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C.T. Trowell Collection Of Roland M. Harper, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of photocopies of articles and book excerpts written by Roland M. Harper for publication in scholarly journals and various other botanical bulletins. Harper's works focus on botany, conservation, and social conditions, primarily in the southeastern United States. Spanning from 1900 - 2008, additional documents, photographs and audio visual materials pertaining to Roland M. Harper's family history is included.

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Habitat Restoration Restores Underwater Soundscapes And Larval Recruitment, Jack Butler, Emily R. Anderson, Mark J. Butler

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Habitat degradation alters many ecosystem processes, and the potential for the reestablishment of ecosystem function through restoration is an area of active research. Among marine systems, coastal habitats are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic degradation and, in response, are the focus of marine ecological restoration. One of the crucial functions of structurally complex coastal habitats (e.g., saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs) are as nurseries to coastal and offshore species, many of whose larvae utilize sound to locate suitable nursery habitat. However, the effect of habitat degradation and subsequent restoration on underwater soundscapes and their function as navigational cues for …

Ecopsychologists' Vital Importance In The Time Of Climate Crises, Nicole B. Auckerman Psyd

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Ecopsychology is a systems-based philosophy that expands the therapeutic lens to include client interactions with and perceptions of the natural environment as an integral element of well-being or pathology. Ecopsychology, known forward as EP, also looks at the pathology of our culture and what kind of diagnoses lead to practices that put our planet at risk. In recent decades, the field has amassed a substantial amount of empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness but remains largely underutilized. First generation EP suggested a cultural reordering shifting away from consumer culture and reordering our way of life. Second generation posits working within the …

Quantitative Analysis Of Methodological And Environmental Influences On Survival Of Planted Mangroves In Restoration And Afforestation, Daniel Gorman, Mathew A. Vanderklift, Anna Lafratta

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mangrove planting has been employed for decades to achieve aims associated with restoration and afforestation. Often, survival of planted mangroves is low. Improving survival might be aided by augmenting the understanding of which planting methods and environmental variables most influence plant survival across a range of contexts. The aim of this study was to provide a global synthesis of the influence of planting methods and background environment on mangrove survival. This was achieved through a global meta-analysis, which compiled published survival rates for the period 1979–2021 and analyzed the influence of decisions about minimum spacing and which life stage to …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Large Wildfires On The Hydrology Of Three Small Catchments In Central Chile Using Tritium-Based Measurements And Hydrological Metrics, Francisco Balocchi, Diego Rivera, José Luis Arumi, Uwe Morgenstern, Donald A. White, Richard P. Silberstein, Pablo Ramírez De Arellano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Wildfires are an important disturbance affecting catchments’ soil and hydrological processes within. Wildfires are predicted to increase in both frequency and severity under climate change. Here, we present measurements of tritium (3H) in surface water of three streams before and after the ‘las Máquinas’ megafire of January 2017 in central Chile and streamflow metrics. Mean transit times (MTTs) of water were calculated in three coastal catchments with the Mediterranean climate type, covered by native forest, a mixture of native forest and Pinus radiata D. Don, and P. radiata. Lumped parameter models (LPMs) were used to obtain MTTs. Tritium activities from …

Winter Field Report, December 2021-February 2022, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

After compiling and reviewing the observations reported to NEBIRDS, various Facebook groups, and eBird, I reiterate my leadoff comments from last winter: the increasing numbers of observers taking time to report turned up some fascinating trends. Those cited as well as those not cited, all contributed to the firmness of the database that allows better-supported conclusions to be drawn than from our past reliance all too often on anecdotal supposition. Continuing a trend pointed out last winter were the many records of species north and west of their expected winter ranges. As I suggested last winter, “it is tempting to …

The Nebraska Bird Review Volume 90 Number 1, March 2022

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, Dec. 2021 - Feb. 2022 by W. Ross Silcock

2021-2022 Christmas Bird Counts by Don Paseka

Annual Color Photo Section

Annual Treasurer's Report for 2021 by Jan Johnson

Subscription and Organization Information

Descripción De Una Nueva Especie De Tegmaleurodes Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) De Guatemala, José Francisco García-Ochaeta

Insecta Mundi

Se describe Tegmaleurodes sanchezi, nueva especie (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), de Guatemala. Se proporcionan microfotografías de estructuras morfológicas del pupario, se comentan las características dife­renciales de la especie con sus congéneres y se incluye una clave para las especies.

Tegmaleurodes sanchezi, new species (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is described from Guatemala. Photomicrographs of the morphological structures of the puparium are provided, distinguishing characteris­tics of the species from its congeners are discussed, and a key to the species is included.

El género de moscas blancas Tegmaleurodes fue descrito por Martin (2005), incluyendo las tres especies neotro­picales Tegmaleurodes lentus Martin, 2005, T. crustatus (Bondar, …

Taxonomic Changes Suggested By The Genomic Analysis Of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Nick V. Grishin

Insecta Mundi

Our expanded efforts in genomic sequencing to cover additional skipper butterfly (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) species and populations, including primary type specimens, call for taxonomic changes to re­store monophyly and correct misidentifications by moving taxa between genera and proposing new names. Reconciliation between phenotypic characters and genomic trees suggests three new tribes, two new sub­tribes, 23 new genera, 17 new subgenera and 10 new species that are proposed here: Psolosini Grishin, new tribe (type genus Psolos Staudinger, 1889), Ismini Grishin, new tribe (type genus Isma Distant, 1886), Eetio­nini Grishin, new tribe (type genus Eetion de Nicéville, 1895), Orphina Grishin, new subtribe (type …

A Second Species Of The Genus Erebaces Pascoe, 1871 (Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini) From The Philippines, Robert S. Anderson

Insecta Mundi

Erebaces woodruffi Anderson, new species (Curculionidae: Molytinae: Cryptorhynchini), from Palawan (Philippines) is described and illustrated. This is the second species of the genus Erebaces Pascoe described from the Philippines. It can be separated from Erebaces kidapawanus Pancini by the pair of divergent dorsal pale-scaled lines on the pronotum extended onto the elytra and by the form of the elytral tubercles.

The genus Erebaces Pascoe, 1871 was recently recorded in the Philippines based on the presence of E. kidapawanus Pancini, 2021 from Mindanao. The genus is easily recognized by the eyes finely faceted, protruding (toothed) elytral humeri, the deep rostral canal …

Revision Of The Checkered Beetle Genus Onychotillus Chapin (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae), Weston Opitz

Insecta Mundi

The West Indian genus Onychotillus Chapin (Coleoptera: Cleridae: Tillinae) is revised and includes O. androwi Opitz, new species, O. apiculus Opitz, new species, O. cinctipennis (Chevrolat,1874), O. cubana de Zayas,1988, O. dimidiatus de Zayas,1988, O. lineatus Opitz, new species, O. minutus de Zayas,1988, O. trinitatis de Zayas,1988, O. woodruffi Opitz, new species, and O. vittatus Chapin,1945.

Robert E. Woodruff was a consummate collector of insects, gems, and items of art. He was a superb taxonomist with a specialty in the beetle family Scarabaeidae. This contribution is dedicated …

Review Of Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) Inhabiting The Cycad Genus Dioon Lindl. (Cycadales), With Descriptions Of Nine New Species And Comments On P. Kirschii Reitter, Paul E. Skelley, William Tang, Miguel Angel Pérez-Farrera

Insecta Mundi

The beetle genus Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is found in the cones of cycad genera in the New World, including species of Dioon Lindl., Ceratozamia Brongn., Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC and Zamia L. In this paper nine new species found in Dioon are described by Skelley, Tang and Pérez-Farrera: Pharaxonotha bicolor, P. dimorpha, P. fawcettae, P. gigantea, P. novoai, P. occidentalis, P. sclerotiza, P. woodruffi, P. vovidesi. A key to described species of Pharaxonotha inhabiting Dioon is presented, along with an account of Pharaxonotha kirschii …

A Third Species Of Haroldiellus Gordon And Skelley, 2007 From Mexico And Central America (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Aphodiini), Paul E. Skelley, Oliver Keller

Insecta Mundi

Haroldiellus woodruffi Skelley and Keller, new species, (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Aphodiini), from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama is described. An updated key for the genus, updated distributions, and diagnoses for the other two species are provided.

Se describe la nueva especie Haroldiellus woodruffi Skelley y Keller (Coleoptera: Sacarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Aphodiinae) de Costa Rica, Guatemala, México y Panamá. Se provee una clave, distribuciones y diagnosis actualizadas para las otras dos especies.

Worldwide, the scarabaeid subfamily Aphodiinae Leach, 1815 (when including Aegialiinae Laporte, 1840) con­sists of about 3200 species in 14 tribes and around 280 genera (Nikolajev 2008; Skelley 2008; …

Dichotomius Woodruffi, A New Dichotomius Species Of The Agenor Group From Costa Rica And Nicaragua (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Ángel Solis, Burt Kohlmann

Insecta Mundi

We describe a new species of Dichotomius Hope, 1838, from the D. agenor species-group from Costa Rica and Nicaragua: D. woodruffi Solís and Kohlmann, new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scara­baeinae). Based on this discovery, we confirm that Dichotomius enioi Montoya-Molina and Vaz-de-Mello, 2021 and D. agenor (Harold, 1869) are not currently distributed in Costa Rica. Instead, the only species of Dichotomius that are currently distributed in Costa Rica from the D. agenor species-group are D. centralis (Harold, 1869) and D. woodruffi. We discuss the distribution of the Dichotomius agenor species-group in Central America.

In …

In Memoriam: Robert E. Woodruff, July 20, 1933–July 8, 2021, Paul E. Skelley, Oliver Keller

Insecta Mundi

This and the following set of papers published in Insecta Mundi are dedicated to Robert E. Woodruff, as tribute and thanks from those he mentored or assisted throughout his life. Bob’s many contributions to the study of beetles, being a founding member and first president of the Center for Systematic Entomology (CSE), co-creating Insecta Mundi with Ross H. Arnett, Jr., and having served in various capacities for 30 years on the CSE board of directors and the editorial board of Insecta Mundi, were deemed significant enough to allow this paper outside our normal guidelines. The following pages highlight the life …

The First Report Of Lissomus Dalman (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Lissominae) From The Greater Antilles, With Two New Species From The Dominican Republic, Paul J. Johnson

Insecta Mundi

Lissomus quisqueya new species and L. woodruffi new species are described. Both species are reported from the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. These are the first species of Lissomus Dalman reported from the Greater Antilles. Lissomus quisqueya is recorded from montane mesic forests in the Cordillera Central from Dajadon and La Vega provinces. Lissomus woodruffi is recorded from Barahona, Independencia and Pedernales provinces from montane mesic forest in the Sierra de Bahoruco. Morphologically, these species are most similar to members of the L. discedens Bonvouloir species group from Mesoamerica and South America. Known sites of occurrence of L. …

A New Species Of Phyllophaga Harris (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) From Puerto Rico, Kyle E. Schnepp

Insecta Mundi

Phyllophaga bobevelynorum Schnepp, new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), is described from Puerto Rico. The species is illustrated and diagnosed, and a checklist of the species in Puerto Rico is given.

The genus Phyllophaga Harris is extremely diverse, with over 850 species currently assigned to it, all occurring in the New World. As with almost all Phyllophaga in the West Indies, this new species belongs to the subgenus Cne­marachis Saylor, whose members have the outer surface of the metatibia with an incomplete carina. As discussed by Smith and Paulsen (2015), this subgenus is endemic to the West Indies and has a …

A New Genus Of Predatory Midge In The Monohelea Complex From Eocene Baltic Amber (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Ryszard Szadziewski, William L. Grogan Jr., Elżbieta Sontag, Błażej Bojarski

Insecta Mundi

Monogedania, a new fossil monotypic genus of predatory midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is described from Eocene Baltic amber and its position within the Monohelea complex is discussed. We dis­covered that the membranous portion of the aedeagus is extended in Monogedania clunipes (Loew), new combination, which suggests that the aedeagus of some extinct predatory midges can be penis-like. The Eocene Monohelea baltica Szadziewski, is transferred to the genus Schizohelea Kieffer, new combination, and, the previously unknown female is described, and key characters are included in color photographs of its entire habitus, head, distal hind tarsomeres and claws.

The Monohelea …

Extinct Or Extant? A New Species Of Termitodius Wasmann, 1894, (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Rhyparini) With A Short Review Of The Genus, Paul E. Skelley, Julian Clavijo-Bustos, Oliver Keller

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Termitodius Wasmann (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Rhyparini) is de­scribed from Colombia, Termitodius woodruffi Skelley, Clavijo-Bustos, and Keller, new species. This species is both extant and abundantly preserved in copal. The genus Termitodius is reviewed with a key and brief accounts to all species.

Una nueva especie de Termitodius Wasmann (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae: Rhyparini) es descrita de Colombia, Termitodius woodruffi Skelley, Clavijo-Bustos, y Keller, nueva especie. Esta especie es existente y abundantemente preservada en copal. El género Termitodius es revisado con una clave y reseñas breves para todas las especies.

The pantropical tribe Rhyparini is represented …

First Record Of The Genus Compsobuthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Maharashtra, India, With Description Of A New Species, Vivek Waghe, Satpal Gangalmale, Akshay Khandekar

Euscorpius

A new species of the genus Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 (Buthidae) belonging to the werneri group is described from two localities in Jalgaon District, Maharashtra, India. The new species can be easily distinguished from all four members of the werneri group known from India and Pakistan by combination of nonoverlapping morphological characters. Compsobuthus satpuraensis sp. n. is the first species of this genus to be reported from the state of Maharashtra and fourth to be reported from India.

Addition Of Inexpensive Lights To Aquatic Turtle Traps Improves Trapping Efficiency In Early Spring, Jenna B. Myers, Michael J. Bender, Maggie M. Woodall*, Jennifer L. Mook

Georgia Journal of Science

Aquatic turtles are essential contributors to many freshwater ecosystems, but they face a myriad of threats, necessitating periodic monitoring of population status. Increasing turtle trapping efficiency has the potential to improve conservation efforts, particularly when population sizes are low or sampling conditions are suboptimal. In an effort to improve trapping efficiency, we added LED lights to turtle traps in an attempt to attract kinosternid turtles. Our investigation into the effectiveness of LED lights as an attractant was based on evidence suggesting that these turtles may forage using both visual and olfactory cues. Lights significantly increased captures of kinosternid turtles during …

A New Species Of Brachycerocoris Costa (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Podopinae) From The Philippines, Joseph E. Eger Jr.

Insecta Mundi

A new species, Brachycerocoris woodruffi Eger, is described from Mindanao Island, Philippines. The new species is described, illustrated and compared to the two other species of Brachycerocoris Costa occurring in the Philippines, B. dromedarius (Vollenhoven) and B. davidii Roca-Cusachs and Salini.

Brachycerocoris Costa belongs to the Brachycerocoris group of the Podopinae (Rider et al. 2018) and is represented in Africa by three species, B. afer Stål 1876, B. congoanus Schouteden 1905, and B. patrizii Mancini 1939. The genus has historically contained just two species in the Oriental region, B. camelus Costa 1863, described from China, and B. dromedarius (Vollenhoven 1863), …

Not Only Severe Events: Moderate Dry Periods Impact The Hydraulic Functioning And Survival Of Planted Ponderosa Pine Seedlings, Carolyn R. Koehn, Matthew D. Petrie, Robert M. Hubbard

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Juvenile tree survival will increasingly shape the persistence of ponderosa pine forests in the western United States. In contrast to severe pulse disturbances that induce widespread adult and juvenile tree mortality, moderate periods of low rainfall and warm temperatures may reduce forest persistence by killing juvenile trees at the seedling stage. Intensification of these periods in a changing climate could therefore increasingly restrict both natural regeneration and artificial regeneration of planted seedlings. We conducted a controlled field experiment at a single site in the Front Range of Colorado, USA, to determine the responses and survival of 3 Colorado subpopulations of < 1 year old potted ponderosa pines to moderately dry conditions, variation in small rainfall events based on observed patterns, and shaded and unshaded microsite environments. Near surface soil moisture increased slightly following small rainfall events, but declined over the 45-day experimental period. Seedling transpiration and associated canopy cooling declined after ∼13 days, and further declines in transpiration and canopy cooling suggest that the majority of trees in lower rainfall treatments experienced hydraulic dysfunction between days ∼20–30. After 45 days, mortality across all subpopulations and treatments, inferred by relative water loss, exceeded 90–95%. Despite some uncertainty pertaining to the stress tolerance of nursery grown versus naturally germinated conifers, our results show that planted ponderosa pine seedlings < 1 year old are unlikely to survive moderate dry periods of 20+ days relying on small rainfall events. Although microsite conditions and soil moisture availability shaped tree hydraulic functioning early in the experiment (days 1–13), later functioning was shaped predominately by the legacy of rainfall treatments. Our results illustrate the importance of moderate dry events that occur consistently as part of seasonal variation in climate, and show how their intensification may constitute a sustained press that limits opportunities for natural and artificial regeneration.

New Fossil False Click-Beetles From The Americas (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae), Jyrki Muona

Insecta Mundi

One new genus and three new false click-beetle species (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) are described from American fossil resins: Neusiokia new genus, type species Neusiokia appalachiensis new species (North Carolina resin), Thambus woodruffi new species (Dominican resin) and Asiocnemis colombicus new species (Colombian resin).

Seventy-two fossil species are included in the family Eucnemidae presently. Half of them, 36, are based on Baltic amber materials (Muona 1993a; Muona 2021), 22 are from Myanmar amber deposits (Li et al. 2020; Muona 2020; Otto 2019) and 10 are mineral fossils, nine of these from China (Chang et al. 2016; Muona et al. 2020; Li et …

A Review Of The Impacts Of Invasive Wild Pigs On Native Vertebrates, Matthew T. Mcdonough, Stephen S. Ditchkoff, Mark D. Smith, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The wild pig (Sus scrofa) is a successful invasive species that has become well established outside of its native range in Eurasia. The invasive wild pig is the result of released or escaped domesticated livestock becoming feral, or Eurasian boar introduced for hunting purposes. The global spread of wild pigs has recently been exacerbated in some areas, such as the USA, by anthropogenically assisted dispersal. Once established in novel ecosystems, wild pigs have the potential to have significant negative impacts on the ecosystem, and the scientific literature is replete with examples. It is generally accepted that wild pigs …

Use Of A Direct, Rapid Immunohistochemical Test For Diagnosis Of Rabies Virus In Bats, Charles E. Rupprecht, Lolita Van Pelt, April D. Davis, Richard B. Chipman, David L. Bergman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rabies, a zoonotic encephalitis due to transmission of a lyssavirus, such as rabies virus (RABV), has the highest case fatality of any infectious disease. A global program for the elimination of human rabies caused by dogs is proposed for realization by 2030. Sensitive, specific, and inexpensive diagnostic tests are necessary for enhanced surveillance to detect infection, inform public health and veterinary professionals during risk assessments of exposure, and support overall programmatic goals. Multiple laboratory techniques are used to confirm a suspect case of rabies. One method for the detection of lyssavirus antigens within the brain is the direct rapid immunohistochemical …

Phylogenomic Discordance Suggests Polytomies Along The Backbone Of The Large Genus Solanum, Edeline Gagnon, Rebeccca Hilgenhof, Andrés Orejuela, Angela J. Mcdonnell, Gaurav Sablok, Xavier Aubriot, Leandro Giacomin, Yuri Gouvêa, Thamyris Bragionis, João Renato Stehmann, Lynn Bohs, Steven Dodsworth, Christopher T. Martine, Péter Poczai, Sandra Knapp, Tiina Särkinen

Faculty Journal Articles

Premise of the study

Evolutionary studies require solid phylogenetic frameworks, but increased volumes of phylogenomic data have revealed incongruent topologies among gene trees in many organisms both between and within genomes. Some of these incongruences indicate polytomies that may remain impossible to resolve. Here we investigate the degree of gene-tree discordance in Solanum, one of the largest flowering plant genera that includes the cultivated potato, tomato, and eggplant, as well as 24 minor crop plants.

Methods

A densely sampled species-level phylogeny of Solanum is built using unpublished and publicly available Sanger sequences comprising 60% of all accepted species (742 spp.) …

Ontogenetic Drivers Of Morphological Evolution In Monitor Lizards And Allies (Squamata: Paleoanguimorpha), A Clade With Extreme Body Size Disparity, Carlos J. Pavón-Vázquez, Damien Esquerré, J. Scott Keogh

Publications and Research

Background

Heterochrony, change in the rate or timing of development, is thought to be one of the main drivers of morphological evolution, and allometry, trait scaling patterns imposed by size, is traditionally thought to represent an evolutionary constraint. However, recent studies suggest that the ontogenetic allometric trajectories describing how organisms change as they grow may be labile and adaptive. Here we investigated the role of postnatal ontogenetic development in the morphological diversification of Paleoanguimorpha, the monitor lizards and allies, a clade with extreme body size disparity. We obtained linear and geometric morphometric data for more than 1,600 specimens belonging to …

Size Estimates Of The Extinct Marine Snake Pterosphenus Schucherti From Eocene-Aged Sediments Of Central Georgia, Colin J. Calvert, Alfred J. Mead, Dennis Parmley

Georgia Journal of Science

Fossil snakes are most often identified from isolated vertebrae, complicating estimations of total body lengths of extinct taxa. Here we estimate the range of total body length of the late Eocene North American palaeophiid marine snake Pterosphenus schucherti based on 29 recently collected fossil vertebrae from Wilkinson County, Georgia, USA. Previous research suggests that the palaeophiids are most closely related to modern boids. Total body length estimates here are based on family-specific regressions of centrum length versus known total body length in extant members of Boidae, Pythonidae, and Colubridae. The high correlation coefficients for the family specific regressions supports previous …

Mark-Recapture Study And Habitat Assessment For The Northern Metalmark Butterfly, Calephelis Borealis (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), Weston J. Henry, Kristian S. Omland, Henry Frye, Wagner L. David

EEB Articles

Background: The northern metalmark (Calephelis borealis), is an exceedingly local, globally rare butterfly that is declining across the Midwestern and Northeastern USA. The principal stressors driving colony losses include afforestation and invasive plants that crowd out its larval hostplant (Packera ovata) and nectar resources.

Aims/Methods: To better understand its declines and guide restoration efforts, we 1) performed a mark-recapture study in Connecticut to document population trends where we were actively managing vegetation; 2) conducted a range-wide survey for evidence of phylogeographic structure, using cytochrome oxidase (CO1); 3) investigated abundance determinants of its larval foodplant, Packera ovata …