Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Ecological Factors Influencing Infection Rates Of The Birch Polypore Inonotus Obliquus In The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province, Anna R. Slowik

All NMU Master's Theses

Inonotus obliquus, a conk forming polypore parasitic to birch (Betula spp.) trees in northern hardwood forests around the world, has been harvested intensively in recent years for its potentially medicinal properties. However, there is a dearth of ecological understanding of this fungus; even basic infection rates tend to be anecdotal or lack statistical rigor to guide new research and provide management guidelines ensuring sustainable harvest. Here I determine factors influencing conk formation at tree level by constructing a generalized linear mixed-effects model to predict host infection status, estimate infection rates in a variety of forest types and …

Phenological Mismatch Is Correlated With Fitness Outcomes And Adaptive Behavior In A Generalist Avian Predator Distributed Across North America, Kathleen R. Callery

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Climate-driven advances in the start of spring may result in a phenological mismatch between peak-prey abundance and the breeding season of secondary consumers. Phenological mismatch has been well-studied in insectivorous birds for which reproductive productivity is strongly linked to caterpillar abundance. The effects of mismatch on the productivity of dietary generalists, that forage on several types of prey, are less well-understood. Further, few studies have addressed questions about the effects of mismatch on survival, an important component of fitness that can be affected by breeding in sub-optimal conditions. We examined the relationship between phenological mismatch and fitness for a widespread …

Testing Flowering Perennial Plants In A Bermudagrass (Cynodon Spp.) Lawn, Paige Elizabeth Boyle, Michelle Wisdom

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most pollinating insects require a season-long succession of floral resources to fulfill life-cycle requirements. Incorporating forbs into turfgrass sites may create a season-long sequence of flowers to support foraging pollinators. However, persistence of forbs in warm-season turfgrasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) may be affected by the competitive nature of the turfgrass and routine management practices such as mowing. A 2-year study was conducted to evaluate seven forbs (Bellis perennis L., Lotus corniculatus L., Prunella vulgaris L., Trifolium fragiferum L. ‘Fresa’, Trifolium repens L. ‘Durana’ and ‘Resolute’, Trifolium subterraneum L.) for persistence and ability to produce floral resources …

The Effects Of Elevation On Foraging Behavior Of Bats In Southern Appalachia, Victoria Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are limited studies on bat activity in higher elevations in the Appalachian region. Levels of bat activity were compared in south central Appalachia at low (< 914.4 m) and high (> 1, 524 m) elevations in open, forest edge, and riparian habitats. Additionally, habitat suitability was modeled for a common species, big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The study started May 27^th 2019, and sites were monitored biweekly until October 2^nd 2019. Six species and one genus were recorded during the study. Species from the Myotis genus were grouped together because of similar call characteristics. Results show that species were significantly more …

Water Management Effects On Trace Gas Emissions Under Greenhouse Conditions From Direct-Seeded Hybrid Rice In A Silt-Loam Soil, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye, Trenton L. Roberts, Shelby G. Lebeau

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water management regimes influence greenhouse gas emissions in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The objective of this study was to quantify methane (CH4 ), nitrous oxide (N2 O), and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) under direct-seeded conditions in the greenhouse to evaluate the effects of water regime on fluxes and growing-season-long emissions. Research was conducted during 2019 using a hybrid rice cultivar (RT 7311 CL) grown in a DeWitt silt loam (Albaqualf). Six plastic tubs, filled with 21 kg of soil and manually seeded, were arranged in a completely random design with two replications of three water regime treatments: i) flooded, …

Soil Moisture, Temperature, And Oxidation-Reduction Potential Fluctuations Across A Furrow-Irrigated Rice Field On A Silt-Loam Soil, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye, Jordan M. Slayden, Christopher G. Henry, Lisa S. Wood

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Alternative water management practices for rice (Oryza sativa) production have been developed for water conservation purposes, such as the furrow-irrigated rice production system, which results in variable volumetric water content (VWC), temperature, and oxidation-reduction (redox) potential conditions. The spatial and temporal variations in environmental factors can affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this field study was to document and evaluate the continuous variations in soil water content, temperature, and redox potential over two growing seasons (2018 and 2019) among site positions (up-, mid-, and down-slope) and tillage treatments [conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)] under furrow-irrigated …

Population Status, Threats, And Conservation Of Preuss's Red Colobus (Piliocolobus Preussi) And Other Diurnal Primates In The Ndokbou Forest, Littoral Region, Cameroon, Ruth Bowers-Sword

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The Ebo-Makombe-Ndokbou forest block in southwest Cameroon lies within the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity hotspot, characterized by extremely high levels of species richness and endemism, including those of primates. These forests may contain one of the last populations of the Critically Endangered Preuss’s red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus preussi; PRC), which is found only in southeastern Nigeria and western Cameroon. Gun hunting for bushmeat and habitat loss and degradation from logging and agriculture are the main threats to PRC. The conservation status of PRC and other primates in the Ndokbou forest are largely unknown, with most regional research efforts occurring in …

Impact Of Disturbance Regimes On Community And Landscape Biodiversity In Atlantic Coastal Pine Barren Ecoregion Streams, Sean T. Mccanty

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Streams are dynamic systems shaped by geographic location, hydrology, riparian vegetation, and in-stream habitat. Furthermore, ecosystem disturbance plays a major role in structuring stream communities and ecosystem processes. Disturbances include natural occurrences, such as flooding, drought, and fire events and anthropogenic disturbances such as land use changes, damming, and pollution. Agricultural use acts as a press disturbance regime, homogenizing the surrounding landscape and simplifying in-stream habitat, leaving legacy effects after farming ceases. Active restoration is intended to ameliorate these effects by reintroducing variation, with the goal of shifting the ecosystem into a more diverse and natural state. The act of …

Ecology And Economic Impact Of The Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae; Halyomorpha Halys) In The Utah Agricultural Landscape, Zachary R. Schumm

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a major insect pest that causes economic loss to a diversity of U.S. fruit and vegetable crops, and invades homes and human structures, causing nuisance issues for homeowners. This destructive insect causes millions of dollars of crop damage annually, and is difficult to manage due to its resistance to some common insecticides. BMSB is a relatively new pest to Utah, and its biology and ecology is not well known in the high elevation, arid Intermountain West region. In Chapter II, I explored the potential impact of BMSB to tart cherry, an unstudied crop …

Anthropogenic Influences On Bacterial Assemblages In Stream Biofilms, Elizabeth M. Ogata

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bacteria within biofilms are an essential component of stream ecosystems, influencing the movement of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in watersheds. To better understand the ecological effects of human activities on stream ecosystems, my research examined how nutrients and pharmaceuticals, common pollutants in streams worldwide, influence bacterial assemblages in stream biofilms. First, I tested how nutrients (N, P, iron) and pharmaceuticals (caffeine, diphenhydramine) influenced biofilm bacterial microbiomes (taxa present in at least 75% of samples of a contaminant treatment). Nutrients allowed taxa known for their ability to thrive in nutrient-rich environments to dominate microbiomes, pharmaceuticals supported a rich …

Data For "Consistent Differences In A Virtual World Model Of Ape Societies", Bart J. Wilson, Sarah F. Brosnan, Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf, Crickette M. Sanz

Business and Economics Faculty Data Sets

The zip file contains the data for the paper entitled "Consistent Differences in a Virtual World Model of Ape Societies" which appears in Scientific Reports.

Genotoxic And Hematological Effects Of Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals, Bisphenol A And Nonylphenol, On Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus), Sahardin Muhammad Faris

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study was performed to evaluate the genotoxicity and hematology effects of single and binary exposure of bisphenol A and nonylphenol towards Oreochromis niloticus. O. niloticus was singly exposed to bisphenol A at concentration of 2 mg/l and nonylphenol at concentration of 0.04 mg/l in 16 L glass tank. O. niloticus was also synergistically exposed to the both concentration of 2 mg/l of bisphenol A and 0.04 mg/l of nonylphenol. Four fishes were randomly used for four exposures after two weeks acclimatization. All of them were exposed to the compound for 96 hours without water change prior observation. Fishes were …

Breeding And Conservation Ecology Of Asian Hornbills (Aves: Bucerotidae) In Kinabatangan, Sabah, Kirpal Singh Ravinder Kaur

Student Works (2020-2029)

Eight species of Asian hornbills persist in the Kinabatangan, Sabah. These are the critically endangered Helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), endangered Wrinkled hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus) and White-crowned hornbill (Berenicornis comatus), three vulnerable species Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), Black hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) and Wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus), the near threatened Bushy-crested hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus) and the least concern Oriental Pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris convexus). Hornbills are mainly frugivorous and they are known as secondary cavity-nesting birds. In Kinabatangan, the hornbill populations have been declining over the past few decades. Past timber extraction has left behind highly degraded forest patches in the Kinabatangan …

Genotoxic And Hematological Effects Of Aluminium And Lead Exposure In Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.), Mohamad Zaid Faten Fatehah

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study was conducted to investigate the genotoxic effects of single aluminium (Al), 25.00 mg/l, single lead (Pb), 18.75 mg/l and binary mixtures of Al and Pb (25.00 mg/l + 18.75 mg/l) and to determine their hematological effects on the tilapia fish as test subjects after 96 h exposure to these heavy metals. Oreochromis sp. was selected as the test subjects because of its adaptability to the environment and it can be easily found as it is the most common species of freshwater fish being cultured and farmed. Two different methods, micronucleus test and comet assay, were used for the …

Congruence And Temporal Variation Of Floral Visitation And Pollen Transport Networks In Southern Appalachia, Daniel A. Barker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Observation of floral visitation is an accepted method to describe plant-pollinator interactions despite potential biases. Collecting pollen from pollinators offers new insights on the structure and function of plant-pollinator communities. Furthermore, the strength and frequency of plant-pollinator interactions can vary across temporal scales. However, within-season and within-day (morning vs. evening) variation in plant-pollinator networks has been little studied. By evaluating variation in network structure across these biologically relevant time scales, we will gain a better understanding of the factors that shape plant-pollinator communities. The objectives of this study are to 1) Compare the structure of plant-pollinator networks built on floral …

Evaluating The Effect Of The Removal Of Non-Native Trout In Two High Elevation Tributary Streams In The Intermountain West, Clint Brunson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Native fish species such as Bonneville Cutthroat Trout (BCT) require cold, clear, well-connected streams for spawning and rearing as well as access to complimentary habitats. Increasing river temperatures and lower water flows may have allowed non-native Brown Trout (BNT) to migrate into higher elevation pristine streams. Additionally, anthropogenic actions such as stocking non-native Brown and Brook (BKT) and Rainbow Trout (RBT) for angling opportunities impact BCT. Invasion of these tributaries by non-native species may reduce or eliminate cutthroat trout by predation, competition, displacement, genetic suppression, and exclusion. A seven-fold increase in BNT numbers of 50 to 350 from 2017 to …

An Evaluation Of Bird And Bat Mortality At Wind Turbines In The Northeastern United States, Daniel Y. Choi, Thomas W. Wittig, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wind energy offers substantial environmental benefits, but wind facilities can negatively impact wildlife, including birds and bats. Researchers and managers have made major efforts to chronicle bird and bat mortality associated with wind facilities, but few studies have examined the patterns and underlying mechanisms of spatial patterns of fatalities at wind facilities. Understanding the horizontal fall distance between a carcass and the nearest turbine pole is important in designing effective search protocols and estimating total mortality. We explored patterns in taxonomic composition and fall distance of bird and bat carcasses at wind facilities in the Northeastern United States using publicly …

Estimation Of Wildlife Damage From Federal Crop Insurance Data, Sophie Mckee, Stephanie A. Shwiff, Aaron M. Anderson

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Wildlife damage to crops is a persistent and costly problem for many farmers in the USA. Most existing estimates of crop damage have relied on direct assessment methods such as field studies conducted by trained biologists or surveys distributed to farmers. In this paper, we describe a new method of estimating wildlife damage that exploits federal crop insurance data. We focused our study on four crops: corn, soybean, wheat, and cotton, chosen because of their economic importance and their vulnerability to wildlife damage.

RESULTS: We determined crop-raiding hot spots across the USA over the 2015–2019 period and identified the …

Do Mosquito Pesticides Harm Their Natural Enemies? Ecological Impacts And Non-Target Effects Of Larvicides On Mosquito Predators, Joseph Nelsen

Master's Theses

Larvicides are chemicals used to kill juvenile mosquitoes. When applied to an area, other aquatic organisms are exposed to these chemicals. The removal or impairment of top insect predators could be beneficial to mosquito populations once harmful pesticide levels dissipate. Two common larvicides were examined: growth regulators (IGRs) and surface films (SFs). The goal of this project was to determine if larvicides harm mosquito predators common to southern Mississippi. I surveyed aquatic sites before and after IGR and SF treatments, and then compared changes in insect community structure. Community evenness was lower in SF treated habitats. When analyzing prey taxa …

Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Of Quaternary Saltville, Virginia, Using Ostracode Autecology, Austin Gause

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Saltville valley in southwestern Virginia is home to Quaternary localities containing paleontological and archaeological remains. Historically the valley has been mined for salt and the small lakes, ponds and springs along the valley floor have a brackish signature. A preliminary report on the site’s ostracode fauna suggested that the site’s water was not always saline. This study analyzed modern and Quaternary ostracodes to understand the valley’s hydrologic and chemical evolution. Sediments contained primarily freshwater species, including the environmentally sensitive Candona crogmaniana. The presence of Pelocypris tuberculatum and a new Fabaeformiscandona species throughout a vertical section spanning the latest Pleistocene …

A New Species Of Buprestis (S. Str.) Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) From The Southwestern United States, Richard L. Westcott, Clint Burfitt

Insecta Mundi

A new species of Buprestis L., 1758, B. pinyoni Westcott and Burfitt (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is described from Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is compared to other species in the subgenus Buprestis.

New Distribution Records Of Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera) For Mexico, Alejandro Estrada, Jesús Romero Nápoles

Insecta Mundi

We provide new distribution records for 19 species of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) of Mexico based on the examination of 221 specimens from Mexican entomological collections.

Beetles (Coleoptera) In Cones Of Cycads (Cycadales) Of The Northern Hemisphere: Diversity And Evolution, William Tang, Guang Xu, Thomas Marler, Jibankumar Singh Khuraijam, Rita Singh, Anders J. Lindström, P. Radha, Stephen Rich, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Paul E. Skelley

Insecta Mundi

Three groups of beetles inhabit cones of cycads (Cycadales) in the northern hemisphere and are believed to be involved in their pollination. The primitive weevil subtribe Allocorynina (Coleoptera: Belidae) is restricted to the New World cycad genera Dioon Lindl. and Zamia L. One group of weevils (Curculionidae), found only in Cycas L., appears to be a relatively recent colonizer of northern hemisphere cycads. Members of the beetle subfamily Pharaxonothinae (Erotylidae) occur in all Asian and New World cycad genera. Phylogenetic trees of these beetles, based on DNA analysis and supported with morphological studies, are compared to patterns of continental drift …

First Record Of The Orchid Bee Euglossa Dilemma (Hymenoptera: Apidae) In Hispaniola, The Antilles, Julio A. Genaro, Ismael A. Hinojosa-Díaz, Lisa Mcdowell Johnson

Insecta Mundi

The occurrence of the orchid bee Euglossa dilemma Bembé and Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is recorded for the first time for the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. Males were observed visiting varieties of sweet basil plants (Ocimum basilicum Linnaeus (Lamiaceae)) to obtain fragrances used during courtship and reproduction. Our observations showed that the species is established in Hispaniola and that it does not require the presence of orchids for reproductive success, being able to adapt to new plant resources it finds in the areas it colonizes. These observations correspond to what was found in Florida, United States, where …

Spatial Ecology And Resource Selection Of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis) Ewes In A Prairie Badlands Population, Erin Wood

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The basic spatial ecology and habitat relationships of female bighorn sheep in Nebraska are poorly understood. Establishing seasonal patterns of space use and resource selection for this population at the margin of their historical and current range addresses a key knowledge gap and provides important baseline information for ongoing conservation efforts in Nebraska. We deployed GPS radio-collars on 56 adult ewes in western Nebraska to quantify seasonal space use, movements, and resource selection of ewes. To investigate spatial ecology, we quantified movements of ewes and the factors that influence home range size, seasonal use, and spatial stability across seasons. Home …

Notes, New Records, New Combinations, A New Genus And Three New Species In Hemilophini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae), Antonio Santos-Silva, Daniel Heffern, Juan Pablo Botero, Francisco E. De L. Nascimento

Insecta Mundi

The number of specimens in the type series of Hemilophus leuconotus Laporte, 1840 (= Cirrhicera leu­conota) is corrected. Cirrhicera leucronota Thomson, 1857 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini), currently considered lapsus calami or an error to C. leuconotus, and the number of specimens in the type series is also corrected. Cirrhicera leuconota is recorded from Guatemala for the first time. The sex of the holotype of Lamacoscylus albatus Martins, Santos-Silva and Galileo, 2015, is corrected, and a new state record in Mexico is provided. The description of the antennae in females of Lamacoscylus Martins and Galileo, 1991 is discussed; Malacoscylus …

First Record Of Planchonia Stentae (Brain, 1920) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Asterolecaniidae) On Asclepias Curassavica Linnaeus, 1753 (Gentianales: Asclepiadaceae) In Mexico, With Observations On Parasitic Encyrtidae, Hipolito Cortez-Madrigal, Arturo Ramírez-Cruz, Christof F. Stumpf

Insecta Mundi

In April 2018, specimens of an asterolecaniid were collected on infested wild plants of Asclepias curas­savica Linnaeus, 1753 (Gentianales: Asclepiadaceae) in Jiquilpan, Michoacan, Mexico. The collected specimens were identified as Planchonia stentae (Brain, 1920) (Hemiptera: Asterolecaniidae). In this paper, we record for the first time the presence of P. stentae infesting A. curassavica in Mexico.

Shifts In The Microbiota Associated With Male Mosquitoes (Aedes Aegypti) Exposed To An Obligate Gut Fungal Symbiont (Zancudomyces Culisetae), Jonas Frankel-Bricker

University Author Recognition Bibliography: 2020

Research characterizing arthropod-associated microbiota has revealed that microbial dynamics can have an important impact on host phenotypic traits. The influence of fungi on these interactions are emerging as targets for research, especially in organisms associated with global human health. A recent study demonstrated colonization of a widespread gut fungus (Zancudomyces culisetae) in a larval mosquito (Aedes aegypti) digestive tract affected microbiomes in larvae and newly emerged adult females (Frankel-Bricker et al. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02334-19) but did not investigate these processes in males. The objective of the study presented here was to assess fungal influences …

Reinstatement Of Carposina Ottawana Kearfott, 1907 (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae) As A Valid Species, James D. Young, James A. Robertson

Insecta Mundi

Carposina ottawana Kearfott, 1907 (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae), revised status, formerly considered a synonym of C. sasakii Matsumura, 1900, is returned to species status. Morphological features that separate the Asian species C. sasakii and C. niponensis Walsingham, 1900 from the North American C. ottawana are described and illustrated. A heuristic maximum likelihood (ML) analysis based on the mitochondrial gene cyto­chrome oxidase I (DNA barcode) further supports C. ottawana and C. sasakii as distinct taxa.

Snowy Plover Activity In The Central Platte River Valley In May 2019, Bethany L. Ostrom, Andrew J. Caven, Jenna M. Malzahn, Alyx Vogel

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

During five of eight site visits between 14 and 27 May 2019 we detected up to four Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) near Mormon Island, Hall County, Nebraska, and recorded their behavior using an instantaneous scan sampling approach. We recorded loafing (47%), foraging (43%), mating (4%), flying (4%), and external threat (1%) related behavior. Most notably, we documented a copulation event on 23 May. During the 10-day span from 14 to 23 May when Snowy Plovers were detected, river stage and discharge were near median levels, but from 23 to 27 …