that animal movements play an important role in population trends, there has been limited real-world evidence showing this connection. Advances in GPS tracking technology now allow researchers to follow animals over long periods and better understand how movement influences survival. Using 20 years of GPS tracking data from the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep …

Carbon Cycling, Salinization, And Long-Term Water Quality Trends In Rocky Mountain Streams, Allyson J. Marrs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Humans have greatly affected streams and rivers worldwide through urbanization, agriculture, and water use. The purpose of my dissertation is to increase our understanding of various human impacts on rivers. In chapter two, I aim to determine whether there are differences in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between a natural river and manmade canals. I did this by measuring the emissions and dissolved concentrations of three of the most prevalent GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). I found that most of the sites I studied were emitting CO₂ and CH …

Regional Occurrence And Spatiotemporal Habitat Partitioning Of The Culex Genus Mosquitoes In Salt Lake City And Uintah Basin, Utah, Katelyn Graybeal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in North America and can cause serious illness, including inflammation of the brain and nervous system. Because there is currently no widely available vaccine for humans, preventing mosquito bites and monitoring mosquito populations remain the most effective ways to reduce disease risk. Understanding which mosquito species are present, where they occur, and how they respond to environmental change is critical for protecting public health.

This research examined the mosquito species responsible for spreading West Nile virus in Utah through two complementary studies. The first study focused on the Uinta Basin in …

The Influence Of Habitat And Individual Specialization On Mountain Lion (Puma Concolor) Hunting Strategy In A Multi-Prey System, Hannah B. Klugman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

There is a growing recognition that animal species considered generalists (having a broad and varied diet), are actually specialists, a collection of individuals with different preferences and strategies known as specializations. The diet of a specialist depends on the variety and quantity of available food options, and their own ability to take what they need. Mountain lions (Puma concolor) are known for their ability and tendency to hunt large prey, such as elk (Cervus canadensis) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), but despite the fact they overlap with other potential large prey, like feral horses …

Behavioral And Landscape Factors Affecting The Effectiveness Of Egg-Bait Management For Common Ravens In The Great Basin, Usa, Sierra L. Pederson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Common Ravens have become increasingly common across the Great Basin of the western USA, largely because human activities, such as roads, agriculture, livestock operations, and human-made structures, provide them with abundant food, water, and nesting sites. As raven numbers have grown, so has their impact on vulnerable species like the greater sage-grouse. Like many other ground-nesting species, greater sage-grouse eggs and chicks are especially susceptible to predation. To help reduce raven numbers in sensitive areas, wildlife managers often place hard-boiled chicken eggs treated with a toxin (DRC-1339) on the landscape, expecting that ravens will die after eating these eggs and …

The Role Of Individual Specialization In Migration Phenology And How Restored Habits Are Used By Native And Nonnative Fishes, Austin Garner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Native fish species around the world have declined due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and the spread of non-native species. Because these problems often happen at the same time and interact, recovery efforts can stall unless they address all of the factors limiting a species' comeback. The June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), native only to Utah Lake, UT, has declined for many of these reasons, though its recovery effort has made significant progress due in large part to a successful hatchery program. Yet, the recovery efforts have not yet been able to establish a self-sustaining population in Utah Lake, …

'Fast' And 'Slow' Water Handling Strategies Explain Pinyon Pine Decline And Juniper Expansion, M. Faraz Rehman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Across the western United States, pinyon and juniper woodlands are changing with pinyon pine trees dying back while juniper becoming more abundant. Previous studies suggested that pinyon may lose more water during drier periods. But water loss is only part of the story. Water inputs, or how plants absorb water, are also likely to be important, but rarely well understood. To better understand this, we measured how pinyon and juniper absorb water from different soil depths and how actively they lose water through their leaves. Measurements were made over two years at three sites that ranged from more dry to …

Evaluating The Impact Of Residential Landscape Audits Using 5-Second Water Use Data, Mahmud Aveek, Camilo J. Bastidas Pacheco, David E. Rosenberg, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Kelly Kopp, Belize A. Lane

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

We used 5-s water use data to evaluate the effectiveness of residential landscape water audits in summer 2022. Fifty-nine households in two northern Utah cities were monitored for 2–5 weeks before and 3–10 weeks after an audit. We found that the distribution of weekly irrigation volumes postaudit was statistically less than the distribution preaudit (significant at the 1.9E10-5 level). Collectively, the participants reduced their landscape irrigation water use by approximately 379,000 L per week (100,300 gal per week; 0.3 acre-feet per week). We also analyzed changes in irrigation event volume, duration, frequency, and the number of days between events at …

Recombinant Hagfish Intermediate Filament Proteins Enable Neural Culture Substrates That Promote Neurite Extension And Reduce Oxidative Stress, Justin Jones, Kristin Durrant

Browse all Datasets

This dataset supports the production, characterization, and biological validation of a novel recombinant hagfish intermediate filament (rHIF) protein functionalized with spider silk motifs (rHIF-alpha-GRGGL). The data demonstrates a scalable bioprocess resulting in a 7.76 g/L yield, high structural alpha-helicity (77.2%), and significant support for N2a cells.

Monograph Available: Best Practices For Managing Human–Beaver Conflicts In North America: Balancing Ecological Benefits And Human Interests

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is an announcement about the published monograph titled "Best Practices for Managing Human–Beaver Conflicts in North America: Balancing Ecological Benefits and Human Interests." This publication, part of the HWI Monograph Series, is online and open access.

Integrating Manager Perspectives Into The Evaluation Of Wetland Revegetation Strategies, Loren F. Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded and is dependent on complex and context-specific decisions. The decision-making process influencing restoration is rarely examined alongside ecological processes. There is a need for research that incorporates the social, economic, institutional, and logistical considerations that shape real-world practices, as well as ecological processes. Decisions made by restoration practitioners and land managers (hereon “manager”) are challenged by the lack of information shared regarding the practical constraints (e.g., cost, labor, specialized equipment) they face. Revegetation, particularly in wetlands, poses challenges due to site conditions and degradation …

Golden Eagle Predation Of Greater Sage-Grouse On Diamond Mountain Plateau, Victoria E. Thorpe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Predation and the perceived risk of predation can have major impacts on prey populations. Golden Eagles are considered one of the main predators of adult greater sage-grouse. Sage-grouse populations have been declining for decades throughout the West and wildlife managers are concerned about the impacts of golden eagles on sage-grouse. We investigated the nonconsumptive effects of golden eagles on sage-grouse by conducting observational surveys for golden eagles, sage-grouse, and other predators at sage-grouse lek sites near Vernal, Utah during the sage-grouse breeding season from 2022–2024. Additionally, we examined the prevalence of sage-grouse in golden eagle diet using DNA metabarcoding of …

Exploring Life History Trade-Offs In The Facultative Eusocial Bee Megalopta Genalis, Ana Gutiérrez Zuluaga

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Organisms face many trade-offs in how to invest in these traits. One example is the trade-off between reproduction and longevity. Queens of social insects seem to escape this trade-off, producing thousands of eggs daily, despite having a longer lifespan than their workers. Some hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, such as an evolutionary change in the molecular pathways that regulate queen investment in maintenance, growth, and reproduction. An alternative hypothesis suggests that the tradeoffs are rarely observed in queens due to the extensive resources provided by the help of workers. While these hypotheses have supporting evidence, they have …

Decision Support To Meet Objectives For Water And Fisheries Management In Large River And Estuarine Systems, Phaedra Elizabeth Budy

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Dusky Grouse Seasonal Resource Selection In The Great Basin Isolated Mountain Ranges Of Nevada, Usa, Stephanie Landry, Brian Smith, Erica Stuber, Shawn Espinosa, David Dahlgren

Aspen Bibliography

Dusky grouse Dendragapus obscurus are a montane forest grouse species with a paucity of information regarding their temporal and spatial resource use during critical times of high mortality and reproductive output. This lack of vital data may leave dusky grouse at risk of sub-optimal management in many areas of their distribution, especially in the isolated ‘sky island’ mountain ranges of the Great Basin, where high elevation habitats are surrounded by sagebrush and salt desert shrub land flats. Many of these high elevation habitats are being altered and lost rapidly from increasing disturbance events and effects of climate change. Our objective …

Flawed Analysis Invalidates Claim Of A Strong Yellowstone Trophic Cascade After Wolf Reintroduction: A Comment On Ripple Et Al. (2025), Dan R. Macnulty, David Cooper, Michael Procko, T.J. Clark-Wolf

Aspen Bibliography

Ripple et al. (2025) recently argued that large carnivore recovery in Yellowstone National Park triggered one of the world’s strongest trophic cascades, citing a ∼1500 % increase in willow crown volume derived from plant height data. In this comment, we show that their conclusion is invalid due to fundamental methodological flaws. These include use of a tautological volume model, violations of key modeling assumptions, comparisons across unmatched plots, and the misapplication of equilibrium-based metrics in a non-equilibrium system. Additionally, Ripple et al. rely on selectively framed photographic evidence and omit critical drivers such as human hunting in their causal attribution. …

Where The Buffalo Roam: Ungulate Influences On Quaking Aspen And Willow Communities In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, J. Boone Kauffman, Dian L. Cummings, Robert L. Beschta, William J. Ripple

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and willows (Salix spp.) are keystone species of montane and shrub-steppe landscapes of the Western United States. Intact communities dominated by these species provide a wide range of ecosystem services, harboring an exceptional proportion of landscape biodiversity. Land use, especially overgrazing by large ungulates, is among the greatest threats to these ecosystems. To examine the effects of wild ungulates and levels of grazing at Yellowstone National Park (YNP) and the adjacent Gallatin National Forest, we sampled plant community composition and vegetation structure of aspen and willow communities both inside and outside of exclosures. …

Relaxation Of The Leaf Economics Spectrum Within And Across Quaking Aspen Populus Tremuloides Genotypes, Jolanta Rieksta, Bente J. Graae, Kenny Helsen, Rozália E. Kapás, Richard Strimbeck, Benjamin W. Blonder

Aspen Bibliography

Plant functional traits typically show strong covariation, e.g. as in the worldwide leaf economics spectrum (LES). Covariation is thought to arise from selective forces and physical constraints. However, processes shaping covariation at interspecific scales may differ from those at intraspecific scales. Potential sources of intraspecific trait variation include variation in genetics, abiotic environment, and biotic environment; any of these factors may cause divergence from interspecific patterns. Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides (Salicaceae), is a widespread tree species ideal for assessing these processes' role in the intraspecific LES, due to its clonal growth along environmental gradients, intraspecific variation in cytotype (ploidy level), …

Northern Arizona Ecological Conservation: Assessing Quaking Aspen Health In Northern Arizona Using Earth Observations, Ikram Morso, Luke Collins, Margaret Cox, Melissa Schwan

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests in Northern Arizona provide critical habitat for endangered bird species and support regional tourism and recreation. However, aspen populations are declining due to a combination of abiotic and biotic stressors. In response, land managers implemented strategies, such as ungulate exclusion fencing, prescribed burns, and stand thinning, but efforts are constrained by limited data on where and when to intervene. This project worked in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, and Northern Arizona University School of Forestry. The team utilized Earth observations …

Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems In Southeastern Utah: An Integrated Analysis Of Hydrology, Ecology, And Landscape Change, Colten Lay

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

In Southeastern Utah, springs play a critical role in sustaining groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in a semi-arid environment. However, they remain understudied and face growing threats from climate change, land use modifications, and hydrologic alterations. This study addresses knowledge gaps in spring occurrence, hydrologic function, and ecological condition by integrating field surveys, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis across multiple spatial scales. It provides a comprehensive assessment of spring hydrology, water quality, and ecological conditions using field surveys, remote sensing, and GIS analysis to establish a foundational baseline of GDE resources in the region. I applied a multi-scale monitoring approach across the …

From Rifles To Running Shoes: How Outdoor Recreation Trends Are Reshaping Conservation Efforts, Lane James Arthur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Parks and protected areas (PPAs) serve a dual purpose: they conserve wildlife and natural habitats while providing spaces for people to enjoy outdoor recreation. However, balancing conservation with recreation can be challenging, especially as outdoor activities continue to grow and evolve. In Utah, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are set aside to protect important wildlife habitats and provide opportunities for hunting and fishing. Recently, these areas have seen an increase in activities such as mountain biking, trail running, and dog walking, some of which take place in areas which prohibit recreational activity in effort to protect wildlife. These shifts in recreation …

Modeling For Functional Traits In Bluebunch Wheatgrass Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) High-Throughput Phenotyping, Brittany L. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Changing climates and shifts in community composition in the Intermountain West threaten sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, impacting both plants and animals. Restoring native grasses like bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata; BBWG) can help ecosystems resist invasive species and recover from stress and disturbances. As a native cool-season grass, BBWG is widely used in rangeland restoration for the western U.S. Breeding programs for restoration plant materials, such as seeds for ecological projects, often require years or decades of field testing while facing staffing constraints. High- throughput phenotyping (HTP), which rapidly measures observable plant traits, offers a faster solution using drones to capture time-series …

Exploring Biotic And Abiotic Drivers Of Ecosystem Properties: The Influence Of Waterbirds And Photodegradation On Wetland Ecosystems, Lindsay Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands provide a wide range of valuable ecosystem services: these are benefits from the environment that support human well-being, such as water filtration, fish and bird habitat, and shoreline protection. Despite their importance, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems, facing increasing pressure from natural and human activities. To better predict the future of wetlands and guide effective management and restoration practices, we need to understand the various forces shaping their ecological properties. In this thesis, we examined the influence of two forces: waterbirds and photodegradation (the process by which sunlight breaks down plant material). To explore each of these …

Cutting Propagation And Out-Planting Of White-Margined Beardtongue (Penstemon Albomarginatus M.E. Jones), A Vulnerable Herbaceous Perennial Of The Mojave Desert), Alexander Stosich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Plant biodiversity is crucial for the proper functioning of ecosystems, with many species needed to maintain the variety of functions provided, especially with increasing environmental change. However, plant biodiversity is threatened in many different ecosystems, primarily through habitat loss. Species can be conserved by protecting their original habitat and mitigating for threats such as invasive species or altered disturbance regimes (plant conservation); however, with declining population numbers and continued habitat loss and/or disturbance, it may be necessary to actively move plants (plant restoration). Plant restoration is dependent on developing the capacity to a) reliably propagate plants in a nursery and …