Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Immune-Endocrine Interactions In The Lizard Sceloporus Undulatus Hyacinthinus: Testing An Assumption Of The Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis, Mukta Chakraborty

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (IHH) was proposed by Folstad and Karter ( 1992) to describe the role of the endocrine system in ensuring honesty of sexual signaling. Numerous studies have investigated the assumptions of the IHH, but currently there is mixed evidential support in favor of the IHH. The first chapter of this thesis is a review examinining these studies, their limitations, and proposed alternative models and future directions. The second chapter of this thesis presents a study in which we experimentally assesss the testosterone immunosuppression assumption in adult male Sceloporus undulatus lizards. We manipulated circulating androgen levels (Day 0) …

Species Limits Within The Mexican Garter Snakes Of The Thamnophis Godmani Complex, Douglas A. Rossman, Frank T. Burbrink

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

The highly variable Thamniphis godmani complex of southern Mexico, comprised of four apparently allopatric populations, was examined by using 28 morphological characters scored on 214 specimens. Character values were tested with univariate and multivariate statistics to determine if populations are morphologically distinct. The results suggest that the four populations represent independently evolving lineages. Four species, three previously undescribed, are recognized in the T. godmani complex. A lectotype is designated for T. godmani. For each species, a diagnosis description of holotype or lectotype, summary of interspecific variation, and statement of distribution are provided. Comparisons are made with T. errans, alleged to …

Taxonomic Analysis Of The Genus Megisto (Satyridae) In The Eastern United States, Part I: Types, Type Localities, And Taxonomic Relationships Of The Available Names, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The genus Megisto Hübner, 1819 in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada is currently comprised of the original epithets Papilio eurytus Fabricius, 1775, Papilio cymela Cramer, 1777, Papilio eurytris, Fabricius, 1793, and Neonympha eurytris viola Maynard, 1891. Because the eastern Megisto is considered by some, including the present author, to contain two or more sibling species, the types and type localities of each of these names were studied. Where no type was found and no type locality fixed, typification was established by lectotypification or neotypification and a type locality was fixed. The taxonomic relationship of these taxa were …

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: July 19, 2005, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions & Announcements (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from May 17, 2005 Meeting (5 min.)
3. Update on NEPA Process – Michael Johnson & Otak (30 min.)
   A. Overview of NEPA Process C. Status of interim EA report
   B. EA Timeline Schedule D. Status of cultural treatment plan
4. Matrix of Project Concerns and Resolutions – Michael Reiland (15 min.)
5. Review of Project Timeline Schedule – Michael Reiland (10 min.)
   A. Status of Request for Proposals C. Status of Nevada Power Grid
   B. Status of Water Options
6. Curriculum Development – Jeannie Klockow (10 min.)
   A. Wild Horse & Burro Curriculum
7. Community Outreach …

Bats Of Jamaica, Hugh H. Genoways, John W. Bickham, Robert J. Baker, Carleton J. Phillips

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

The modern history of Jamaica is entwined with European exploration of the New World beginning with the landing of Columbus at Discovery Bay on May 4, 1494, during his second voyage to the Americas. Since that time the word Jamaica has conjured thoughts of tropical beaches, trade winds, pleasant tropical nights, Spaniards, British navy, Empire, sugar, rum, plantations, slavery, revolt, maroons, pirates, Port Royal, disasters, hurricanes, and in more recent years independence, tourism, Reggae, and welcoming and happy residents. Our knowledge of Jamaican natural history begins with Browne (1789). He and other early naturalists displayed a broad interest in plants …

Origin Of The Eumetazoa: Testing Ecological Predictions Of Molecular Clocks Against The Proterozoic Fossil Record, Kevin J. Peterson, Nicholas J. Butterfield

Dartmouth Scholarship

Molecular clocks have the potential to shed light on the timing of early metazoan divergences, but differing algorithms and calibration points yield conspicuously discordant results. We argue here that competing molecular clock hypotheses should be testable in the fossil record, on the principle that fundamentally new grades of animal organization will have ecosystem-wide impacts. Using a set of seven nuclear-encoded protein sequences, we demonstrate the paraphyly of Porifera and calculate sponge/eumetazoan and cnidarian/bilaterian divergence times by using both distance [minimum evolution (ME)] and maximum likelihood (ML) molecular clocks; ME brackets the appearance of Eumetazoa between 634 and 604 Ma, whereas …

Western Rock Lobster Fishery - Ecological Risk Assessment 2005 Report., Mark Burgman

Fisheries Management Papers

The first two parts of the document provide background on the western rock lobster fishery and its governance. The third and fourth parts outline reporting requirements for the Ecologically Sustainable Development process and the specifics of the risk assessment process applied here. These sections are based substantially on reports written earlier by the Department of Fisheries and distributed to participants in the risk assessment process. They have been edited here to include only the details that were pertinent to this risk assessment. Parts 5, 6 and 7 provide the outcomes of the hazard elicitation workshop with stakeholders and the subsequent …

A New Species Of Streptanthus (Brassicaceae) From Three Peaks In Lake County, California, Rebecca W. Dolan, Richard O'Donnell

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Streptanlhus vernalis is a newly described species inhabiting serpentine rock outcrops in the Three Peaks area in Lake County, California. Morphological and allozyme data indicate that this taxon is related to the S. morrisonii complex.

Predator- And Competitor-Induced Plasticity: How Changes In Foraging Morphology Affect Phenotypic Trade-Offs, Rick A. Relyea, Josh R. Auld

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Asymmetrical Competition And Patterns Of Abundance Of Aedes Albopictus And Culex Pipiens (Diptera : Culicidae), Katie S. Costanzo, Kimberly Mormann, Steven A. Juliano

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

We tested for competitive advantage among larvae of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex pipiens L. in a laboratory experiment and determined the frequency and spatial and temporal patterns of co-occurrence in the field in East St. Louis, IL. In a laboratory competition experiment at multiple combined densities of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens larvae, Ae. albopictus survivorship, and developmental times were significantly affected by conspecific densities but not by Cx. pipiens densities. In contrast, Cx. pipiens survivorship, and developmental times were significantly affected by both conspecific and Ae. albopictus densities. Per capita rate of increase (r') for Ae. albopictus cohorts …

Interannual Variation Of Stratification In Lower Chesapeake Bay, Christopher S. Katzenmiller

OES Theses and Dissertations

Stratification in the water column can prove to be an important indicator to the state of the water column and ecosystem. The focus of this research is to evaluate trends in stratification in the Lower Chesapeake Bay. Detailed analysis was performed on a 14 year data set to study interannual variation in the region of study. Potential energy anomaly was used to quantify stratification. Potential energy anomaly is the amount of energy required to mix a water column. It is determined from the vertical density structure of density. Potential energy anomaly is the departure of potential energy from climate conditions. …

Wireless Sensory Networks For Ecology, John Porter, Peter Arzberger, Hans-Werner Braun, Todd Hansen, Pablo Bryant, Sedra Shapiro, Stuart Gage, Paul Hanson, Timothy Kratz, Chau-Chin Lin, Fang-Pang Lin, William Michener, Thomas Williams

Long Term Ecological Research Network

Field biologists and ecologists are starting to open new avenues of inquiry at greater spatial and temporal resolution, allowing them to "observe the unobservable" through the use of wireless sensor networks. Sensor networks facilitate the collection of diverse types of data (from temperature to imagery and sound) at frequent intervals--even multiple times per second--over large areas, allowing ecologists and field biologists to engage in intensive and expansive sampling and to unobtrusively collect new types of data. Moreover, real-time data flows allow researchers to react rapidly to events, thus extending the laboratory to the field. We review some existing uses of …

A Five-Year Management Strategy For Recreational Fishing On The South Coast Of Western Australia. Final Report, South Coast Recreational Fishing Working Group.

Fisheries Management Papers

The development of this strategy represents a significant step in protecting recreational fishing quality in the South Coast Region and meeting the long-term needs for the sustainable management of recreational fishing. All recommendations contained in this report were made only after careful consideration of the submissions and issues which were raised at public meetings, along with the action needed to be taken to protect the long-term sustainability of our fish stocks.

Influence Of Biocontrol Insects On Canada Thistle: Seed Production, Germinability, And Viability, Gary E. Larson, Tim A. Wittig, Kenneth F. Higgins, Brent Turnipseed, Dawn M. Gardner

The Prairie Naturalist

We conducted surveys of thistle-feeding insects on Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR), South Dakota, and analyzed their impact on thistle seed production, germination, and viability. Insects included Canada thistle stem weevil [Hadroplontus litura, formerly Ceurtorhynchus lilura, (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)], introduced at LNWR as a biocontrol agent, plus two seed head parasites, the thistle head weevil [Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)] and the seed head fly [Terellia ruficauda (Diptera: Tephritidae)]. Infestation by these insects caused no significant reduction in per-head seed yield, with means ranging from 82.5 seeds per …

Grazing Intensity Effects On Northern Plains Mixed-Grass Prairie, Wendi M. Rogers, Donald R. Kirby, Paul E. Nyren, Bob D. Patton, Edward S. Dekeyser

The Prairie Naturalist

We evaluated the effects of long-term (1988 to 2000) grazing on northern mixed-grass prairie at tI.e Central Grasslands Research Extension Center in south-central North Dakota. We did not detect a difference in herbaceous basal cover between grazing intensities following 12 consecutive years of season-long moderate (50% removal of annual above-ground standing crop) and heavy (80% removal of annual above-ground standing crop) grazing. However, both moderate and heavy grazing intensities reduced above-ground herbaceous standing crop, total root biomass, and soil organic carbon. Moderate grazing intensity maintained a greater amount of deep (10 to 20 cm) and total root biomass relative to …

The Prairie Naturalist: Volume 37, No. 2 June 2005

The Prairie Naturalist

BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON GROUND-NESTING DIGGER WASPS FROM WESTERN NEBRASKA R. W. Matthews, and J. R. Matthews 61

GRAZING INTENSITY EFFECTS ON NORTHERN PLAINS MIXED-GRASS PRAIRIE W. M. Rogers, D. R. Kirby, P. E. Nyren, B. D. Patton, and E. S. DeKeyser 73

INFLUENCE OF BIOCONTROL INSECTS ON CANADA THISTLE: SEED PRODUCTION.,GERMINABILITY, AND VIABILITY G. E. Larson, T. A. Wittig, K. F. Higgins, B. Turnipseed, and D. M Gardner 85

MAMMALS OF FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS: A 6O-YEAR FOLLOW-UP TO BRUMWELL (1951) c. R. Davis, F. B. Stangl, Jr., and L. W. Robbins 101

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 2004 R. …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.21 - Allocation Of The Western Rock Lobster Resource Between User Groups, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In this submission to IFAAC, the Department will outline what it believes are the most practical and cost effective ways of managing a system of allocation amongst the commercial, customary and recreational sectors. This recommendation recognises that cost efficiencies and outcomes will be greatly affected by the type of allocation model that is chosen. Consequently the Department recommends that the allocation system should be based on a single allocation to each sector that is available over the entire fishery.

The Department does not recommend having any finer scale zoning of the allocations, or the creation of exclusive recreational fishing areas. …

Recruitment In Degraded Marine Habitats: A Spatially Explicit, Individual-Based Model For Spiny Lobster, Mark J. Butler Iv, Thomas W. Dolan Iii, John H. Hunt, Kenneth A. Rose, William F. Herrnkind

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Coastal habitats that serve as nursery grounds for numerous marine species are badly degraded, yet the traditional means of modeling populations of exploited marine species handle spatiotemporal changes in habitat characteristics and life history dynamics poorly, if at all. To explore how nursery habitat degradation impacts recruitment of a mobile, benthic species, we developed a spatially explicit, individual-based model that describes the recruitment of Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) in the Florida Keys, where a cascade of environmental disturbances has reconfigured nursery habitat structure. In recent years, the region has experienced a series of linked perturbations, among them, seagrass die-offs, …

Side-By-Side Comparison Of Young Grab And Composite Petite Ponar Grab Samples For The Calculation Of The Benthic Index Of Biological Integrity(B-Ibi), Daniel M. Dauer, Michael F. Lane

Benthic Applications

(First paragraph) The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) intends to unite elements of its National Coastal Assessment Program (NCA) with its Chesapeake Bay Probabilistic Benthic Monitoring (CBP-PBM) Program beginning in the summer of 2005. The primary motivations for this decision were two-fold. First, the probable reduction of federal grant support for the NCA Program after the summer of 2004 would require considerable restructuring of the of DEQ’s estuarine probabilistic monitoring to continue with a comprehensive program in the future. Second, the current CBP-PBM Program has not provided sufficient data for the assessment of minor tidal tributary segments using the …

Mammals Of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: A 60-Year Followup To Brumwell (1951), Clay R. Davis, Frederick B. Stangl Jr., Lynn W. Robbins

The Prairie Naturalist

More than 60 years have elapsed since Brumwell's (1951) comprehensive assessment during 193911940 of resident terrestrial vertebrates from Fort Leavenworth Military Rooervation in northeastern Kansas. Subsequent studies have been accomplished for the amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Our study is the first to assess intervening changes in the mammalian composition of this diverse local fauna. Notable observations include: the decline or extirpation of the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), Franklin's ground squirrel (Spermophilus franklinii), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) and eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius); the return or recovery of locally extirpated gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), puma (Puma concolor), and …

Christmas Bird Counts For North Dakota 2004, Robert N. Randall

The Prairie Naturalist

Christmas Bird Counts were made in 21 areas in North Dakota again in the year 2004. During the year a new count site was established in Pembina County and registered with the Audubon Society but an actual count was not made in the area this year. The location of the all areas in which counts were actually made is shown in Fig. 1. A relatively mild fall season leading up to the count period left much more open water than normal. Weather conditions during the count period varied widely with some areas reporting temperatures in the 40's and 50's of, …

Biological Notes On Ground-Nesting Digger Wasps From Western Nebraska, Robert W. Matthews, Janice R. Matthews

The Prairie Naturalist

Nine species of sphecid wasps nesting in sparsely vegetated sandy soils near Ogallala, Keith County, Nebraska were studied during June 2003. The first records of the nest and prey of Cerceris clypeata gnarina Banks and Tachysphex williamsi R. Bohart are presented. Two species of weevils, Baris striata Say and B. subsimilis Casey, were prey of C. clypeata gnarina, with 12 to 22 individuals stocked per cell. Because B. subsimilis is a biological control agent for thistle, this finding is a caution to researchers not to ignore the potential impact of predatory wasps on the community. The single nest of T …

Reductionism And Holism, Chance And Selection, Mechanism And Mind, Ursula Goodenough

Biology Faculty Research

Despite its rich and deepening panoply of empirical support, evolutionary theory continues to generate widespread concern. Some of this concern can be attributed to misunderstandings of the original concept, some to unfamiliarity with its current trajectories, and some to strongly held fears that it strips the human of cherished attributes. In this essay I seek to deconstruct such misunderstandings, lift up current concepts of what evolution entails, and address some of the existential issues it generates.

Spider Heuristics, Fiona R. Cross, Robert R. Jackson

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Simple heuristics may help explain how even a spider, despite its minute brain, can be disturbingly intelligent. Hutchinson and Gigerenzer suggest that the generalist-specialist distinction (or more accurately the predictability-unpredictability distinction) may be related to a species' level of reliance on simple heuristics, and spider behaviour may present some especially instructive opportunities for investigating these ideas. Daniel Dennett's distinction between Darwinian, Skinnerian and Popperian animals might be useful for discerning the different contexts in which optimality considerations and individual decision making are relevant. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Red Rock Desert Learning Center Core Group Meeting: May 17, 2005, Red Rock Desert Learning Center

Reports (RRLC)

1. Introductions (5 min.)
2. Approval of Minutes from March 15, 2005 Meeting (5 min.)
3. Review of Project Issues & Concerns (30 min.)
   A. Discussion of Strategic Project Review
4. Update on Water Options and NEPA Timeline/Progress – Michael Reiland (15 min.)
5. Core Curriculum Development: Progress Report – Jeannie Klockow (15 min.)
6. Community Outreach – Nancy Flagg (15 min.)
   A. Key Messages
   B. List of environmental groups and media
   D. Revisit Core Group list
7. Standing Reports (20 minutes)
   A. Line and Space Architects – Les Wallach/Henry Tom
   B. BLM Capital Improvements – Michael Reiland
8. Committee Reports (10 min.)
   A. Building Committee – Angie …

Analyzing The Effects Of Various Sign Types Used By The Bureau Of Land Management For Desert Cleanup And Restoration Projects, Christopher Linehan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

What is the effectiveness of attempts to curb illegal dumping with prompts on signs posted in the area? Do positive friendly language prompts such as “Restoration in Progress Please Do Not Disturb” generate more positive attitudes and intentions towards illegal dumping problems, than less friendly prompts such as “No Dumping Allowed”?

Results, although inconclusive, did however show a slight trend towards the negative language signs.

Total Suspended Solids In Las Vegas Wash, Mika Koponen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Erosion along the Las Vegas Wash (Wash) has increased steadily along with the rapidly increasing population. The focus of this study is to find out if there is a relationship between lower total suspended solids rate (TSS) and the construction of erosion control structures along the Wash. The study was conducted between 7/15/2003 and 11/29/2004.

The method was water sampling on 7 sites and the samples were analyzed at Southern Nevada Water Systems (SNWS) laboratory at Saddle Island in Boulder City. Additional water quality data was also collected using Quanta, a device measuring different parameters in water. In this study …

Relative Influence Of Landscape Indicators On Macroinvertebrate Communities In A Predominately Forested Watershed: Effects Of Spacial Scale, Robert Johnson

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Robert Johnson on May 9, 2005.

Range Expansion By Moose Into Coastal Temperate Rainforests Of British Columbia, Canada, C. T. Darimont, P. C. Paquet, T. E. Reimchen, V. Crichton

Biogeography and Ecological Opportunity Collection

Ranges of species are dynamic and respond to long-term climate change and contemporary effects such as habitat modification. We report here that moose (Alces alces) have recently colonized coastal temperate rainforests of British Columbia, Canada. Contrary to recent publications, field observations of moose and their sign, combined with their occurrence in wolf (Canis lupus) faeces, suggest that moose are now widespread on the coastal mainland and occur on least three islands. Traditional ecological knowledge (information accumulated by aboriginal peoples about their environment) suggests that colonization occurred during the mid 1900s, concomitant with logging of major watersheds that bisect the Coast …

2002 Licensed Angler Survey: Summarized Results, Keith L. Hurley, Kristin L. Duppong-Hurley

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

On October 22, 2002, 5000 six-page surveys (Appendix 3) were sent to a stratified-random sample of Nebraska anglers drawn from the 2001 licensed anglers database. The database included all anglers who purchased a fishing license in 2001 as well as all lifetime fishing permit holders who purchased their license before or during 2001. The database did not include those possessing a free permit, such as veteran’s or senior citizen permits. The survey subsample (2.6% of the 2001-licensed angler database) was stratified such that the proportions of surveys in the subsample (4366 residents and 634 non-residents) matched the proportions of resident/non-resident …