Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Field-Based Courses Still Matter, But Not Like They Used To, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Increasingly, field-based courses are providing the first real opportunities for students to experience nature in meaningful ways. As a baseline, even before the content delivery and the graded assessments, this is already enough to change the way a person feels in the world and to spark an appreciation for the life around them.

(Part of a special feature on education in which recent winners of the Botanical Society of America's Charles E. Bessey Award share teaching philosophies and strategies.)

Monitoring The Seasonal Presence Of The Blue Shiner, Cyprinella Caerulea, In Little River Canyon National Preserve Using Environmental Dna, Deanna Meadows

Theses

The study of environmental DNA (eDNA) has provided researchers with a more accessible and sensitive way to identify the presence of specific species compared to traditional monitoring methods. eDNA enables species detection by analyzing environmental samples such as water or soil, which contain genetic material shed by organisms in a given area. Research indicates that eDNA techniques have become a valuable method for monitoring threatened and invasive species, proving particularly reliable for detecting aquatic species compared to traditional techniques. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been used in numerous eDNA studies, as it provides for greater accuracy than conventional PCR. Cyprinella …

Précis Of: "Birds, Bats And Minds: Tales Of A Revolutionary Scientist, Donald R. Griffin", Carolyn A. Ristau

Animal Sentience

Donald Griffin co-discovered bat sonar and founded the field of echolocation. He studied bird migration and founded Cognitive Ethology, the study of animal awareness and mental experiences. In all these endeavors, he faced hostile opposition. The biography (Ristau 2024) examines Griffin's life and the scientific explorations by him and others in these fields. This Précis emphasizes his arguments and supporting evidence for animal consciousness as well as his later research. Griffin considered the inhibiting assumptions made by scientists, including Cartesian views, the misunderstanding of innate behaviors, prejudice against lower animals, concern with violations of parsimony, and the assertions of the …

Arthropod Arbiters: Natural Enemy Communities Mediate The Effects Of Landscape And Local-Scale Complexity On Lygus-Induced Crop Loss In Organic Strawberries, Adrian Lu, David J. Gonthier, Amber Sciligo, Karina Garcia, Taiki Chiba, Gila Juárez, Claire Kremen

Entomology Faculty Publications

Sustainable pest management requires growers and regional land managers to consider the relationships among pest management practices, pest and natural enemy communities, crop loss, and multi-scalar habitat complexity. However, the causal links among these variables, in particular potential interactions between landscape and local-scale habitat complexity, remain underexplored. In the context of organically managed strawberry crops in California’s Central Coast, we tested the independent effects of landscape and local habitat complexity gradients on arthropod communities and crop loss using a piecewise structural equation model (PSEM). We found that landscape-scale woody habitat proportion indirectly decreased crop loss through its positive effect on …

Ontogenetic Biomechanics Of Tufted (Sapajus) And Untufted (Cebus) Capuchin Mandibles, Taylor A. Polvadore, Caitlin B. Yoakum, Parker M. Taylor, Megan A. Holmes, Myra F. Laird, Janine Chalk-Wilayto, Claudia Misue Kanno, Jose Americano De Oliveira, Claire E. Terhune

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives

Cortical bone geometry is commonly used to investigate biomechanical properties of primate mandibles. However, the ontogeny of these properties is less understood. Here we investigate changes in cortical bone cross-sectional properties throughout capuchin ontogeny and compare captive versus wild, semi-provisioned groups. Tufted capuchins (Sapajus spp.) are known to consume relatively hard/tough foods, while untufted capuchins (Cebus spp.) exploit less mechanically challenging foods. Previous research indicates dietary differences are present early in development and adult Sapajus mandibles can resist higher bending/shear/torsional loads.

Materials and methods

This study utilized microCT scans of 22 Cebus and 45 Sapajus from early …

Feral Camel, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

No abstract provided.

Feral Donkey, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Donkeys (Equus asinus) were first imported in substantial numbers to Australia in 1866 by Sir Thomas Elder. They were used as pack and draught animals in outlying areas of Western Australia (WA) until the 1930s. They were eventually replaced by the motor vehicle, and unwanted donkeys were released to the wild, where they became feral. The first record of feral donkeys is from the Kimberley in the early 1930s, but it is possible they became feral much earlier.

Blackbird, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The introduced common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a pest in eastern Australia. It damages commercial fruit crops and may compete with native birds. The species is prohibited in Western Australia and individuals found here are destroyed.

The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in Western Australia (WA). For more information, see our website at dpird.wa.gov.au.

Feral Goat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.

Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers …

Red Fox, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the red fox in Western Australia (WA).

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a native of the northern hemisphere where it occurs throughout most of Europe, Asia, North America, and the northern coast of Africa. The red fox was first introduced to Australia (Victoria) from Britain as early as 1845 for hunting with foxhounds. Having become successfully established in Victoria by about 1870, it colonised most of mainland Australia over the next 70 years. Foxes are not found in the most northern regions of Australia, including northwest Kimberley.

In WA, the fox is a declared …

Rabbit Control: Fumigation, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Fumigation for rabbit control involves the introduction of poisonous gas into a warren. It is one of the best control methods to use where low numbers of rabbits live in a few widely scattered warrens. The threat to non-target animals is minimal. This factsheet should be read in conjunction with registered product labels and directions for use. Check the Department of Health, Western Australia website (health.wa.gov.au) for public health requirements for the use of phosphine fumigation.

Fumigation may be used in areas where access is limited, such as fence lines, around trees, and on riverbanks, but it may be difficult …

Psychological And Social Well-Being Of Bony Fishes In Zoos And Aquariums, Ronald G. Oldfield, Patrick Bonano

Animal Sentience

Research on the behaviour of animals in zoos has been conducted for decades, and observations have provided information that has improved the psychological and social well-being of animals. However, research on fishes in zoos and aquariums seems to be lacking. Here, we assess the current state of research on fishes in zoos and aquariums by surveying the peer-reviewed literature. Our assessment differs from previous surveys in that we examine the taxonomic classes Chondrichthyes (sharks and rays) and Osteichthyes (bony fishes) separately. Our survey finds that bony fishes have been drastically underrepresented in zoo journals, more drastically than chondrichthyans, revealing an …

A Dendrochronological Analysis Of Longleaf And Associated Pines From The Blackwater Ecological Preserve In Southeastern Virginia, Sarah Durham

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The field of dendrochronology utilizes annual tree ring growth data to create chronologies, which function as proxies to measure the effect of climate on radial growth. In the southeastern United States, dendrochronological studies involving the effect of climate on the growth of Pinus species exist, but significant gaps persist. For this study, I: 1) created chronologies of earlywood, latewood, and total ring-width growth for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), and pond pine (P. serotina Michx.) and 2) conducted a climate analysis on each species to determine how climatic factors affected radial …

Trophic Niche Of A Nonnative Invader And Environmental Drivers Of Its Increasing Populations In The Coastal Everglades, Grace Kahmann, Jennifer S. Rehage, Jordan A. Massie, James A. Nelson, Rolando O. Santos, Natasha M. Viadero, W. Ryan James, Ross E. Boucek, Derek P. Crane, Ryan J. Rezek

Marine Science

The Florida Everglades is a critically important, but highly threatened ecosystem that is becoming increasingly susceptible to the invasion of non-native species. This study investigated the ecological role of the invasive peacock eel (Macrognathus siamensis) within this ecosystem using 15 years of electrofishing data and stable isotope analysis. We investigated the population trends of peacock eels at the marsh-mangrove ecotone of the Shark River Estuary, the environmental factors contributing to their abundance, and the potential interactions they may have with native fish assemblages and coastal food webs. We used stable isotope analysis to provide insights into the basal resource contribution …

A New Invasive Lepidosaphes Armored Scale (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae) For Florida: First Records, Natural Enemies, And An Identification Key, Erin C. Powell, Mark Zenoble, Douglass R. Miller, Benjamin B. Normark, Gregory A. Evans

Insecta Mundi

The invasive armored scale, Lepidosaphes laterochitinosa Green 1925 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Diaspididae), was found in the Florida landscape for the first time in November 2022 and is now known from two south Florida counties: Broward and Miami-Dade. In Florida thus far, this polyphagous species has been found on Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl. (Araceae), Dracaena Vand. ex. L. (Asparagaceae), and Breynia disticha J. R. Forst. and G. Forst. (Phyllanthaceae), all common landscape ornamentals. New parasitoid host records are provided for Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese and Paoli), Encarsia citrina (Craw), and Aphytis lingnanensis Compere (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) that emerged from L. laterochitinosa in Broward …

Effects Of Microplastic Biofilms On An Anthropogenically Impacted Suburban Lake, Paris M. Velasquez

Masters Theses

Plastics have been observed in every location on the planet, and their prevalence in the environment is due in part to their strong resistance to degradation. Inland lakes are susceptible to plastic pollution by highway runoff, which contains plastic fragments of brake pads, car tires, litter, and road paint. These plastics eventually enter freshwater environments and degrade into microplastics (

Exploring Biosignatures And Biogeochemical Processes In Lanzarote Lava Tubes: Implications For Martian Analog Research, Vera Palma, Ana Z. Miller, Francesco Sauro, Bogdan P. Onac, José M. De La Rosa, Sara Gutiérrez-Patricio, Beatriz Cubero, José A. Gonzalez-Perez, Jesus Martínez-Frías, A Teresa Caldeira

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Emerging Contaminants In Extreme Environments: Microplastics Monitoring In Karst Springs Of Montenegro, Marko Nikolic, Djuradj Milosevic, Ana Manovic, Vladimir Pesic, Melita Mustafic, Dragana Asceric, Milica Nikolic, Dimitrija Savic-Zdravkovic

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Deciphering Above-Treeline Vegetation Greenness Trends: Insights From The Carpathian Mountains, Pavel Dan Turtureanu, Arthur Bayle, Nicoud Baptiste, Olimpiu Traian Pop, Mihai Pușcaș, Philippe Choler

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

High Mountain Ecosystems And Snow Cover In A Changing Climate: For Better Or For Worse, Philippe Choler

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Exploring Pristine Microbial Ecosystems From The Uninhabited Volcanic Selvagens Islands, Pedro N. Jiménez-Morillo, Sara Gutiérrez-Patricio, Vera Palma, Ana Teresa Caldeira, Nicasio Tomás Jiménez-Morillo, Ana Z. Miller

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Two New Species Of Anthrenus Geoffroy (S. Str.) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) From Egypt And Eritrea, Graham J. Holloway, Andreas Herrmann

Insecta Mundi

Two new species, Anthrenus kushangaza Holloway and Herrmann and Anthrenus kittenbergeri Holloway and Herrmann (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) from northeast Africa are described. Images of internal and external features are presented and compared with A. crustaceus Reitter and A. rauterbergi Reitter, both of which are found in the same geographical region as the new species.

A New Genus Of Horn-Like Tetrigids (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae) From South America, Daniela Santos Martins Silva, Marcelo Ribeiro Pereira

Insecta Mundi

A new pygmy unicorn genus, Brazitettix Silva, new genus, and two new species, Brazitettix roraimae Silva, new species and Brazitettix paulista Silva, new species (Orthoptera: Caelifera: Tetrigidae) are described in Brazil. This new genus is a unique tetrigid taxon in the American continent due a notched-long and elevated head projection. The morphology of this taxon resembles Rostella Hancock, 1913 and Dravidacris Bhaskar and Kasalo, 2022 that are currently comprised into Cleostratini, an artificial group that contains biogeographic distant taxa with distinct morphological head projection.

Resumen

Un nuevo género de tetrígidos, Brazitettix Silva, nuevo género, y dos nuevas especies, …

Insights Into Past Extreme Environments Through Ancient Biomolecules, Ioana Nicoleta Meleg, Magdalena Năpăruş-Aljancic, Yuichi Naito, Hervé Bocherens, Axel Barlow

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Montane Molluscs: Factors Affecting Snails And Their Trematodes Throughout The Mountain Regions Of Arkansas, Taylor Michelle Fiedor

Student Theses and Dissertations

Spatial processes across both broad and fine scales are important for understanding ecosystem function. Broad-scale spatial processes can be defined as elevational, latitudinal, or longitudinal processes whereas fine-scale spatial processes represent movement and dispersal among habitat patches. Historically, studies on freshwater snail distributions have focused on fine-scale processes with secondary consideration given to spatial sampling. Species inventories for freshwater snails are outdated because historically snail species descriptions were based on shell morphology, which is highly plastic. In Arkansas, it is estimated that there are 36 freshwater snail species, but this estimate does not account for shell plasticity and does not …

An Integral Approach To Philosophy Of Nature, Carol Richardson

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Abstract

Quantum physicists and quantum biologists enjoy a mathematically-inspired romance with the wonders of nature at the quantum level. Recognizing the romance of mathematics and the quantum-to-cosmic level relational energetics of Nature can lead to a more integral, romantic, and even embodied phenomenology of the intelligence inherent within Nature’s relational and embodied energies. Approaching this quantum nature of Nature from the more romantic, wholistic views of the right hemisphere of the brain, rather than from the fragmenting views of the left hemisphere of the brain, one can begin to discover the self-organizing abilities of the energies of Nature at all …

Assessing Prevalence Of Blood Parasites And Ranaviruses In Hong Kong Freshwater Turtles, Julia Leung

Lingnan Theses (MPhil & PhD)

Blood parasites and ranaviruses are pathogens that impact freshwater turtles worldwide. Given that native turtle species in Hong Kong are already at a high risk of extinction, their survival becomes even more threatened in the event of a disease outbreak. However, prevalence of these pathogens among the native population in Hong Kong remains unstudied.

In this study, I aim to (1) obtain baseline prevalence data of blood parasites and ranaviruses in Hong Kong freshwater turtles, (2) compare different methods for detecting blood parasites and ranaviruses, (3) evaluate the applicability of using blood parasites as a wildlife forensic tool, assess and …

First Record Of The Diamond-Backed Watersnake (Nerodia Rhombifer) In Nebraska, Joseph W. Paysen, Keith Geluso, Daniel D. Fogell

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The diamond-backed Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer) is a fairly large-bodied (≤2100g), semi-aquatic snake associated with wetlands throughout the south-central United States. Distribution of this species closely aligns with river floodplains in parts of its distribution, including the Missouri River floodplain as far north as Holt County, Missouri. Herein, we report on the first record of the Diamond-backed Watersnake in Nebraska. On May 21, 2011, Daniel D. Fogell collected a juvenile Diamond-backed Watersnake in southeastern Richardson County representing the first occurrence of the species in the state, which is adjacent to Holt County, Missouri. In extreme southeastern Nebraska, the distribution of this …

Invasive Species Common Names: Working Towards More Inclusive Invasive Species Education And Outreach, Megan M. Weber, Angela Gupta, Nicholas B.D. Phelps, Douglas A. Jensen, Robert C. Venette

Journal of Extension

Invasive species harm natural and managed ecosystems. Awareness and management of these species depends on effective education and outreach. Traditional common names, including those with geographic references, for many invasive pests may perpetuate slanderous terms or stigmatize people from that place. To create more inclusive invasive species educational materials, the University of Minnesota Extension’s Invasive Species Community of Practice developed guidelines for selection of common names. Suggested names were shared with others involved in invasive species communications, leading to broader adoption. These guidelines may be useful to others who struggle to find descriptive, non-alienating common names for invasive species.

Nursery Cultural Practices Influence Morphological And Physiological Aspen Seedling Traits: Implications For Post-Fire Restoration, Aalap Dixit, Owen Burney

Aspen Bibliography

Aspen forests are threatened by the impacts of a changing climate and are showing large-scale mortality with meager natural regeneration to restore these loses. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for high-quality aspen seedlings to assist with forest restoration efforts. Nursery cultural practices can be used to alter aspen seedling traits to improve adaptability to dry planting conditions. In this study, the effects of container size (SC10 and D30; 158 and 590 mL, respectively) and nursery irrigation treatment (high and low irrigation; 90% and 70% container capacity, respectively) on seedling growth and a suite of morphological and physiological traits were …