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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
- Discipline
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- Animal Sciences (6)
- Aquaculture and Fisheries (6)
- Physical Sciences and Mathematics (4)
- Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology (4)
- Environmental Sciences (3)
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- Biology (2)
- Natural Resources and Conservation (2)
- Applied Mathematics (1)
- Behavior and Ethology (1)
- Dynamic Systems (1)
- Earth Sciences (1)
- Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment (1)
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- Immunology and Infectious Disease (1)
- Immunology of Infectious Disease (1)
- Natural Resources Management and Policy (1)
- Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (1)
- Other Environmental Sciences (1)
- Other Immunology and Infectious Disease (1)
- Water Resource Management (1)
- Keyword
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- Nebraska (2)
- Abundance estimation (1)
- Agriculture (1)
- Avian influenza (1)
- Banding study (1)
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- Canada goose (1)
- Catch Dynamics (1)
- Channel catfish (1)
- Dabbling ducks (1)
- Disease surveillance (1)
- Exploitation (1)
- Fishery (1)
- Generalized N-mixture model (1)
- Gizzard Shad (1)
- Harvest (1)
- Leslie matrix model (1)
- Low-dose Rotenone (1)
- Missouri River (1)
- Pallid Sturgeon (1)
- Point-count (1)
- Population Characteristics (1)
- Population Viability (1)
- Population estimate (1)
- Population estimation (1)
- Population model (1)
- Prevalence (1)
- Pronghorn (1)
- Reservoir (1)
- Resource selection (1)
- Sample design (1)
Articles 1 - 8 of 8
Full-Text Articles in Population Biology
Pronghorn Survival And Resource Selection In Western Nebraska's Agriculturally Dominated Landscape, Katie Piecora
Pronghorn Survival And Resource Selection In Western Nebraska's Agriculturally Dominated Landscape, Katie Piecora
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Nebraska’s pronghorn population has been stable over the last decade, yet their presence on the landscape remains a contentious subject amongst private landowners. Conversion of grassland for crop production and increased anthropogenic activity has drastically altered pronghorn behavior throughout their current range, however basic ecology and resource use by pronghorn in Nebraska remains poorly understood. Establishing baseline population metrics and seasonal patterns of resource use for this population at the eastern periphery of the species range is critical to guide management actions. We deployed GPS collars on 110 adult pronghorn to quantify survival, mortality risk, and seasonal resource selection in …
Ecology And Management Of Superabundant Fish Populations, Nathaniel T. Stewart
Ecology And Management Of Superabundant Fish Populations, Nathaniel T. Stewart
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Fish population biomasses can reach extreme levels; we term these populations superabundant fish populations. Superabundant fish populations may negatively affect aquatic communities and anglers, necessitating the effective management of the superabundant fish populations. However, there are gaps in our understanding of these populations. The gaps in our understanding hamper our ability to predict effects on valuable sportfisheries and to effectively manage superabundant fish populations. The overall goal of my thesis research is to provide further insight into the ecology of superabundant fish populations and to provide information that will aid in their effective management. First, we described a new method …
Genetic And Morphological Variation In Ecuadorian Astroblepid Catfishes, Katherine M. Lawry
Genetic And Morphological Variation In Ecuadorian Astroblepid Catfishes, Katherine M. Lawry
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
The Andean ichthyofauna remains a poorly understood component of Neotropical biodiversity, and stands in stark contrast to the lowland ichthyofauna in terms of number of species and range of distribution. The Climate Variability Hypothesis (CVH) predicts rapid turnover of species along elevational gradients in tropical climates, but it remains unclear whether stream fishes follow this pattern. Astroblepid catfishes represent a distinctive assemblage of species that inhabit high elevation streams throughout the Andes from Panama to Bolivia, and constitute the only native fish family present in the Ecuadorian highland region. In this research, population samples of Astroblepids collected throughout Ecuador’s Napo …
Accuracy Or Precision: Implications Of Sample Design And Methodology On Abundance Estimation, Lucas K. Kowalewski
Accuracy Or Precision: Implications Of Sample Design And Methodology On Abundance Estimation, Lucas K. Kowalewski
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Estimation of population size by spatially replicated counts (point-count method) has been used for many large-scale animal-monitoring programs, yet its application in aquatic environments has been limited. Multiple site-specific estimates of abundance can be averaged and combined with covariate data to predict total abundance across an area of interest. Covariate data also provide an understanding of the relationship between abundance and habitat use, which is a fundamental interest of many animal-population investigations. Design of sampling scenarios for point-count population-estimate surveys can influence the accuracy and precision of the population estimate. The first objective of this study was to examine how …
A Population Model For Walleye In Nebraska Irrigation Reservoirs, Robert A. Kill
A Population Model For Walleye In Nebraska Irrigation Reservoirs, Robert A. Kill
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Understanding how and why fish population size changes between years is a central theme in fisheries ecology. Fishery agencies have limited time and financial resources, thus there is a need for a quantitative way to direct the limited time and financial resources so agencies can manage fisheries more efficiently. I developed a tool for fishery managers that synthesizes common population indices and evaluated the relative importance of those indices given varying uncertainty in age-0 walleye Sander vitreus survival. Under most circumstances, I determined that resources are best utilized in reducing age-0 survival uncertainty when understanding walleye population growth. I applied …
Exploitation Of Channel Catfish In Nebraska Flood-Control Reservoirs, Christopher Lee Wiley
Exploitation Of Channel Catfish In Nebraska Flood-Control Reservoirs, Christopher Lee Wiley
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, is a popular sportfish in North America, and is the third most-sought fish species in Nebraska. Exploitation rates of channel catfish populations have been estimated to be substantial in states neighboring Nebraska. Despite the popularity of channel catfish, little is known about the exploitation of channel catfish populations in Nebraska. The objectives of this study were to estimate the exploitation rates of channel catfish populations, identify the length bias of angling for channel catfish, and identify the self-imposed length limits for channel catfish at flood-control reservoirs of Nebraska. The software package Program Mark was used to …
Population Characteristics, Development Of A Predictive Population Viability Model, And Catch Dynamics For Pallid Sturgeon In The Lower Missouri River, Kirk D. Steffensen
Population Characteristics, Development Of A Predictive Population Viability Model, And Catch Dynamics For Pallid Sturgeon In The Lower Missouri River, Kirk D. Steffensen
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Population characteristics and long-term population trends of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus in the lower Missouri River are relatively unknown. As recovery efforts continue, understanding and quantifying these characteristics and trends are critical for species recovery and future management decisions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the pallid sturgeon population characteristics, predict changes to the pallid sturgeon population based on different management and life history scenarios, and examine trot line catch dynamics in the lower Missouri River. Catch rates for pallid sturgeon collected with gill nets did not significantly change while catch rates using trot lines significantly declined …
Avian Influenza In Migratory Birds In The United States, 2007–2009, And Effects Of September Hunting Seasons On Survival, Harvest, And Recovery Rates Of Canada Geese Banded In Southeast Nebraska, Scott R. Groepper
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV H5N1) poses risks to wild birds, poultry, and humans. Personnel with the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services, state, and tribal wildlife agencies collected 168,940 samples from migratory birds from 2007 to 2009 to test for presence of HPAIV H5N1. No HPAIV was found, but other subtypes were discovered, including H5 and H7. I estimated prevalence of avian influenza virus by flyway and found prevalence was lowest each year in the Atlantic Flyway (6.7%–8.3%), highest in the Pacific Flyway in 2007 (13.3%) and 2008 (13.4%), and highest in the Mississippi Flyway …