Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Soil Data From Spring Run Conservation Area, Dayton, Ohio, Madelaine Gregory, Valerie N. Thurston, Michaela J. Woods, Ryan W. Mcewan

Data Files: Ecosystem Restoration Following Industrial Agriculture

This spreadsheet contains soil data from an experiment in the Spring Run Conservation Area in Dayton, Ohio, USA (39° 46 '42.2"N, 84° 20' 52.5"W). Details of the data collection can be found in the master's thesis "The State of Soil Streamlines Secondary Succession: Remediating Degraded Soils in a Post-Agricultural Field."

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 33. The Story In Evolution., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) is best known for his independent formulation of the principle of natural selection. In this work I first review my understanding of Wallace’s intellectual development on this subject, including the notion that he had no model for the evolution of higher consciousness as of his first treatment of natural selection in 1858. This leads to some conclusions about his approach to the subject, and links to parallel ideas inherent in the philosophy of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677).

Heat Acclimated Algae Improves Heat Tolerance And Longevity In Daphnia, Ashit Dutta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Xenohormesis suggests that consuming stressed food provides physiological adaptation to the consumer for similar stresses. To evaluate this, Daphnia magna was provided with heat-stressed Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 25℃ whereas the control group was provided Nannochloropsis limnetica grown at 12℃. In the heat tolerance experiment, Daphnia kept at 28℃ and 20℃ while consuming 25℃ algae had significantly higher heat tolerance compared to the control. Additionally, in stressed conditions, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown food had significantly higher lifespan compared to the control. Next, Daphnia consuming 25℃-grown algae had significantly higher levels of antioxidants which could explain the lifespan extension. Finally, in fatty …

Investigating Nekton Response To Changing Salinities In The Mississippi Sound: An Experimental And Statistical Approach, Adam Murray

Master's Theses

The Mississippi Sound provides nursery habitats for many coastal species and is recognized for its commercial fisheries. Previous freshening events linked to the Bonnet Carré Spillway, a Mississippi River flood diversion structure, proved catastrophic for oyster populations in the Mississippi Sound, but effects on mobile fish and shellfish species are not well-defined. The planned Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion (MBSD), an initiative to combat wetland loss, is also forecasted to lower salinities in the region, increasing the need to better understand responses of commercially and ecologically important species to freshening events. The objective of this study was to characterize effects of salinity …

Geomorphic Assessment And Flow Modeling Of Pearl Darter (Percina Aurora) Habitat In The Pascagoula River Watershed, Malia Davidson

Master's Theses

Freshwater ecosystems are complex ecosystems driven by hydrologic, geomorphic, and biological processes. Considering both abiotic and biotic factors is important to understanding resident species habitat. Geomorphology is a known, but often neglected factor in habitat assessment for freshwater fishes. A crucial feature commonly seen in alluvial stream systems are sandbars, which are dynamic and variable sediment structures that are known to have many associated species. One such species is the Pearl Darter, Percina aurora, a federally threatened species that only resides in the Pascagoula River watershed. Despite its status, habitat preference remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, I …

Bioindicators Of Mercury In Riverine Systems, Kathryn Mudica

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury in freshwater food webs, with emphasis on bioindicators, such as macroinvertebrates, crayfish, and river otters. Despite regulatory efforts and advancements in monitoring, significant gaps remain in understanding mercury dynamics in freshwater systems—especially regarding its transport, methylation, and bioavailability across different ecosystems. To address these knowledge gaps, this study adopts a biocentric approach, emphasizing the role of living organisms in their environment. By utilizing macroinvertebrates, crayfish, and river otters as bioindicators, we aim to assess mercury bioavailability and distribution. These organisms provide varying temporal and spatial scales of mercury accumulation, offering …

Time Series Decomposition Of Land Surface Temperature For Long-Term Trend Forecasting And Impact On Nesting Sea Turtle Habitats In The Arabian Gulf, Sachi Perera, Rommel H. Maneja, Mohamed Allali, Cyril Rakovski, Erik Linstead, Daniele Struppa, Ali Qasem, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Improving land surface temperature (LST) modeling is vital for mitigating climate change effects on various ecosystems and marine habitats such as important sea turtle habitats. Over the past decade, extreme temperatures have likely significantly affected nesting sea turtle habitats in the Arabian Gulf, with predominantly female hatchlings creating an imbalance in the sex ratio. Such shifts have profound implications for these habitats’ long-term survival and conservation management. This study leverages statistical machine learning models to measure ongoing temporal variations in LST. We break down the LST time series into trend, seasonal, and noise components using classical decomposition methods like X11, …

Seasonal Abundances Of Aedes Aegypti And Culex Quinquefasciatus In An Urban Community In The Texas/Mexico Border, Kevyn Amezcua

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

AAedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus are two medically relevant species of mosquitoes that can transmit several arboviruses that affect human health. Ae. aegypti is a vector for viral diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, and Zika, while Cx. quinquefasciatus is a vector for West Nile and Saint Louis Encephalitis. Both species are mostly found in urban environments and are affected by several anthropogenic factors such as the presence of artificial containers and overall changes to the native landscape. Little research is done on the ecology of these two species in the Chihuahuan desert, which has some areas that are …

Redefining Approaches For Measuring Landscape Subsidence And Permafrost Degradation In Arctic Tundra Environments, Tabatha Lynn Fuson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As climate change accelerates in the Arctic, the degradation of permafrost is leading to significant landscape transformation in tundra landscapes. This dissertation investigates the multifaceted responses of permafrost systems to warming, focusing on the dynamics of surface elevation changes and active layer thickness (ALT) across the North Slope of Alaska. In this study, I explore the capacity of repeat Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology for modeling tundra features and detecting surface subsidence, specifically how different climate and landscape conditions during scanning impact TLS model precision. We also compare TLS model precision estimates to TLS model accuracy by comparing elevation values …

Environmental Change As A Driver Of The Evolution Of Migratory Behavior In Suboscine Birds, Emily Johns

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Avian migration, particularly long-distance seasonal migratory movement, has long captured the attention of researchers and the public alike. However, the evolutionary origins of migratory behavior are poorly understood, in part due to limited understanding of the full range of migratory strategies including short-distance and intra-tropical movements. We examine the climatic drivers of migration across suboscine birds, a group of roughly 1,300 primarily Neotropical species with a complex array of migratory strategies. Our reconstructions of the evolutionary history of suboscine migration reveal that migratory behavior is labile and is lost approximately twice as often as it is gained. We find that …

Assessing The Influence Of Native And Invasive Grasses On The Behavior Of Aedes Aegypti In South Texas, Emily Medelez

Theses and Dissertations

Invasive grasses in South Texas can have widespread negative effects, displacing native species, reducing biodiversity, and posing risks to public health. These grasses may flourish in moist, shaded environments, which not only support their growth but also creates habitats favorable for mosquito activity. This can increase the population and alter the behavior of mosquitoes, potentially raising the risk of disease transmission. In this thesis, I look at the behavior of mosquito species Aedes aegypti, primary vector of the yellow fever virus. I analyzed the influence of oviposition, flight and resting behaviors. I tested the relative attraction of Aedes mosquitoes …

Integrating Social And Ecological Insights In The Management Plan For An Emerging Conservation Landscape: Kanha-Pench Corridor, Hrishita Negi

All Dissertations

Since its inception in 1973, Project Tiger, which laid the groundwork for India's tiger conservation program, has grown from 9 to 53 intensively monitored and managed tiger reserves. With an increase in tigers' permanent occupancy outside of designated tiger reserves, one of the many challenges confronting India's tiger conservation has been managing its success, with a particular emphasis on this spillover population that ranges extensively in human-dominated, multi-use forest landscapes. This research illustrates the application of a participatory modeling approach to integrate human dimensions with ecological knowledge about tigers in a previously identified forest corridor in Central India. Key dimensions …

Biosense: An Automated Sensing Node For Organismal And Environmental Biology, Andrea Contina, Eric Abelson, Brendan Allison, Brian Stokes, Kenedy F. Sanchez, Henry M. Hernandez, Anna M. Kepple, Quynhmai Tran, Isabella Kazen

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Automated remote sensing has revolutionized the fields of wildlife ecology and environmental science. Yet, a cost-effective and flexible approach for large scale monitoring has not been fully developed, resulting in a limited collection of high-resolution data. Here, we describe BioSense, a low-cost and fully programmable automated sensing platform for applications in bioacoustics and environmental studies. Our design offers customization and flexibility to address a broad array of research goals and field conditions. Each BioSense is programmed through an integrated Raspberry Pi computer board and designed to collect and analyze avian vocalizations while simultaneously collecting temperature, humidity, and soil moisture data. …

Rice Response To Struvite And Other Phosphorus Fertilizers In A Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-Irrigation, Jonathan B. Brye, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH₄PO₄⋅6H₂O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically- and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on above- and belowground plant response in a hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)]. Rice was …

Evaluating The Roles Of Pollinators In Shaping The Floral Color Variation Of Phacelia Dubia, Katherine Riddle

All Theses

Floral color variation within a species is a common occurrence and its maintenance has been a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. Differences in flower color between populations can be shaped by pollinator-mediated selection. Pollinators can exhibit innate and learned preferences for color that may influence floral color variation. These preferences may be molded by the visual environment in which pollinators forage. Most current understanding of how pollinators shape floral color variation involves dramatic differences in dominant pollinators between populations (e.g., hawkmoth vs. bee) and most behavioral work utilized model pollinators like honeybee and bumble bee. However, less is known about …

On Humans, Hogs, And Habitat: How Landscape Features And Vegetation Influence Wild Hog (Sus Scrofa) Detection On Private Lands And Using Existing Wild Hog Outreach Websites To Create An Effective Website For South Carolina, Andrew Jamison

All Theses

Invasive species are a source of human conflict with wildlife on a global scale and exist to the detriment of native wildlife species. Invasive species often possess the ability to respond rapidly to change and they often exist alongside humans. Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are perhaps one of the most infamous examples of an invasive species. The spread of wild hogs necessitates effective communication with the public being impacted by them, as well as a continuation of research to learn more about wild hog behavior to promote effective management. Chapter 1 focuses on how we created a website …

Lateral Dispersal Of Adult Trichoptera: Flight Distance And Traveling Pattern, Peilin Tan

All Theses

Trichoptera species (caddisfly) are usually used as bio-indictors for surface water quality due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, and if assessing water quality with light-trapped adults, knowing their travelling patterns will improve the accuracy of such assessments. To investigate how far a caddisfly will migrate from their emerging stream, three streams in South Carolina with different widths (Wildcat Creek 1.2 m, Brasstown Creek 11.2 m and Chattooga River 26.95 m) were selected for this study with light traps placed at three distances (0 m, 50 m, 100 m) from the streams. How long and when? Both species richness and …

Investigation Of Reproductive Inhibition During Chronic Heat Stress In C. Elegans, Macy Makenna Nielander

Theses and Dissertations

Nearly all organisms experience heterogeneity in environmental conditions that can negatively impact fitness. A common adaptive strategy to reduce the impact of this stress is called facultative diapause, where development and reproduction are temporarily arrested to promote survival. Facultative diapause is characterized by three major criteria, the arrest must be (i) induced by an unfavorable environmental condition, (ii) reversible, and (iii) driven by genetically regulated mechanisms. The aim of this thesis was to determine whether chronic heat-induced inhibition of egg laying in Caenorhabditis elegans represents a novel form of facultative diapause. It was found that the inhibition of egg-laying is …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2024) 92(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, by W. Ross Silcock

First Breeding Confirmation for Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) along the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River, by Jacob C. Cooper, Cody McGregor, Letitia M. Reichart, and Janet Steele

McCook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, by Gary Roberts

Index to Volume 92

Subscription and Organization Information

Frogs On A Plain: Spatial Ecology Of Crawfish Frogs In Arkansas’ Remnant Prairies, Elliot T. Lassiter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prairie peninsula was an expansive and important habitat that covered much of midwestern North America, from Canada to Arkansas, USA. But the prairie peninsula has shrunk by as much as 99% since 1830, and therefore, land acquisition and public/private partnerships are critical for the preservation of prairies and their associated species. In Arkansas, one species that benefits from protected prairies is the Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus), which is currently declining precipitously throughout its range. Adult Crawfish Frogs spend most of their lives in terrestrial refugia (crayfish burrows), making them highly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation, thereby …

Influence Of Hydrologic And Anthropogenic Disturbance On Stream Populations And Communities, Sarah Frances Sorensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disturbances occur when an external force modifies a habitat, destroying living space, removing food resources, or altering or destroying habitat structure. In lotic systems, a primary source of disturbance is hydrologic disturbance, including drought and flood. Hydrologic disturbances lead to increased mortality rates and dispersal out of disturbed habitats, causing population sizes to decrease and changes to community structures. More research is needed on how disturbances impact stream species and communities, as disturbances are predicted to become more intense with climate change. This dissertation aims to understand how disturbance influences streams at both the population and community level, through a …

First Record Of The Mexican-M Hairstreak Parrhasius Moctezuma (Clench, 1971) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) In Texas, Usa, And Possible Sighting Of The Tequila Giant Skipper Aegiale Hesperiaris (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), Sajan Kc, Anisha Sapkota

Insecta Mundi

We report two significant butterfly sightings in the United States, observed during an opportunistic photographic survey conducted in south Texas between December 2022 and January 2023. Parrhasius moctezuma (Clench, 1971) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) was sighted at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas on January 5, 2023, marking the first documented record of the species in Texas and only the second in the United States, as confirmed by photographic evidence. Additionally, Aegiale hesperiaris (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) was potentially observed at the same location on December 4, 2022, although lacking photographic documentation or a collected specimen, highlighting the need for further …

The Puzzling Distribution Of Platphalonidia Aenigmana, New Species, From The Western U. S. A. And Colombia (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Cochylina), John W. Brown

Insecta Mundi

Platphalonidia aenigmana Brown, new species (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is described and illustrated from Arizona, California, and Oregon, U. S. A. and Colombia, South America. The new species has been reared on numerous occasions from Garrya elliptica Dougl. ex Lindl. (Garryaceae) in northern California and Oregon, once on Arctostaphylos sp. (Ericaceae) in southern California, and once on Gomphrena globosa L. (Amaranthaceae) in Colombia. Various hypotheses are explored to explain the unusual disjunct geographic distribution of the species. In addition, Phalonidia bassii Razowski (Tortricidae) is transferred to Saphenista Walsingham, resulting in Saphenista bassii (Razowski, 1999), new combination.

A New Species Of Cymatodera Gray (Coleoptera: Cleridae) From Central Arizona, Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Cymatodera campbelli, new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae), is described from central Arizona, United States. Though superficially similar to several other small species of Southwestern Cymatodera Gray that are commonly collected at lights, this apparently rare species has distinctive coloration and surface sculpturing. Its discovery suggests that systematic collecting even in areas that have historically attracted entomological attention may still yield additions to our fauna.

Genomic Analysis Reveals Hidden Species Diversity In Emesis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

Genomic analysis of Emesis [Fabricius], 1807 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae Grote, 1895) reveals species richness higher than anticipated. As a result, one subgenus, 22 species, and one subspecies are proposed as new (type species or type localities in parenthesis): Diogenia Grishin, new subgenus (Emesis diogenia Prittwitz, 1865), Emesis (Emesis) aerunda Grishin, new species (Peru: Rio Pachitea, Monte Alegre), Emesis (Emesis) bartica Grishin, new species (Guyana: Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Emesis (Emesis) fatimellina Grishin, new species (Brazil: Santa Catarina), Emesis (Emesis) panamella Grishin, new species (Panama: Darién), Emesis (Mandania) mandora Grishin, new species (Ecuador: …

First Records Of The Spider Wasp Entypus Ochrocerus Dahlbom (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae) From The Continental United States, Jamaica, And The Bahamas, Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Dionne Newell, Scott Johnson

Insecta Mundi

A small population of Entypus ochrocerus Dahlbom, a predominantly Greater Antilles spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pepsinae), is reported for the first time from the continental United States based on photographs and associated information from iNaturalist.org. The species was initially misidentified online as E. unifasciatus unifasciatus (Say) or Entypus sp. However, Entypus u. unifasciatus individuals from east of the 100th Meridian in the United States typically have melanochromatic (dark) wings with a subapical xanthochromatic (orange-amber) patch. Entypus ochrocerus from Miami-Dade County, Florida is differentiated from E. u. unifasciatus by its black body with dark greenish blue reflections …

New Country Records For Macroscython Granulosus Otto, 2016 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dromaeolinae: Dromaeolini), With Redescription Of The Female, Robert L. Otto, Jiří Háva

Insecta Mundi

New country records for Macroscython granulosus Otto, 2016 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Dromaeolinae: Dromaeolini), a eucnemid known only from Laos and Thailand, are reported from China and Nepal. A redescription and images of the female are provided.

Review Of Nealyda Dietz (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Apatetrinae) With Description Of A New Species From The Florida Keys, Sidney V. Bennett, James E. Hayden

Insecta Mundi

Nealyda grandipinella Bennett and Hayden, new species, is described from Big Pine Key, Florida, USA. Photographs of the adult and of male and female genitalia are provided for N. grandipinella and its congeners within the state of Florida. Nealyda Dietz (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is provisionally transferred from Anomologinae to Apatetrinae based on characters of the genitalia. The homology and terminology of the processes arising from the vinculum of gelechiid genitalia are explored. The potential host plant of the new species is discussed, along with other undescribed species of Nealyda.

First Record Of The Camphor Shot Borer, Cnestus Mutilatus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), In Massachusetts, Lawrence E. Barringer

Insecta Mundi

Cnestus mutilatus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is reported from Massachusetts, United States for the first time. Brief trapping information is provided.

Understanding Mechanisms For Coastal Marsh Sustainability In A Changing Climate, Ashley R. Booth

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the Chenier Plain of Louisiana and Texas, coastal marshes are subject to high rates of relative sea level rise (RSLR), restricted sedimentation, and declining elevation attributed to subsidence and decades of intensive management. These marshes were created via mineral sedimentation but now largely accrete via organic matter accumulation. This organic matter accumulation (OMA) – or the balance between plant productivity and decomposition – is essential for maintaining elevation and thus long-term sustainability. However, management for elevation is complicated by a poor understanding of how abiotic factors like flooding and salinity impact processes driving OMA and elevation. To better understand …