Population Biology Commons^™

Review Of Population Biology Of Grasses, Thomas B. Bragg

Biology Faculty Publications

Population Biology of Grasses provides a wealth of knowledge beyond population biology that ecologists and ecosystem biologists will find relevant to their concerns, particularly those with an interest in grasslands. Though not limited to the Great Plains region, the book would make an excellent addition to the reference shelf of anyone interested in grasses and grassland-related ecosystems, including readers with an interest in land management and preservation. While the papers are written for different levels of readers, all provide information accessible to non-specialists.

Three-Dimensional Reconstructions Of Tadpole Chondrocrania From Histological Sections, Gary P. Radice, Mary Kate Boggiano, Mark Desantis, Peter M. Larson, Joseph Oppong, Matthew T. Smetanick, Todd M. Stevens, James Tripp, Rebecca A. Weber, Michael Kerckhove, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Reconstructing three dimensional structures (3DR) from histological sections has always been difficult but is becoming more accessible with the assistance of digital imaging. We sought to assemble a low cost system using readily available hardware and software to generate 3DR for a study of tadpole chondrocrania. We found that a combination of RGB camera, stereomicroscope, and Apple Macintosh PowerPC computers running NIH Image, Object Image, Rotater. and SURFdriver software provided acceptable reconstructions. These are limited in quality primarily by the distortions arising from histological protocols rather than hardware or software.

The Impact Of Resident And Transient Predators On The Popultation Dynamics Of Juvenile Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Argus) In Florida Bay, Florida, Jason Edward Schratwieser

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

There has been a considerable amount of research devoted to exploring the relationship between predators and prey, but many of these studies fail to address how predation can vary over spatial and temporal scales. The tendency of ecologists to model predation as a static entity often masks its capacity for creating distinctive effects in prey populations and communities. Most predation studies also focus on the effect of a single species of predator on a prey population, an unrealistic situation in nature. In the Florida Keys, juvenile spiny lobsters are subjected to two general classes of predators: i) "resident" predators such …

Comparing The Tadpoles Of Hyla Geographica And Hyla Semilineata, Anne D'Heursel, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

External morphology, internal oral anatomy, and chondrocranial anatomy were examined for tadpoles of Hyla geographica from the Amazon rainforest, Brazil, and Hyla semilineata from the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. Here, we provide morphological larval data to help diagnose these closely related species. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of buccal morphology showed the most distinctive features between these species: the distance between the lingual papillae in the buccal floor of H. geographica is three times greater than that distance in H. semilineata, and the relative size of the lingual papillae in H. geographica is less than half their size in H. semilineata. Although …

Host-Driven Population Dynamics In An Herbivorous Insect, Tiina Ylioja, Heikki Roininen, Matthew P. Ayres, Matti Rousi, Peter W. Price

Dartmouth Scholarship

Understanding the nature and relative importance of endogenous (density-dependent) and exogenous (density-independent) effects on population dynamics remains a central problem in ecology. Evaluation of these forces has been constrained by the lack of long time series of population densities and largely limited to populations chosen for their unique dynamics (e.g., outbreak insects). Especially in herbivore populations, the relative contributions of bottom-up and top-down effects (resources and natural enemies, respectively) have been difficult to compare because population data have rarely been combined with resource measurements. The feeding scars of a wood-mining herbivorous insect (Phytobia betulae Kangas; Diptera: Agromyzidae) of birch …

Celastrina Idella (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae): A New Butterfly Species From The Atlantic Coastal Plain, David M. Wright, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

A new species of Polyommatinae, Celastrina idella, is described from the sandy Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern United States. It is presently known to occur from southern New Jersey through Georgia. Celastrina idella larvae have been recorded from four species of Ilex (holly). Celastrina idella is distinguished from sympatric C. ladon and C. neglecta by differences in larval host, flight period, pupal diapause, and adult size and wing characters. In the New Jersey pine barrens the butterfly is univoltine and flies in the spring between the flights of its sympatric congeners.

Hübner’S Helicta, The Forgotten Neonympha: The Recognition And Elevation Of Neonympha Helicta (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) To Specific Status, The Designation Of Neotypes For N. Helicta And N. Areolatus, The Subspecific Transfer Of Septentrionalis To Helicta And The Description Of A Third Helicta Subspecies From South Florida, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Hübner (1806) based the name Oreas fimbriata helicta on a John Abbot painting of a southeastern United States satyr without a written description. Subsequent lepidopterists have nearly ignored this taxon. Helicta is herein recognized as a valid species–Neonympha helicta. A neotype is designated for helicta from Aiken County, South Carolina and deposited in the Allyn Museum of Entomology Sarasota, Florida. A neotype is also designated for Papilio areolata J.E. Smith, 1797 from Chatham County, Georia and deposited in the Allyn Museum of Entomology. Septentrionalis Davis, 1924 is recognized as the northern United States subspecies of helicta not areolatus …

Draft Shark Bay Pink Snapper Management Plan 1999, Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

This draft management plan was prepared by the Fisheries Department on 12 July 1999 for the Minister for Fisheries for the purpose of facilitating consultation in resepct of the proposal by the Minister to determine a new Management Plan for the Shark Bay Pink Snapper Fishery.

The Translocation Of Barramundi. A Discussion Paper., Makaira Pty Ltd

Fisheries Management Papers

There is recognisable economic benefit to the translocation of barramundi, but there is also a need to ensure the translocation will not adversely impact upon the genetic diversity, introduce disease or impact on the natural environment and biodiversity. This discussion paper has been prepared to provide information to assist in the assessment of the possible impact of translocation of barramundi into and within Western Australia, for the purposed of recreational stock enhancement, aquaculture development and domestic stocking. In contemplating the translocation any aquatic species, signigicant economic and social benefits must be balanced with biological and environmental risks; that is, the …

The Timing And Pattern Of Myogenesis In Hymenochirus Boettgeri, Matthew T. Smetanick, Rafael O. De Sá, Gary P. Radice

Biology Faculty Publications

Differences in the relative timing of homologous developmental events among closely related species, known as heterochronies, may provide valuable clues in understanding evolutionary relationships (McKinney, 1988; McNamara, 1995). Examining the timing of myogenic events is a relatively easy and effective method for finding heterochronic events. For example, whether muscle proteins and myofibrils appear before or after multinucleation can be determined through histological techniciques (Kielbowna, 1981). Simple observations of live specimens can pinpoint functional landmarks such as first twitch (spontaneous or due to external stimuli) and first heartbeat.

Does The Water Dragon, Physignathus Lesueurii (Gray 1831), Occur In New Guinea?, Gregory J. Watkins-Colwell, Greg Johnston

Biology Faculty Publications

The Australian water dragon, Physignathus lesueurii (Gray 1831), is a large acrodontan lizard which occurs in eastern Australia and has been reported from western New Guinea (Fig. 1). The species appears to be absent from eastern New Guinea (Allison 1982).

A New Subspecies Of Brephidium Isophthalma (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae) From Coastal South Carolina, Harry Pavulaan, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Brephidium isophthalma pseudofea was described in 1873 from the Florida Keys, United States. The ventral ground color of the wings in topotypical pseudofea is a yellowish brown. The antennal clubs of pseudofea have prominent orange red tips. The ventral surface of the abdomen of pseudofea is broadly white to very light gray and usually extends halfway around the sides of the light to medium brown abdomen. Specimens of B. isophthalma from coastal South Carolina differ greatly from topotypical pseudofea. Accordingly, B. i. insularus is described as a new subspecies from coastal South Carolina. The antennal clubs …

An Evolutionary Subspecific Assessment Of Deciduphagus Henrici (Lycaenidae) Based On Its Utilization Of Ilex And Non-Ilex Hosts: Description Of A Third Ilex Associated Subspecies; Designation Of A Neotype And Type Locality For Deciduphagus Irus; With Appendix, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Deciduphagus henrici subsists as six subspecies which have evolved into two distinct larval host associated groups of three taxa each. Group one is composed of those taxa which utilize primarily Ilex (holly, various species) as their host. They inhabit the non-montane area of the southeastern United States and up the Atlantic coast to at least southern New Jersey. They are: D. h. margaretae (T. L. Deland, Volusia County, Florida) occupying east-coastal to south central Florida; D. h. viridissima (T. L. Nag’s Head, Dare County, North Carolina) occupying the upper Outer Banks area of North Carolina …

Ecology And Population Demography Of The Hellbender, Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis, In West Virginia, W. Jeffrey Humphries

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Using mark-recapture, I studied the population demography and habitat use of the hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, in the West Fork of the Greenbrier River, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Eighteen nocturnal surveys were conducted between April and October, 1998, during which 29 hellbenders were implanted with permanent tags. Male to female sex ratio was 1.06:1. Hellbenders were sexually dimorphic, as females were significantly longer and heavier than males. Total lengths for all captured animals ranged from 29.5 - 56.5 cm and mass ranged from 150.0 - 905.8 g. Seasonal linear movements for 12 individuals ranged from 0.8 - 70.2 m (mean …

Feeding Niches Of Forest Salamanders: Indirect Effects Of Gypsy Moth Pesticides On Prey Selection And Potential Overlap Between Adults Of Six Species, Sandra Raimondo

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Amphibian declines and deformities are indictors of pollution and other environmental impacts. Pesticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Bt), may produce non-target effects on salamanders by impacting their food supply, ultimately resulting in population declines. Salamanders were used as an assessment tool of pesticide impacts before populations decline. Diet analysis determined if Bt affected food consumption of two salamander species (Desmognathus ochrophaeus and P. cinereus). Nine plots in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia were used in this study. Three plots were sprayed with Bt in 1997 and 1998, three were sprayed with a gypsy moth …

Distribution Of The Sucker Family (Pisces: Catostomidae) In The Ohio River, Tara L. Rose

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The family Catostomidae represents a major component of the fish fauna in the Ohio River. Because of their abundance, large biomass, and susceptibility to environmentally-induced anomalies, suckers are expected to significantly influence the Ohio River Fish Index (ORFIn), a biological index being developed by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) for large river systems. To correctly interpret information obtained from ORFIn, the impact of suckers upon the index must be thoroughly understood, including relative importance and uneven spatial distribution of Ohio River suckers. In this study, suckers represented 7.1 percent of the total fish captured and 36.6 percent …

Ecology And Natural History Of Rana Clamitans Melanota In West Virginia, Alison M. Rogers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Fourteen study sites were sampled with aquatic funnel traps and D-frame net sweeps in the plateau and mountain region of West Virginia to determine differences in larval period. Larval stage class abundance and larval total length and mass measurements were recorded from February to December 1997. Larval stage classes 25 and 26, the first free living stages, were absent from the plateau region from February to April, but were present in the mountain region. Pre-transformation larval stages, 40 through 44, were found from May through October, and peaked in July. Significant relationships were found with simple linear regression analysis between …

Natural History Of The Northern Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus Porphyriticus Porphyriticus At The Westvaco Wildlife And Ecosystem Research Forest In Randolph County, West Virginia, Brian A. Lindley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this thesis research was to study the natural history of the northern spring salamander Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus in West Virginia. The objectives of this study were to determine the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus, to determine its reproductive biology, and then examine non-reproductive aspects of the natural history of the species. Study sites were located at the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest (WWERF) in Randolph County, West Virginia. Four sites on three streams were divided into two 25m transects. All sites were examined once each month from August 1997 through November 1998 …

A Comment On Friedlander’S Asterocampa (Nymphalidae, Apaturinae): Designation Of Neotypes For A. Celtis And A. Clyton, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Friedlander’s 1986 [1987] treatment of the southeastern United States. taxa of Asterocampa is examined. Neotypes of A. celtis and A. clyton are designated from Burke County, Georgia to help stabilize the status of these taxa and aid in any future research. Asterocampa celtis is currently known to exist within at least 40 km of A. c. reinthali in Georgia. Their proximity, without integration, suggests evolutionary distance, perhaps even speciation. It is proposed that A. celtis is descended from A. c. alicia, and alicia from a Mexican refugium. Asterocampa clyton and A. …

Subspecific Status Of Southeastern U.S. Megathymus Cofaqui And M. Yuccae: Renaming Of The Florida Subspecies Of M. Cofaqui, Ronald R. Gatrele

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Megathymus cofaqui and M. yuccae are both represented in the southeastern United States by two subspecies. The type locality of both M. y. yuccae and M. c. cofaqui is the area of Burke/Screven counties Georgia. Each of their subspecies are primarily Floridian, with M. y. buchholzi extending along the immediate coast of Georgia into southern South Carolina. Topotypes of M. cofaqui from Burke County, Georgia, and Aiken County, South Carolina are phenotypically indistinguishable from both the holotype of M. cofaqui and topotypes of M. c. harrisi. Thus, M …

Plant Hybrid Zones And Insect Host Range Expansion, Diana Pilson

Diana Pilson Publications

The hybrid bridge hypothesis suggests that plant hybrids ‘‘bridge’’ the genetic gap between actual and potential host species, and that, for this reason, herbivorous insects are more likely to evolve an expanded host range in the presence of hybrids. While intuitively appealing, the hypothesis has two implicit assumptions: that phenotypic gaps between potential hosts limit host range, and that characters controlling host use are additively inherited in plant hybrids. Evaluation of these assumptions suggests that operation of the hybrid bridge hypothesis is relatively uncommon. In addition, the hypothesis has not been well integrated into existing theoretical and empirical work on …

Experimental Infections Of Muskoxen (Ovibos Moschatus) And Domestic Sheep With Umingmakstrongylus Pallikuukensis (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae): Parasite Development, Population Structure, And Pathology, Susan J. Kutz, Eric P. Hoberg, Lydden Polley

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Three captive muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) were successfully infected with third-stage larvae of Umingmakstrongylus pallikuukensis digested or emerged from the slugs Deroceras reticulatum and D. laeve, for the first time completing the life cycle of this parasite under experimental conditions. The course of parasite development and patency was followed for 26 months post infection (p.i.) using fecal examinations and radiography. The prepatent periods in two of the muskoxen were 91 and 95 days and the patent period in one extended for 23 months. Larval production peaked 13–14 months p.i. On postmortem of two of the muskoxen at months …

The Chondrocranium Of The Mexican Burrowing Toad, Rhinophrynus Dorsalis, Charles C. Swart, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

The chondrocranium of Rhinophrynus dorsalis is described and illustrated. Autapomorphies of R. dorsalis are the presence of the symplectic cartilage and a cartilaginous process on the ascending process of the palatoquadrate. Synapomorphies of Rhinophrynus shared with the Pipidae are: (1) early formation of the lower jaw and (2) presence of a suprarostral plate. Alternative developmental pathways for the formation of the suprarostral plate are considered. Histological data indicates that the suprarostral plate forms from: (1) the early fusion of the cornua trabeculae with the suprarostral cartilages, (2) an anterior growth of the ethmold plate, and (3) subsequent fusion …

Unidad De Los Anfibios Modernos Como Grupo Natural, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

RESUMEN

La monofilia de la infraclase Lissamphibia ha sido cuestionada. Algunos autores sugieren un origen independiente del Orden Gymnophiona basados en la condición compacta (= estegocrotafía) del cráneo de la cecilias. La presente revisión indica la irrelevancia del estegocrotafismo para establecer las relaciones filogenéticas del grupo. Los datos disponibles sugieren: 1) el estegocrotafismo es secundariamente derivado en cecilias, y 2) Lissamphibia representa un grupo monofilético.

SUMMARY

Unity of modern Amphibians as a natural group

The monophyly of Lissamphibia has been previously questioned. Some authors suggested an independent origin of Gymnophiona based on the solid condition (= stegokrotaphy) of the caecilian …

Two New Nymphalidae From Western North Carolina: New Subspecies Of Speyeria Aphrodite And Phyciodes Batesii, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Two new subspecies are described from Macon County, North Carolina, United States. Speyeria aphrodite cullasaja is characterized by dorsal melanism, especially in females, by usually lacking the dorsal FW basal spots in cell Cu1 and Cu2, and by a narrowed buff marginal band on the ventral HW (sometimes absent in females). Phyciodes batesii maconensis males are characterized by wholly yellow ventral hind wings devoid of any dark marginal dusting or whitish crescents; and females occasionally possessing, lightly dusted, brown margins and rarely having a silvered marginal ventral HW spot. PPhyciodes batesii maconensis larvae are gregarious Aster feeders. Females are …

The Rediscovery, Taxonomy, And Biology Of Chlosyne Gorgone Gorgone And Chlosyne Ismeria (Nymphalidae) In Burke County, Georgia, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

On April 24, 1993 a colony of Chlosyne gorgone gorgone was found in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. This led to the rediscovery on April 27, 1993 of C. g. gorgone at its type locality in Burke County, Georgia. This species had not been seen or collected anywhere in east coastal Georgia or coastal South Carolina since its description in 1810. The type locality is xeric, scrub oak sandhill. This habitat is generally unsuitable for the survival of later broods. The larvae of nominate gorgone have only been found on Helianthus divaricatus. Topotypical gorgone differ slightly, …

An Addendum To Anthocharis Midea Dos Passos And Klots 1969: Description Of A New Subspecies From Texas, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This paper verifies and expands upon the information presented by dos Passos and Klots in their 1969 systematic revision of Anthocharis midea. Their restriction of the range of A. midea midea to the coastal islands and immediate coast of Georgia and South Carolina, United States is confirmed and expanded north into southern coastal North Carolina. Their range of A. m. annickae is expanded southward from Virginia to central Georgia. A new subspecies, A. midea texana, is described from Texas. Texana is annickae’s ancestor. It differs from annickae only in having greatly reduced black scaling …

Changes In Small Mammal Community Attributes Associated With Increasing Pine Stand Age In Managed Pine Plantations In Southeastern Virginia, James Douglas Dolan

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Loblolly pine plantations were examined at different ages to identify small mammal community attributes in relation to the succession of the plant community. Forest floor and understory plant communities were characterized. Small mammals were collected by Fitch (live) traps and pitfall traps in four age classes during five seasons of study. Fitch live traps and pitfall traps were used in conjunction with one another to obtain the most accurate depiction of the small mammal community. Fitch traps accounted for 65 % of small mammal captures and 7 of 9 species captured. Small mammal abundance and biomass declined with increasing stand …

A Strategy For The Future Management Of The Joint Authority Northern Shark Fishery. A Discussion Paper., Tim Bray, Jo Kennedy

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper discusses the current status of the Joint Authority Northern Shark Fishery (JANSF), and the major issues affecting it. The main aim of the document is to present a seires of recommendations to enable effective future management of this resource. The paper provides a brief introduction to the JANSF, followed by an examination of the resource base of the fishery (primary species, stock distribution and stock assessment).

Western Rock Lobster Management - Options And Issues, Kevin Donohue

Fisheries Management Papers

Following the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee meeting of the 3 March 1998 the Minister has advised that his position is that there will be no management changes for the 1998/99 season. The purpose of this paper is primarily to provide information explaining management options and issues for consideration of the long term management of the fishery. The paper is divided into three main sections which detail options that have been identified as having the potential to increase the catch value over the next three years. In the first section, an option for enhancing the catch value by transferring lobsters …