Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Draft Plan Of Management For The Cottesloe Reef Proposed Fish Habitat Protection Area., Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

The aim of this management plan is to promote and encourage the protection and rehabilitation of the aquatic habitat at Cottesloe Reef and to involve the community in its management.

Determining Differences In The Spatial Distribution Of Forest Structure On The Kaibab Plateau: Implications For Forest Management And The Northern Goshawk, Ryan S. Miller

Other Publications in Wildlife Management

The Kaibab Plateau, in North Central Arizona, has undergone extensive change in the last 100 years due to land management practices such as logging, road building, and fire suppression. The northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) has been a center of controversy, due to the potential effects of silvicultural practices on goshawk breeding habitat (Reynolds-1983, Bloom et al 1986, Kennedy 1989, Crocker-Bedford 1990). Current and past research efforts on the Kaibab Plateau have mapped Goshawk nesting territories and temporal change in nesting behavior and success. However, these research efforts have not determined how long-term spatial changes in land-use activities that have influenced …

In Support Of A Rationally Managed Fishery: Age And Growth In Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus Eleginoides), Julian R. Ashford

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) occur on the continental shelves and shelf breaks of southern South America and the Southern Ocean. Stock structure, critical to good fisheries management, can be inferred from growth differences between areas, but available growth data are compromised by inconsistencies in age estimation methods, sampling and sample sizes, and techniques used to derive estimates. I asked the scientific question: how is growth in Patagonian toothfish structured spatially within the Southern Ocean? I developed a multi-stage randomized design to sample fish caught by commercial longline, and an age estimation methodology. Because toothfish are difficult to age, …

The Evolution Of Irrationality, Owen D. Jones

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

The place of the rational actor model in the analysis of individual and social behavior relevant to law remains unresolved. In recent years, scholars have sought frameworks to explain: a) disjunctions between seemingly rational behavior and seemingly irrational behavior; b) the origins of and influences on law-relevant preferences, and c) the nonrandom development of norms. This Article explains two components of an evolutionary framework that, building from accessible insights of behavioral biology, can encompass all three. The components are: "time-shifted rationality" and "the law of law's leverage."

Effects Of Human Disturbances On The Behavior Of Dabbling Ducks, Melissa Lynn Pease

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Disturbance of wintering and migrating birds by human activities can cause birds to expend energy in avoidance of humans and reduces the time available for resting and feeding at a time in the annual cycle when fat deposition and energy conservation are important. Also, human disturbances can effectively cause habitat loss by displacing birds from feeding or resting habitat. Managers of natural resources are increasingly faced with decisions about the types and amounts of public use that should be allowed without lowering the value of the resource for wildlife. In order for managers to make decisions about how to minimize …

The Implications Of The Target-Area Hypothesis On The Population Dynamics Of The Spotted Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Guttatus, Denice N. Robertson

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The target-area hypothesis, based on the theory of island biogeography, predicts that larger islands are more effective at intercepting passive immigrants. Most marine invertebrates have meroplanktonic larvae and open population dynamics, so immigration to populations in isolated benthic habitats is primarily by pelagic larval recruits. Thus, recruitment to isolated habitat “islands” may be more continuous and predictable on large islands than on small ones. Consequently, populations on large islands should not only be larger than those on small islands, but should also have more evenly distributed size structures. These differences in size structure among populations in isolated habitats of differing …

Seasonal Phytoplankton Assemblages Of Five Ephemeral Ponds In York County, Virginia, Michelle R. Kokolis

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Five ephemeral ponds were identified in and around the Grafton Ponds Natural Area Preserve, approximately 56 km north of the City of Norfolk, Virginia. These ponds, which are filled seasonally by precipitation and groundwater discharge, range from 0.1 ha to 2 ha in size and from 4 cm to 3 meters in depth. Ponds for the study were chosen based on variations in their size, depth, basin cover material, canopy openness, and historical inundation period. The purpose of this study is to relate differences in the phytoplankton assemblages to the physical and chemical characteristics of the ponds. All five ponds …

A Comparison Of Phytoplankton Communities In Lake Prince And The Western Branch Reservoir, Suffolk, Virginia, Cara Marie Muscio

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Lake Prince and the Western Branch Reservoir are two eutrophic bodies of water located in Suffolk, Virginia. Lake Prince and its two small tributaries join the Western branch via a constructed spillway. This lake system is a source of water for the surrounding municipalities, and a recreational area for community citizens. In the past, these bodies of water had repeated incidents of low oxygen and nuisance algal blooms, particularly cyanobacteria species. As a result aerators have been installed in the main body of both Lake Prince and the Western Branch Reservoir. In addition, a pipeline has been installed from North …

The Effect Of Nitrogen Fertilization On Short-Term Fine Root Dynamics In A Barrier Island Dune Community, John Walter Hutton

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Fine root dynamics are an important yet poorly understood component of terrestrial ecosystems. In recent years a number of researchers have focused on fine root dynamics; their work has looked at patterns across one or multiple growing seasons on a scale of monthly measures. The purpose of this study was to add to the overall understanding by looking at fine root dynamics on a shorter temporal scale. Minirhizotron observation tubes were used to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilization on short-term fine root dynamics in a nutrient limited, barrier island dune system. Root length elongation and mortality rates followed expected …

Final Plan Of Management For The Lancelin Island Lagoon Fish Habitat Protection Area., Fisheries Western Australia, Australian Marine Conservation Society Friends Of Lancelin Island.

Fisheries Management Papers

The Lancelin Island Lagoon is a small area of reef habitat on the western side of Lancelin Island and a popular snorkelling and diving destination. Water depth ranges from less than 0.3 m on the intertidal reefs to less than 3 m on the sand or seagrass-covered bottom. The area has a diverse array of benthic marine habitat. During a marine survey of the area, over 200 flora and fauna species were positively identified, with many more remaining unidentified due to the diversity of species supported in this marine environment. The survey, which was facilitated by direct observations and photographs, …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 33, No.1 March 2001

The Prairie Naturalist

VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND INVERTEBRATE BIOMASS OF CONVENTIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE SORGHUM FIELDS IN KANSAS ▪ R. J. Robel and C Xiong

MONTHLY OPEN-WATER BOTTOM TRAWLING AT TWO SOUTH DAKOTA LAKES ▪ B. G. Blackwell and M. L. Brown

WINTER SURVIVAL AND HOME RANGE OF FEMALE RING-NECKED PHEASANT IN RELATION TO FOOD' PLOTS ▪ A E. Gabbert, J. R. Purvis, L. D. Flake, and A P. Leif

THIRD BREEDING RECORD OF BLUE GROSBEAK IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ K. H. Haas and C A Haas

EVIDENCE OF AMERICAN WOODCOCK NESTING IN SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ F. Y Sargeant and G. A Sargeant

BOOK …

A Common Pattern Of Somite Cell Rotation In Three Species Of Pipidae, Shou-Yuan Fan, Rafael O. De Sá, Gary P. Radice

Biology Faculty Publications

During amphibian somitogenesis, presumptive myotome cells change shape from round or polygonal to elongated and aligned parallel to the notochord (for reviews see Radice, et al., 1989; Keller, 2000). Although the final orientation of myotomal cells is always axial, the movements that achieve this final arrangement can differ greatly between species. The simplest movement is that seen in Bombina variegata, Pelobates fuscus, and Bufo bufo (Brustis et al., 1976; Brustis, 1979; Kielbowna, 1981 ). In these anurans, after segmentation myotomal cells simply elongate along the embryo’s anteroposterior axis. The urodeles Ambystoma mexicanum and Pleurodeles waltl have a very different pattern; …

Social Play Behaviour: Cooperation, Fairness, Trust, And The Evolution Of Morality, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Tourism Plan For The Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

The Abrolhos coral reefs are the southernmost living reefs in the Indian Ocean. They have a unique assemblage of tropical species of fish, reef corals and other invertebrates, which live in close association with temperate species, particularly of algae, and species endemic to Western Australia. The Abrolhos is the centre of the fishery for the commercially valuable western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus). Terrestrial flora and fauna of the Abrolhos are relict and provide important reference areas on ecological interactions. Virtually all the islands of the Abrolhos archipelago have sea bird nesting and breeding areas, and populations of some species of …

Life-History Evolution In Guppies. Vii. The Comparative Ecology Of High- And Low-Predation Environments, David Reznick, Mark J. Butler Iv, Helen Rodd

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Prior research has demonstrated a strong association between the species of predators that co-occur with guppies and the evolution of guppy life histories. The evolution of these differences in life histories has been attributed to the higher mortality rates experienced by guppies in high-predation environments. Here, we evaluate whether there might be indirect effects of predation on the evolution of life-history patterns and whether there are environmental differences that are correlated with predation. To do so, we quantified features of the physical and chemical environment and the population biology of guppies from seven high-and low-predation localities. We found that high-predation …

Tiger Restoration In Asia: Ecological Theory Vs. Sociological Reality, Ronald Tilson, Philip J. Nyhus, Neil Franklin

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Land Use Patterns In Relation To Lake Water Quality In The Lake George And Oaks Pond Watersheds, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Other Area Studies

There has always been an inexplicable wonder associated with the beauty of Maine lakes. In addition to their aesthetic value, lakes and ponds provide important habitats for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. The attraction of the lake's natural beauty, however, can increase recreational pressures that may lead to human induced eutrophication. Lake George and Oaks Pond were chosen as the Colby Environmental Assessment Team's (CEAT) study sites due to the concern about potential human induced eutrophication of both water bodies. Lake George and Oaks Pond are situated in southern Somerset County, Maine, and experience heavy recreational and developmental uses. Neither water …

Escherichia Coli O157:H7 In Free-Ranging Deer In Nebraska, David G. Renter, Jan M. Sargeant, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Jeff D. Hoffmann, Jerry R. Gillespie

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

In order to determine the prevalence and distribution of the human pathogen, Escherichia coli O157:H7, in free-ranging deer, hunters were asked to collect and submit fecal samples from deer harvested during a regular firearm season (14–22 November 1998). Prior to the season, 47% of the hunters with permits in the southeastern Nebraska (USA) study area indicated a willingness to participate in the study. Approximately 25% of successful hunters in the area submitted deer fecal samples. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was cultured from four (0.25%) of 1,608 total samples submitted. All of the fecal samples that were properly identified (1,426) and all …

Limited Attention: The Constraint Underlying Search Image, Reuven Dukas, Alan Kamil

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Recent models of predator search behavior integrate proximate neurobiological constraints with ultimate economic considerations. These models are based on two assumptions, which we have critically examined in experiments with blue jays searching for artificial prey images presented on a computer monitor. We found, first, that when jays had to switch between searching for two distinct prey types, they showed no reduction in detection rates compared to no-switching to no-switching conditions, and second, that when jays divided attention between searching for two prey types at the same time, they had lower detection rates than when they focused attention on one prey …

Changes In Thermotolerance And Hsp70 Expression With Domestication In Drosophila Melanogaster, Robert A. Krebs, S. P. Roberts, B. R. Bettencourt, M. E. Feder

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

To examine how the duration of laboratory domestication may affect Drosophila stocks used in studies of thermotolerance, we measured expression of the inducible heat-shock protein Hsp70 and survival after heat shock in D. melanogaster strains recently collected from nature and maintained in laboratory culture for up to 50 or more generations. After an initial increase in both Hsp70 expression and thermotolerance immediately after transfer to laboratory medium, both traits remained fairly constant over time and variation among strains persisted through laboratory domestication. Furthermore, variation in heat tolerance and Hsp70 expression did not correlate with the length of time populations evolved …

Natural Succession Of Benthic Populations In Constructed Sediment Ponds And Ditches In Southwestern West Virginia, Robin E. Dolin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Strip mining causes major disturbances of the natural environment. One such disturbance is the creation of valley fills, which often fill in the headwaters of small streams. Runoff from these valley fills can cause heavy siltation as well as acid and heavy metal deposition downstream. One way to combat this problem is through the construction of sedimentation ponds, which slow down the flow of water so that sediment can settle out and water chemistry can be altered before the water is discharged into the stream. Since these ponds are, in effect, temporarily replacing small headwaters once present, the question is …

Factors Influencing Spatial Variability In Soil Nitrogen (N) Dynamics In N-Treated And Untreated Watersheds Of The Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia, Nikki Lenore Lyttle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The central Appalachian region of the United States receives some of the highest inputs of nitrogen (N) due to acidic deposition in the nation. It is believed that these high could levels contribute to a decline in forest soils within the next 50 to 70 yrs. This study examines factors that influence spatial variability in N-treated and untreated watersheds of the Fernow Experimental Forest, Parsons, West Virginia. Within each of the two watersheds [WS4 untreated control, > 100 yr.; WS3 N-treated, acidified, clear cut, ~ 31 yr.], two 0.04 ha plots, one high N and one low N, were selected for …

Distribution, Morphometries, And Tooth Morphology Of The Genus Desmognathus In West Virginia, Jessica Ann Wooten

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Very few genera of vertebrates demonstrate variation in body size, color, pattern, and life history traits to the extreme that is demonstrated in the genus Desmognathus. Exact distribution of Desmognathus, as well as other genera of salamanders, is very difficult to outline because of hybridization between certain desmognathine species. Tooth morphology, tail keeling, head and body shape, and geographic location are factors used in the separation among species in this genus. There are five desmognathine salamanders, including D. monticola, D. fuscus, D. ochrophaeus, D. quadramaculatus, and 0. welteri in West Virginia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the …

A Natural History Study Of Desmognathus Welteri In West Virginia, Zachary Ira Felix

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Black Mountain salamander, Desmognathus welteri, is a relatively large brownish-green salamander that possesses morphological characters associated with a semi-aquatic lifestyle. The history of this species in the state of West Virginia is an interesting one. Due to taxonomic confusion and the lack of a thorough investigation of the species in the state, little was known about the species until recently. Surveys for Desmognathus welteri in southern West Virginia revealed five new populations. This makes 17 localities for the species in the state. It appears D. welteri is restricted to relatively high elevation, high gradient, forested streams in the Cumberland …

Climate Change And Forest Disturbances, V. H. Dale, L. A. Joyce, S. Mcnulty, R. P. Neilson, M. P. Ayres, M. D. Flannigan, P. J. Hanson, L. C. Irland, A. E. Lugo, C. J. Peterson, D. Simberloff, F. J. Swanson, B. J. Stocks, B. M. Wotton

The Bark Beetles, Fuels, and Fire Bibliography

No abstract provided.

Spawning Behavior In Hemitremia Flammea (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae), Eugene G. Maurakis, Ray Katula, William Roston

Virginia Journal of Science

Spawning behavior in Hemitremia flammea (Flame chub) is described from observations made in the field and laboratory. Spawning in the field occurred over clean gravel (size range=18-25 mm) at water temperatures from 12.8-14.4 C. Spawning in the laboratory occurred over clean gravel (11.3 mm) at water temperatures from 18.3-20 C. Males often pursued females and nudged their vents with their snouts. When the female settled to the substrate, a male moved forward and aligned himself alongside her body. Then the female moved slightly forward accompanied by the male and the pair vibrated their caudal peduncles and tails. The spawn ended …

Thermal And Reproductive Biology Of The Lizards Sceloporus Occidentalis And Sceloporus Graciosus Along An Environmental And Geographical Gradient, Scott Landsborough Parker

Theses Digitization Project

The thermal environment exerts a strong influence on many aspectsof squamate life history. Environmental temperatures constrain daily activity time, fecundity, growth rate, and also influences hatchling phenotype. Cold nest temperatures can slow the development of eggs deposited in the soil, cause developmental abnormalities or result in mortality of embryos.

Diet And Territory Size Of Butterflyfish In Habitats With Varying Coral Cover And Composition, Michael Berumen

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Given the highly stochastic nature of larval supply, coral reef fish may often settle in sub-optimal habitats with limited prey. This study examines the foraging and territorial habits of a coral feeding butterflyfish, Chaetodon baronessa, living in two contrasting habitats with markedly different coral prey. In exposed front reef habitats, where coral prey was highly abundant, C. baronessa was highly selective in its choice of prey and aggressively maintained small territories. In contrast, in back reef habitats where coral prey was scarcer, C. baronessa was more generalist in its choice of prey, and had larger territories that were only weakly …

Is There A Place In The World For Zoos? / Another View Of Zoos, David Hancocks, Richard Farinato

State of the Animals 2001

We human animals make rapid technological and cultural advancements because we have the ability to pass definitive information to succeeding generations. But we also accept too much from the past without challenge. The good, the bad, and the indifferent are muddled together, accumulating in layers that smother each succeeding age. Cultural mores ranging from the silly to the profane, from charming to dangerous, clutter our world. They exist only because, as the British are wont to say, “We have always done things this way.” One very troubling example is the public zoological parks found in almost every city: they are …

Fertility Control In Animals, Jay F. Kirkpatrick, Allen T. Rutberg

State of the Animals 2001

There are, effectively, only two choices for actively managing the size of animal populations: reducing the birth rate and increasing the death rate. (Local population size may also be controlled by movement of individuals in and out; but when the size of animal populations concerns us, movement of individuals merely relocates the concerns. We are not absolved of our responsibility for animals simply because they go somewhere else.) Killing certainly can reduce and even destroy wildlife populations if enough animals of the right description are removed from the population. Until the last decade of the twentieth century, however, fertility control …