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2024

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Articles 91 - 120 of 1027

Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Effects Of Low Dose Exposure To Radiation And Sleep Fragmentation On Discrimination In String-Pulling Behavior With Female Rats, Jonathan F. Cortez, Diana Lloyd, T. L. Garcia, A. Adhikari, N. M. Attallah, N. Moges, D. H. Rodgers, K. S. Dhede, K. D. Omengan, A. A. Blackwell Nov 2024

Effects Of Low Dose Exposure To Radiation And Sleep Fragmentation On Discrimination In String-Pulling Behavior With Female Rats, Jonathan F. Cortez, Diana Lloyd, T. L. Garcia, A. Adhikari, N. M. Attallah, N. Moges, D. H. Rodgers, K. S. Dhede, K. D. Omengan, A. A. Blackwell

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Astronauts will face harmful stressors, such as galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) and sleep fragmentation (SF), on a three-year space flight mission to Mars and back. Astronauts perform skilled reach-to-grasp behaviors on these missions, including interacting with controls to navigate the spacecraft. Recent work has shown that GCR and SF disrupt skilled reach-to-grasp behavior in rodent models; however, the underlying nature of these deficits is unknown. To determine if tactile sensation and proprioceptive feedback contribute to these impairments, this study evaluated the effects of radiation and SF exposure on memory and sensorimotor discrimination in a rodent model. Twenty-one outbred Wistar, retired …

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Development Of Long-Term Studies Evaluating The Potential Of Chondrostereum Purpureum As A Mycobiocontrol On Invasive Buckthorn, Abraham F. Stone Nov 2024

Development Of Long-Term Studies Evaluating The Potential Of Chondrostereum Purpureum As A Mycobiocontrol On Invasive Buckthorn, Abraham F. Stone

Michigan Tech Undergraduate Scholarship

Chondrostereum purpureum is a circumboreal polypore with high potential as a native fungal biocontrol for weedy, deciduous tree species in the Northern Hemisphere. This thesis describes the development of three multi-year studies designed to evaluate the effectiveness of C. purpureum as a management tool for invasive buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus) in Upper Michigan, in a manner that tests a broader range of application methods beyond girdling or cut-stump treatments. Our experiments focused on a) developing a viable liquid inoculum to spray on buckthorn whips and b) creating a symptomatic assessment scale to quantify disease progression of C. purpureum …

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Changing Characteristics Of Land Cover, Landscape Pattern And Ecosystem Services In The Bohai Rim Region Of China, Jiaqi Liu, Wei Chen, Hu Ding, Zhanhang Liu, Min Xu, Ramesh P. Singh, Congqiang Liu Nov 2024

Changing Characteristics Of Land Cover, Landscape Pattern And Ecosystem Services In The Bohai Rim Region Of China, Jiaqi Liu, Wei Chen, Hu Ding, Zhanhang Liu, Min Xu, Ramesh P. Singh, Congqiang Liu

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Since the Anthropocene, ecosystems have been continuously deteriorating due to global climate change and human intervention. Exploring the changing characteristics of land use/land cover (LULC), landscape pattern and ecosystem service (ES) and their drivers is crucial for regional ecosystem management and sustainable development. Taking the Bohai Rim region of China as an example, we used the land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern index and InVEST model to analyze the changing characteristics of LULC, landscape pattern and six key ESs [crop production (CP), water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), soil conservation (SC), habitat quality (HQ), landscape aesthetics (LA)] during 2000–2020. Detailed …

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Place, Space, And Shifting Views Of Nature, Rachel Tracey Nov 2024

Place, Space, And Shifting Views Of Nature, Rachel Tracey

Runkle Woods Symposia

In her reflective presentation, Rachel Tracy explores her evolving relationship with nature and wilderness. Initially disinterested and uncomfortable in natural settings, she describes how her perspective shifted through class discussions, personal reflection, and immersive experiences in the outdoors. Concepts such as “space versus place” helped her understand the emotional and historical significance of natural environments. Through this journey, she discovered joy in simply being present in nature, ultimately gaining a deeper appreciation for the natural world and its ability to exist and thrive without human involvement.

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Culture, Nature, And Reflection: The Settler’S Impact On Life Today, Erin Thomas Nov 2024

Culture, Nature, And Reflection: The Settler’S Impact On Life Today, Erin Thomas

Runkle Woods Symposia

Erin Thomas, a senior English major at Wright State University, reflects on the intersection of wilderness, identity, and cultural erasure. Drawing from her Indigenous heritage and experiences in the course Woods and Wilderness, she critiques the romanticized, Eurocentric view of nature as untouched and separate from humanity. Instead, Thomas highlights how wilderness has been shaped by settler colonialism and exclusionary narratives that often ignore Indigenous presence and histories. Her presentation calls for a more inclusive and honest understanding of wilderness—one that honors marginalized voices and acknowledges the land’s complex cultural past.

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Wilderness Myth And Reality: Human Views And Uses Of Nature, Evan Hardern Nov 2024

Wilderness Myth And Reality: Human Views And Uses Of Nature, Evan Hardern

Runkle Woods Symposia

In his essay and presentation, Wright State English major Evan Harder critically examines modern conceptions of wilderness and challenges the Romantic ideal that moral purity and personal virtue are inherently tied to time spent in nature. Drawing on writers such as Wordsworth, Emerson, and Thoreau, Harder interrogates the cultural myth of wilderness as a pristine, untouched realm separate from civilization. He argues that our understanding of nature is a constructed concept—born from the development of cities and agriculture—and often overlooks the long histories of human habitation in places now designated as “natural” or “wild.” Through examples like Cuyahoga Valley National …

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The Concept Of Wilderness In Western Culture And Its Sacredness, Shannon Doyal Nov 2024

The Concept Of Wilderness In Western Culture And Its Sacredness, Shannon Doyal

Runkle Woods Symposia

Shannon Doyal, a Professional Writing student at Wright State, explores how wilderness has been perceived throughout American history—as both a physical space and a powerful spiritual symbol. Drawing from Indigenous perspectives, early settler narratives, Transcendentalist writings, and American literature, she traces the evolving cultural and emotional significance of wilderness. From a place of fear and survival to one of introspection and sacred connection, wilderness reflects our changing relationship with nature and ourselves. As someone whose spirituality honors the cycles of nature, Doyal argues that reclaiming wilderness as a sacred and emotional space is vital—not only for environmental preservation but also …

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Endangered Bats In The Runkle Woods, Volker Bahn Nov 2024

Endangered Bats In The Runkle Woods, Volker Bahn

Runkle Woods Symposia

Since 2019, Dr. Volker Bahn’s lab has been monitoring bat populations in the Runkle Woods and nearby sites, using acoustic detectors to track species presence and activity over time. With bats representing about 20% of all mammal species globally, their ecological role—particularly in insect control—is vital. The presentation highlights the diversity of local bat species, with 10 of Ohio's 11 expected species documented, ranging from the abundant big brown and red bats to the federally endangered Indiana and northern long-eared bats. Dr. Bahn discusses patterns in bat activity across years, potential drivers such as precipitation, and the concerning declines in …

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Water Quality Management In The Runkle Woods, Krystal Demarco, Donavon Mishler-Laporte, Cassie Dunn, Parneet Dhillon, Reagan Hardyman Nov 2024

Water Quality Management In The Runkle Woods, Krystal Demarco, Donavon Mishler-Laporte, Cassie Dunn, Parneet Dhillon, Reagan Hardyman

Runkle Woods Symposia

This project addresses the growing issue of salt pollution in Wright State Woods, with a specific focus on sodium chloride runoff from deicing agents. Elevated salt levels, stemming from university parking lots and surrounding infrastructure, have been linked to soil degradation, vegetation stress, and aquatic habitat damage. By analyzing salt flow patterns and assessing ecological impacts, including EPA-reported chloride violations, the team identified critical areas of concern such as Outfall #2. Proposed mitigation strategies include the use of salt-tolerant tree species, alternative deicers (e.g., acetate- or carbohydrate-based), physical barriers, and expanded retention ponds and filter dams.

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Invertebrates As Indicators Of Water Quality In The Runkle Woods, Dillynn Blevins, Bhavishya Ratnavelu, Lauren Stetz, Corey Walls Nov 2024

Invertebrates As Indicators Of Water Quality In The Runkle Woods, Dillynn Blevins, Bhavishya Ratnavelu, Lauren Stetz, Corey Walls

Runkle Woods Symposia

This project investigates water quality and aquatic invertebrate habitat health in the Wright State Woods, aiming to assess current conditions and implement targeted conservation strategies. Using indicators such as dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentrations, and the presence of sensitive macroinvertebrates (e.g., mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies), the team evaluates stream health. Data collection follows established protocols, including EPT indexing and seasonal surveys. Conservation recommendations include stream aeration maintenance, removal of non-native vegetation, soil inoculation, and the construction of rain gardens and green roofs to reduce runoff.

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An Accessible Trail For The Runkle Woods, Sarah Bingham, Terri Dozier, Logan Huber, Nicole Owino, Nathan Shafer Nov 2024

An Accessible Trail For The Runkle Woods, Sarah Bingham, Terri Dozier, Logan Huber, Nicole Owino, Nathan Shafer

Runkle Woods Symposia

This presentation outlines a student-led initiative to enhance a pre-existing trail in the Runkle Woods with educational conservation projects and signage. The project aims to increase accessibility and student engagement with Wright State’s natural areas. Three key conservation efforts are highlighted along the trail: prairie restoration to support native biodiversity and pollinators, erosion and runoff mitigation using native vegetation and riff-raff, and bat conservation through habitat preservation and installation of artificial roosts. The project emphasizes experiential learning, sustainability, and community involvement in environmental stewardship.

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Management Of The Invasive Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii), Mesa Grine, Daniel Hazelett, Cassie Healy, Padma Deepika Kandregula Nov 2024

Management Of The Invasive Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii), Mesa Grine, Daniel Hazelett, Cassie Healy, Padma Deepika Kandregula

Runkle Woods Symposia

This presentation addresses the ecological threat posed by invasive honeysuckle in the Runkle Woods on Wright State's campus. Originally from Europe and Asia, honeysuckle aggressively outcompetes native flora due to its rapid growth, shade tolerance, and allelopathic properties. The students observed widespread honeysuckle in both new and old growth forest areas, with greater density in younger regions. Ineffective control methods—such as cutting without herbicide—often worsen infestations. Drawing on a regional study, the students propose a targeted management plan involving cutting and herbicide application, stem injection for larger plants, and reintroducing native species like spicebush. Their strategy aims to reduce honeysuckle …

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Old Growth In The Runkle Woods, Madeline Greene, Lindsay Smith, Matt Tyren, Leif Walters Nov 2024

Old Growth In The Runkle Woods, Madeline Greene, Lindsay Smith, Matt Tyren, Leif Walters

Runkle Woods Symposia

In this conservation proposal, Wright State students focus on protecting the old growth areas of Runkle Woods—a rare and ecologically significant habitat in the Eastern United States, where only about 1% of such forests remain. Home to trees over 200 years old and critical species like endangered bats and white oaks, this 100-acre area faces threats from invasive species, deer overpopulation, littering, and urban runoff. Currently, only 15 acres are legally protected. The students propose expanding the easement, involving experts and graduate students in ongoing research and stewardship, and increasing public engagement through educational walks and increased and updated signage. …

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Up In Smoke: Indigenous Techniques To Combat Climate Change And Increase Biodiversity, Brad Kerry Nov 2024

Up In Smoke: Indigenous Techniques To Combat Climate Change And Increase Biodiversity, Brad Kerry

Runkle Woods Symposia

Brad Kerry explores how Indigenous land management practices—particularly the use of prescribed fire—can be reintroduced to restore the Runkle Woods to its pre-colonial ecological state. Drawing on archaeological evidence, historical tree surveys, and ecological data, the presentation highlights how periodic, low-intensity fires historically maintained the forest’s biodiversity, promoted fire-adapted species like oak and hickory, and suppressed invasive plants. Kerry advocates for carefully planned, small-scale burns to combat "mesophication"—a shift toward shade-tolerant, fire-averse species—while increasing forest resilience to drought, invasive species, and climate change. The presentation underscores the ecological benefits of fire and outlines practical considerations for reintroducing controlled burns as …

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Protecting Glen Helen With A Conservation Easement, Nick Boutis Nov 2024

Protecting Glen Helen With A Conservation Easement, Nick Boutis

Runkle Woods Symposia

Part 2 of the "Protecting Glen Helen with a Conservation Easement" presentation. This presentation offers an overview of Glen Helen, a 1,125-acre private nature preserve in Yellow Springs, Ohio, detailing its ecological significance, educational mission, and recent conservation efforts. Nick Boutis describes the preserve’s history, from ancient Indigenous use to its development as a resort and eventual donation to Antioch College. The focus centers on the complex, multi-year collaboration that led to establishing a permanent conservation easement, which now protects the land from development and subdivision. The presentation also highlights Glen Helen’s ongoing stewardship work, including habitat restoration, environmental education, …

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Tecumseh Land Trust: Land Trusts And Land Preservation, Michele Burns Nov 2024

Tecumseh Land Trust: Land Trusts And Land Preservation, Michele Burns

Runkle Woods Symposia

Part 1 of the "Protecting Glen Helen with a Conservation Easement" presentation. Michele Burns introduces the concept of land trusts—nonprofit organizations that protect various types of land, particularly through conservation easements, which are legally binding agreements that restrict development and preserve land forever. She explaines how Tecumseh Land Trust, founded in 1990, operates in southwest Ohio to protect farmland and natural areas without owning land directly and their work in protecting the Glen Helen preservation.

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Opening Remarks, Volker Bahn Nov 2024

Opening Remarks, Volker Bahn

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Volker Bahn welcomes everyone to the 2024 Runkle Woods Symposium. This year's symposium is held in collaboration with the REACH Native American Heritage Festival. The event began with a land acknowledgement written by Shane Creepingbear in collaboration with Chief Ben Barns and other, recognizing the Indigenouse peoples whose lands we occupy and emphasizing our reponsbility to protect and restore the natrual word.

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Multi-Decadal Aspen Dynamics Show Recruitment Bottleneck Across Complex Mountain Community, Michael T. Stoddard, Kyle C. Rodman, Connor D. Crouch, David W. Huffman, Peter Z. Fulé, Kristen M. Waring, Margaret M. Moore Nov 2024

Multi-Decadal Aspen Dynamics Show Recruitment Bottleneck Across Complex Mountain Community, Michael T. Stoddard, Kyle C. Rodman, Connor D. Crouch, David W. Huffman, Peter Z. Fulé, Kristen M. Waring, Margaret M. Moore

Aspen Bibliography

Changes in forest structure and shifts in tree species composition have occurred globally due to climate change and altered disturbance regimes. With climate trending toward warmer and drier conditions, these altered forest communities may reorganize in diverse and unpredictable ways. This is especially true in mountain environments where a range of vegetation types and abiotic conditions coexist. In this study, we used long-term permanent plot data from a site spanning broad environmental gradients to assess regeneration and mortality patterns in populations of aspen (Populus tremuloides). The study site, located on the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona, USA, is near …

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Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Coastal Nekton Metacommunities In The Western Atlantic, Jonathan A. Peake Nov 2024

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of Coastal Nekton Metacommunities In The Western Atlantic, Jonathan A. Peake

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The processes of diversification, selection, dispersal, and stochastic drift can combine in many ways to assemble ecological communities. A key focus in ecology is to describe and quantify the relative influences of these processes for different systems and explain the mechanisms by which these processes produce patterns of community structure. To accomplish this goal, ecologists have developed several frameworks that seek to integrate processes that occur locally andregionally. The metacommunity concept treats local communities as pieces of a broader landscape that are connected through dispersal of their constituent organisms. Empirical studies have generally lagged behind the development of metacommunity theory. …

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Human Impacts On Mammal Diversity From The Pleistocene To The Present, Carson P. Hedberg Nov 2024

Human Impacts On Mammal Diversity From The Pleistocene To The Present, Carson P. Hedberg

Biology ETDs

Humans have fundamentally altered the planet’s biodiversity. It is critical to characterize these changes, but also to understand how they impact the structure and function of modern ecosystems. This dissertation investigates how anthropogenically mediated species losses and/or introductions influence ecological function and community structure in mammals across multiple temporal and spatial scales. We found that selective loss of large-bodied mammals over the Late Quaternary has led to severe losses in functional diversity in modern ecosystems, suggesting megafaunal mammals contribute distinct ecological functions. These changes to mammal diversity and distribution over millennia have altered both global patterns in functional diversity and …

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Alabama Agricultural Producers’ Experiences With Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) And Their Preferences Concerning Wild Pig Management, Hailey E. Ellis, Luren M. Jaebker, Alan D. Bright, Mark D. Smith, Keith M. Carlisle Nov 2024

Alabama Agricultural Producers’ Experiences With Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) And Their Preferences Concerning Wild Pig Management, Hailey E. Ellis, Luren M. Jaebker, Alan D. Bright, Mark D. Smith, Keith M. Carlisle

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Government agencies and landowners use a variety of lethal methods to reduce invasive wild pig populations and resulting agricultural damages. To provide decision-makers with information regarding Alabama farmers’ experiences with wild pigs and their preferences for management actions, we surveyed Alabama Farmers Federation members in 2020. We found that wild pigs were commonly present on livestock, timber, and crop production acreage, but wild pig damages and costs were much more common among crop producers. Respondents' wildlife acceptance capacity for wild pigs was low and all lethal control methods were considered aceptable by most reposndents, particularly those performed by landowners. While …

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Transitions Into Freezing Environments Linked With Shifts In Phylogenetic Integration Between Vitaceae Leaf Traits, Charles Tomo Parins-Fukuchi, Gregory W. Stull, Jun Wen, Jeremy M. Beaulieu Nov 2024

Transitions Into Freezing Environments Linked With Shifts In Phylogenetic Integration Between Vitaceae Leaf Traits, Charles Tomo Parins-Fukuchi, Gregory W. Stull, Jun Wen, Jeremy M. Beaulieu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding how the intrinsic ability of populations and species to meet shifting selective demands shapes evolutionary patterns over both short and long timescales is a major question in biology. One major axis of evolutionary flexibility can be measured by phenotypic integration and modularity. The strength, scale, and structure of integration may constrain or catalyze evolution in the face of new selective pressures. We analyze a dataset of seven leaf measurements across Vitaceae to examine how correlations in trait divergence are linked to transitions between freezing and nonfreezing habitats. We assess this by applying a custom algorithm to compare the timing …

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To Be Conscious Or Not To Be, Bjørn Grinde Nov 2024

To Be Conscious Or Not To Be, Bjørn Grinde

Animal Sentience

Carolyn Ristau has done a fine job summarizing the work and life of the zoologist Donald Griffin. Most scientists now accept the existence of animal sentience, but identifying which species possess consciousness remains controversial. Griffin defined consciousness as "the subjective state of feeling or thinking about objects and events.” Nonconscious processes are faster and more energy-efficient, however, and often drive behavior. Consciousness probably evolved for complex decision-making, shaped by evolutionary continuity, with feelings as a common currency for evaluating outcomes. Its survival advantage may be limited, and its presence across species varies depending on evolutionary trajectories.

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Tityopsis Rolandoi Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Cuba, František Kovařík, Mark Stockmann, František Šťáhlavský, Sheyla Yong Nov 2024

Tityopsis Rolandoi Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Cuba, František Kovařík, Mark Stockmann, František Šťáhlavský, Sheyla Yong

Euscorpius

A new species Tityopsis rolandoi sp. n. is described from Cuba, fully illustrated with color photos showing its morphology and habitus. T. rolandoi sp. n. is the only species of the genus with a combination of two characters: movable finger shorter than carapace and chela length/width ratio 3.6 in male. This species also has a characteristic shape of a median smooth patch of sternite V, which is almost oval in male. In addition to morphology, we present the information about the karyotype of T. rolandoi sp. n. (2n=20) and T. sheylae (2n=22).

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Todaro Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea Canaliculata), Jasmyn Todaro, Amy C. Hirons Nov 2024

Todaro Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea Canaliculata), Jasmyn Todaro, Amy C. Hirons

Hirons Field Techniques

Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) shell.

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From Ecology To Modeling Apps - Newts, Crayfish, And Slopes, Timothy Lucas Nov 2024

From Ecology To Modeling Apps - Newts, Crayfish, And Slopes, Timothy Lucas

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

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Bodine: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Studying Localized Coexistence Across Environmental Heterogeneity, Alexandra Campbell Nov 2024

Bodine: An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Studying Localized Coexistence Across Environmental Heterogeneity, Alexandra Campbell

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

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Bodine: Modeling The Impacts Of An Invasive Weevil On The Evolutionary Dynamics And Population Viability Of A Florida Endangered Bromeliad, Erin N. Bodine Nov 2024

Bodine: Modeling The Impacts Of An Invasive Weevil On The Evolutionary Dynamics And Population Viability Of A Florida Endangered Bromeliad, Erin N. Bodine

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

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Communication In Noise Is The Window On Cognition, R. Haven Wiley Nov 2024

Communication In Noise Is The Window On Cognition, R. Haven Wiley

Animal Sentience

As Griffin surmised, communication is the window on cognition, but as shown here, only if it is noisy. This commentary is an invitation to consider the full implications of the evolution of noisy communication. A combination of Information Theory, Signal Detection Theory, and Natural Selection, in a unified theory of the evolution of communication, reveals that noise is inevitable. All organisms are thus decision makers. Perception, thought, freedom of decision, self-awareness, metabolism, and natural selection all share the consequences of signals in noise. A full understanding of each requires attention to the errors of receivers. Griffin’s hunch is correct with …

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Mathematically Modeling How Trapping Specific Crayfish Life Stages Impacts Removal Efficacy, Relena Pattison, Courtney L. Davis Nov 2024

Mathematically Modeling How Trapping Specific Crayfish Life Stages Impacts Removal Efficacy, Relena Pattison, Courtney L. Davis

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

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