Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Chalcochares Hirsutifemur (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae), A Probable Obligate Parasitoid Of Aptostichus Simon (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae) In California, Frank E. Kurczewski, Alice J. Abela, Akira Shimizu

Insecta Mundi

Size equivalence, seasonal synchronicity, geospatial sympatry, habitat specificity, and host-search­ing behavior implicate the spider wasp Chalcochares hirsutifemur (Banks) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilinae) as an obligate parasitoid on species of the wafer-lid spider genus Aptostichus Simon (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Euctenizidae) on coastal sandy back dunes in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara coun­ties, CA. This is substantiated by 2010–2022 macrophotographs, videos, and field observations. Such host evidence supports recent unpublished phylogenomic studies that place Chalcochares as a sister genus of the spider wasp tribe Aporini, in which all species are known obligate parasitoids on trapdoor spiders and related Mygalomorphae. Chalcochares hirsutifemur and C. …

Revisión De Las Especies Del Género Eurybia [Illiger, 1807] De Colombia Y Descripción De Nuevos Taxa (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), Julián A. Salazar E, Luis Miguel Constantino, Gabriel Rodríguez, Efraín R. Henao

Insecta Mundi

Se revisan las especies del género Eurybia Illiger (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) de Colombia en base al estudio de especimenes depositados en colecciones nacionales publicas y privadas. Como resultado se analizaron 20 taxones y se describen como nuevas a: E. chocoensis nueva especie, E. dardus atlantica nueva subespecie, E. molochina violacea nueva subspecie, E. rubeolata nielseni nueva subspecie y E. rubeolata rufomarginata nueva subspecie. Eurybia dardus fassli Seitz, 1916, E. franciscana caerulescens Druce, 1904 y E. dardus mestiza Salazar, Villalobos y Vargas, 2021 son restituidos a nivel subespecífico. Se crea la nueva combinación de E. rubeolata silaceana basado …

Bison Alter The Northern Yellowstone Ecosystem By Breaking Aspen Saplings, Luke E. Painter, Robert L. Beschta, William J. Ripple

Aspen Bibliography

The American bison (Bison bison) is a species that strongly interacts with its environment, yet the effects of this large herbivore on quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) have received little study. We documented bison breaking the stems of aspen saplings (young aspen > 2 m tall and ≤ 5 cm in diameter at breast height) and examined the extent of this effect in northern Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Low densities of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis) after about 2004 created conditions conducive for new aspen recruitment in YNP's northern ungulate winter range (northern range). We sampled …

Two New Species Of Guatemalan Colyphus Spinola (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae), Jacques Rifkind

Insecta Mundi

Colyphus zacki new species and Colyphus monzoni new species (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Clerinae) are described from Guatemala.

The genus Colyphus Spinola was most recently revised by Ekis (1977), who recognized 16 species, distributed from Mexico to Panama. Since then, four new species have been described (Colyphus hansoni Rifkind, C. ska Rifkind and Barr, C. lamed Rifkind, and C. martinezi Rifkind) and four species (Enoclerus guatemalensis (Gor­ham), E. pictus (Gorham), E. rutilus (Gorham), and Thanasimus subviolaceus Gorham) have been transferred to the genus (Rifkind and Barr 2011; Rifkind 2014). With the two new species described herein, the total known Colyphus …

Go Big Or Go Home: Divergence In Morphology And Behavior Between Island And Islet Populations Of The San Cristóbal Lava Lizard (Microlophus Bivittatus), Emilio J. Mancero

Masters Theses

Rapid divergence in body size is a well-documented phenomenon among island species, associated with macroevolutionary processes of diversification and adaptive radiation. The effect of insularity in determining larger body size as an optimal phenotype is primarily attributed to lower predation and greater intraspecific competition on islands. Our study examined interpopulation variation in morphology, social behavior and predator avoidance in Galápagos lava lizards endemic to San Cristóbal island (Microlophus bivittatus), and the nearby islet Isla Lobos. Islet populations have fewer competitors than those on the island, where native and introduced predators are abundant. We simulated interactions with predators and …

Assessing Threats To Plant Populations: Linking Pollinator Differences To Patterns Of Plant Fitness And Population Genetics, Rieka Yu

Dissertations

Land use change is a major driver of biodiversity loss and consequently has led to the loss of genetic diversity in many plant populations due to declines in population sizes and an increase in spatial isolation. However, not all plant populations respond similarly to land-use change, suggesting there are additional mechanisms mediating plant population genetic patterns. Here, I examine the role of pollinators as this mediating factor. In Chapter 1 I conducted a meta-analysis to investigate how different types of pollinators drive changes in gene flow for plant populations in disturbed habitats, finding that different types of pollinators mediate different …

Observations Of The Association By Early-Juvenile Western Rock Lobster Panulirus Cygnus George, 1962 With Seagrass Assemblages (Decapoda: Achelata: Palinuridae), Daphne Oh, Tim J. Langlois, Michael A. Brooker, Hugo Salinas, Jason R. How, Simon De Lestang

Fisheries Research Articles

The fishery of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus George, 1962, is Australia’s most valuable wild-caught single-species fishery. Recruitment in some regions of the fishery was observed to be significantly lower than expected after the 2010/2011 West Australian marine heatwave that caused extensive disturbance of dominant coastal habitats. This event generated interest in the study of the factors influencing survival and recruitment of post-larval benthic P. cygnus after settlement. The habitat associations of the highly cryptic post-settlement early-juveniles were previously unknown, with only anecdotal observations of individuals within limestone crevices in nearshore habitats. Our study used early-juveniles derived from …

Scaled Ecology: A Framework For Evaluating Conservation Of Wildlife Ecological Processes, Johanna A. Hodge

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Ecological processes are scaled in time and space, including those associated with wildlife. Understanding the ecological processes of wildlife species and their contributions to ecosystems is crucial for effective conservation. This study focuses on American bison (Bison bison) as a case-study species to explore the holistic scaling of wildlife ecology. A PRISMA-style literature review was conducted to gather and map the scaled ecology of bison. An AIC best-fit analysis was conducted to assess the scaling of total bison ecology considering 7 different models. The results rejected the null model and identified the best-fit model as a combination between fencing and …

Particle Drift Potential Of Mesotrione And Rimsulfuron Plus Thifensulfuron-Methyl Tank Mixture In A Low-Speed Wind Tunnel, Milan Brankov, Guilherme Sousa Alves, Bruno Canella Vieira, Milos Zaric, Greg R. Kruger

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Particle drift happens during herbicide application when droplets travel outside the intended site. Different nozzles produce various range of droplets, so they play a very important role in coverage and drift occasions. When nozzles produce small droplets, the potential for off-target movement is very high. Another important factor determining particle drift is the distance between crops. Wind velocity gives the energy to herbicide particles to move away from the target place. Therefore, a drift simulation of herbicide (mesotrione and rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron-methyl mixture) was done in a wind tunnel, using different nozzles Extended Range (XR) and Turbo TeeJet Induction (TTI). …

Euscorpius Sulfur Sp. N. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), A New Cave Scorpion From Albania And Northwestern Greece, František Kovařík, Marek Audy, Serban M. Sarbu, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

A new species of cave scorpion, Euscorpius sulfur sp. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Albania and northwestern Greece is described, fully complemented with color photographs of both live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitats.

The Devil You Know And The Devil You Don’T: Current Status And Challenges Of Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication In The United States, Daniel J. O'Brien, Tyler C. Thacker, Liliana C.M. Salvador, Anthony G. Duffiney, Suelee Robbe‑Austerman, Mark S. Camacho, Jason E. Lombard, Mitchell V. Palmer

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Having entered into its second century, the eradication program for bovine tuberculosis (bTB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis) in the United States of America occupies a position both enviable and daunting. Excepting four counties in Michigan comprising only 6109 km2 (0.06% of US land area) classified as Modified Accredited, as of April 2022 the entire country was considered Accredited Free of bTB by the US Department of Agriculture for cattle and bison. On the surface, the now well-described circumstances of endemic bTB in Michigan, where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) serve as a free-ranging wildlife maintenance host, may appear to be …

Assessing The Effects Of Live Oysters And Sampling Gear On Biodiversity Metrics Of Reef-Associated Benthic And Nekton Assemblages, Finella Campanino

LSU Master's Theses

Oysters are declining globally, resulting in an increase in oyster reef restoration, with many efforts prioritizing maintenance of reef-associated biodiversity. Understanding the role that reef-specific characteristics play in supporting biodiversity and how sampling gear influences measurements of biodiversity can inform design and management of restoration projects. I examined the relationship between live oyster volume and reef-associated benthic and nekton assemblages (hereafter reef assemblages) and how sampling gears influence our understanding of biodiversity on intertidal Crassostrea virginica reefs near Cocodrie, Louisiana. I quantified substrate characteristics, assemblages via trays, and water-column characteristics across four reefs and four seasons in 2022-2023, and compared …

Parasites Versus Predation: The Role Of Chronic And Acute Parasite Exposure In Infection Risk And Anti-Predator Behavior, Delaney Farrell

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Parasites with complex, multi-host lifecycles often engage in host behavior manipulation to increase transmission between successive hosts. In intermediate fish hosts, previous research has measured increased frequency of conspicuous behaviors, decreased swimming performance, and reduced antipredator behavior, which would collectively increase the fish’s risk of predation. In ecosystems where this type of parasite increased trophic transmission (PITT) occurs, parasites can play a substantial role in food webs. In this study, I investigate how chronic versus acute exposure to the trematode Euhaplorchis sp. A. affects the antipredator behavior of the Gulf killifish Fundulus grandis. Using a fully crossed design, I …

A Four-Pronged Approach To Addressing A Wild Pig Invasion In A Bottomland And Upland Forested Landscape, Tyler Scott Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Among exotic species that are capable of invading, establishing, and reaching pest status, few pose the range of impacts to biotic (e.g., competition with native species, predation, herbivory, introduction of other exotics) and abiotic (e.g., soil, hydrology) ecosystem components that can be attributed to the wild pig (Sus scrofa). Despite the presence of wild pigs throughout the southeastern United States for centuries, new invasions continue to occur in previously uninhabited and often under-investigated landscapes, including bottomland and upland forests. The recent invasion of the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (hereafter, NNWR) in east-central Mississippi represents an …

The Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) Of Egypt, Gregory A. Evans, S. Abd-Rabou

Insecta Mundi

The Egyptian fauna of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) is reviewed and an illustrated key to the 30 genera and 54 species is provided. Phenacoccus madeirensis Green is reported for the first time in Egypt. A new genus, Ezzatacoccus Evans and Abd-Rabou, is described and illustrated with Amonostherium arabicum Ezzat, 1960 designated as its type species. Octococcus salicicola Priesner and Hosny, 1935 is reinstated as a valid taxon and transferred to Misericoccus Ferris, new combination. Ripersia cressae Hall is transferred to Maconellicoccus Ezzat, new combination and Planococcus lindingeri (Bodenheimer) is transferred back to Formicococcus Takahashi, revised status.

Catalog Of The World Species Of Trichodesma Leconte, 1861 (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) And Associated Genera, Kyle E. Schnepp

Insecta Mundi

A catalog of the species of Trichodesma LeConte (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) for the world is provided, including synonyms and misspellings. Six additional genera, Anobiopsis Fall, Belemia Español, Nanodesma Zahradník, Nicobium LeConte, Trichobiopsis White, and Trichodesmina Español, are also cataloged for com­pleteness. The species name, author, year, and page number of description are given for each species, as well as references for combinations by different authors. The type depository is given when known, and followed by a “?” when unknown but suspected, and a general distribution is given by region of the world followed by country. Authorship of the genus Trichodesma in …

Biology Of The Sineguelas Leaf Beetle, Podontia Quatuordecimpunctata (L.) (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), On Spondias Purpurea L. (Anacardiaceae) In The Philippines, Orlando A. Calcetas, Charles L. Staines, Caroline Simmrita Chaboo, Rachel Ann A. Anabo, Monalisa O. Recuenco

Insecta Mundi

Spondias purpurea L. (Anacardiaceae), native to the Neotropical region, is cultivated in the Phil­ippines for the edible fruits and the tree is economically significant. The adventive leaf beetle, Podontia quatuordecimpunctata (L.) (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), has become a major defoliating pest of the tree in the country. The Philippines government has initiated study of the pest, now locally called the sineguelas leaf beetle (SLB). This paper reports the results of a one-year field study on the biology of SLB on S. purpurea (red sineguelas), in Batangas City, Philippines. The SLB eggs hatch in 5–7 days. The larval period is 14–16 …

Discovery Of An Introduced Florida Flagfish (Jordanella Floridae) Population In Coastal Mississippi, Robert Ellwanger, Samuel E. Hunt, Calvin R. Rezac, Matthew D. Wagner

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

The recent discovery of Jordanella floridae (Florida Flagfish) in Harrison County, Mississippi represents the first known occurrence of the species in the state. Native along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of Florida from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, this species has been introduced outside of its range via aquarium introductions. We hypothesize that an aquarium introduction was also the source of the newly discovered population, which has persisted at the location since 2020. Multiple collections of the species have been taken from a small waterbody which has a direct connection to the Tchoutacabouffa River (25mm-47mm TL). While it is unknown if this …

Behavioral Response To Conspecific Sounds In Loricariid Catfishes (Pterygoplichtys Pardalis And Otocinclus Vittatus), Hephzibah Obafunmiso

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sound production is a means of communication among many fish species. In fishes, sound is produced through various mechanisms, but in the family Loricariidae, known as armored suckermouth catfishes, sound is produced primarily through pectoral fin spine stridulation. Previous experiments have described the sounds produced and shown the mechanism of sound production in two species of loricariid catfishes, Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps and Otocinclus affinis, but the functional significance of loricariid sounds is still unknown. To address this question, I examined the behavioral responses of Pterygoplichthys pardalis and Otocinclus vittatus to conspecific calls. Individual fish (N=10 for P. pardalis) or groups …

A Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Leuctra Ferruginea (Walker 1852) Species Group (Plecoptera: Leuctridae), Madison Layer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Leuctra Stephens, 1836 is a genus of Plecoptera (Leuctridae) distributed widely across the Northern Hemisphere, with approximately 210 species reported from eastern North America, Europe, northern Africa, and sporadically across Asia. Eastern North America harbors a small proportion of the global Leuctra fauna (ca. 15% = 31 species), most of which occur in the ancient Appalachian Mountains and unglaciated landscapes in the southeastern USA. Nearctic Leuctra species, except for L. moha and L. crossi, have been divided into five species groups based on external male morphological characteristics. Current phylogenies of Nearctic Leuctra are partial and preliminary, and no comprehensive …

Assessing The Effect Of Reservoirs On Gene Flow In The Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea Cirrigera), Anna Favalon

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Biodiversity is an essential component of natural environmental dynamics. Unfortunately, diversity is threatened by human activities and relies on conservation efforts. An important aspect of biodiversity conservation lies in protecting population connectivity and gene flow. In the mid-1900s, many Kentucky rivers were dammed, creating deep, lentic reservoirs in the valleys once occupied by dynamic, lotic rivers. For species inhabiting the rivers and associated tributaries, the central reservoirs may reduce connectivity among populations and impose a barrier to gene flow. The connectivity of populations on landscapes altered by the creation of reservoirs can be assessed by merging the principles of landscape …

Mammalian & Avian Community Response To African Elephant (Loxodonta Africana) Habitat Modification In Southeastern Kenya, Dakota Vaccaro

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) play a significant role in the modification of their habitat, foremost by decreasing woody vegetation cover and density and in some parts of Africa high elephant densities damage small sanctuaries and preserves. For wildlife that depend on forested patches, this increased modification could lead to displacement and/or decreases in abundance. If suitable habitat is not available elsewhere, elephants and other wildlife may move closer to humans in search of resources, which can result in increased human-wildlife conflict. Evaluating this impact was one of the goals of the Elephants and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya (ESAK) …

The Effect Of Symbioses Between Mold Mites (Acaridae: Tyrophagus Putrescentiae) And Aspergillus Flavus On Their Respective Populations In Stored Maize., Paige Pionke Cummins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Zea mays is the most commonly grown grain in the world and is used for animal feed, human consumption, and the creation of other products such as ethanol and bioplastics. Contamination of stored maize with stored grain invaders can lead to loss of revenue, reduced food availability, and potential health complications. Two such storage invaders; the mold mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae and the fungus Aspergillus flavus can work as symbionts within the grain storage system. To determine resulting population growth from this symbiosis, maize was inoculated with three treatments: A. flavus with no mites, T. putrescentiae with no fungus, and both …

Generation Z’S Perceptions Of Hunting And Conservation Efforts In Arkansas, Hannah Ferguson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hunting participation numbers have steadily declined since the 1980s and Generation Z is not engaging in hunting. Hunting is one of the most effective tools for managing wildlife populations and ensuring the success and local ecosystem conservation. Many wildlife stewardship institutions, such as Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in Arkansas, are funded by sales taxes imposed on firearms, ammo, and archery equipment. With a decline in hunting participation, it is imperative state-run wildlife stewardship organizations and other hunting institutions learn the best practices for communicating with younger generations. This study sought to understand Generation Z’s perceptions of hunting and conservation …

Tropical Understory And Canopy Twig Ants (Pseudomyrmex): Natural History, Sensory Homing, And Neuroecology., Daniella Prince

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examined the behavior of foraging twig ants, explored the sensory profile of their homing behavior, and investigated the role of habitat use in shaping the sensory neurobiology of species within the genus Pseudomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In chapter one, I reviewed the ecology of Pseudomyrmex, and introduced the focal species, P. boopis, a neotropical understory-dwelling twig ant. In chapter two, I described the natural history of P. boopis on Barro Colorado Island, Panama—specifically, their nesting habits, activity rhythm, and foraging behavior on understory surfaces. Pseudomyrmex boopis colonies were diurnal and nested in dead twigs in …

Opening The Black Box: Soil Microbial Communities In Field-Based Plant-Soil Feedback Experiments, Julia Kate Aaronson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Plant-soil feedback is a process through which plants modify the properties of their associated soils, affecting their growth. PSF can play a key role in regulating plant growth and communities including altering plant invasion, rarity, and abundance. However, our understanding of the soil organisms that drive these plant growth responses is limited. Most studies treat soils as a ‘black box’ and do little to reveal which specific microbes or microbial communities may be responsible. This chapter examines two recent large PSF field experiments conducted in Minnesota, USA, and Jena, Germany. These experiments revealed that plants altered their soils, changing subsequent …

A Statewide Evaluation Of Fuel Treatment Effectiveness In Altering Wildfire Outcomes On Public Lands In Utah, Jamela Charmaine Thompson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fuel treatments are land management activities that reduce living and dead flammable materials on the landscape to mitigate undesirable wildfire behavior and effects. Common treatments in the western United States include mechanical methods such as thinning and mastication, prescribed burns, and chemical methods, such as herbicide application. Treatments usually have multiple objectives, including reducing fire intensity, protecting natural and cultural resources, slowing or disrupting a potential future fire’s path, supporting ecosystem health, and reestablishing low to mid severity fire cycles in ecosystems. Although treatments can potentially modify fire behavior and ecological health, they generally cannot prevent fires from igniting, eliminate …

Overcoming Barriers To Aquatic Plant Restoration: Addressing Gaps In Species Identification And Planting Techniques In The Intermountain West, Kate A. Sinnott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aquatic ecosystems provide many critical and economically valuable benefits, including drinking water, food, recreational opportunities, and water supply for irrigation and agriculture. However, the health of these systems has been severely impacted by human activities such as pollution, land conversion, and introductions of harmful species. Restoring native aquatic plants can help reverse this damage and reestablish benefits, though it is not a common practice. With an objective to increase capacity for aquatic plant restoration in the Intermountain West, I identified and addressed two major barriers: 1) a lack of confidence in aquatic species identification among wetland professionals, and 2) underdeveloped …

Fishing Out Nutrients: The Spatiotemporal And Ecological Dynamics Of Fishery-Based Nutrient Extraction, Adrián A. González Ortiz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Marine fisheries are one of the most impactful human activities on the planet. Since the 1950s, marine fisheries have removed billions of metric tons of marine biomass leading to substantial declines in many fish populations. Among their impacts, we have begun to investigate the role of fisheries in disrupting marine nutrient cycles. Specifically, removing biomass can change nutrient cycles by reducing the amount of nutrients stored within animal biomass.

No studies have investigated the large-scale geographical and ecological contexts of nutrient removal by fisheries over a large timescale. For my thesis, we compiled data on fishery-targeted organisms' carbon, nitrogen, and …

Precipitation And Soil Properties Determine Long-Term Consequences Of Disturbance And Invasion In Drylands, Tyson Terry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Disturbance and invasive species have dramatic effects on desert plant communities, often resulting in degradation or shifts to alternative plant communities. Climate and soil properties determine water availability to plants, and have been thought to drive patterns of recovery following disturbance and potential for invasion.

In chapter II we used a combination of natural gas pipelines and satellite imagery to understand how recovery from a uniform disturbance differs across precipitation and soil gradients. We used a recovery ratio (disturbed/undisturbed) of pipeline pixels and their undisturbed nearest neighbor pixel to quantify recovery in a comparable way across precipitation gradients. We found …