Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons^™

Are Leptodactylus Didymus And L. Mystaceus Phylogenetically Sibling Species (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae)?, Rafael O. De Sá, W. R. Heyer, Arley Camargo

Biology Faculty Publications

The Leptodactylus fuscus species group consists of 25 currently recognized species; within this species group and distributed throughout the Amazon Basin, Atlantic Forests, Gran Chaco, and cerrados is the L. mystaceus species complex. This species complex consists of L. didymus, L. elenae, L. mystaceus, L. notoaktites, and L. spixi. Adult morphologies have been used to distinguish these species from each other except for L. didymus and L. mystaceus (Heyer, 1978; Heyer et al., 1996). Leptodactylus didymus and L. mystaceus are morphologically indistinguishable; the species are recognizable only by the characteristics of their advertisement calls: non-pulsed in L. didymus and pulsed …

Common Names For The Frog Genus Leptodactylus (Amphibia, Anura, Leptodactylidae), Ulisses Caramaschi, Rafael O. De Sá, W. Ronald Heyer

Biology Faculty Publications

Most species of the frog genus Leptodactylus lack common names. Common names are those names used by different human cultures and societies for the species of animals and plants where humans and biota reside together. Often times common names are lacking for Neotropical frogs or are broad in scope. For example, indigenous people may have a single name for frogs that occur on the ground and another name for frogs that occur in shrubs and trees, even though there are many species of ground frogs called by the same name as well as for the tree frogs. Sometimes colonists have …

Crisis Global De Biodiversidad: Importancia De La Diversidad Genética Y La Extinción De Anfibios, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

El mundo enfrenta, por primera vez desde el comienzo de la civilización, el declive y la extinción de una clase de vertebrados, los anfibios. Esta extinción aparenta ser un evento global y de la magnitud que llevó a la desaparición de los dinosaurios. Muchas son las posibles causas de esta extinción y el efecto combinado de estos factores agravan la situación. La pérdida de ambientes naturales permanece como el factor más crítico en el declive de anfibios, pero enfermedades infecciosas emergentes parecen ser responsables de mortalidades masivas en décadas recientes. El declive y extinción de anfibios representa una llamada urgente …

The Yosemite Butterflies (Text), And The Yosemite Butterflies (Text): Supplement Of Additional Information, Collections And Corrections For Volume 5, No. 1, Kenneth E. Davenport

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The current checklist covers the 170 known species and additional 48 subspecies known to occur in the Yosemite region, California, United States. This represents a total of 218 taxa (some being undescribed and unnamed) now recognized in the study area. This compares with Garth and Tilden’s 1963 survey which recognized 134 species and 16 additional subspecies, a total of 150 taxa. In addition to those, six additional species reported from the region are “questionable or doubtful” and another six species occur just outside the defined region.

The supplement includes additional information for the benefit of those who obtained the first …

Predators In Natural Fragments: Foraging Ecology Of Wolves In British Columbia’S Central And North Coast Archipelago, C. T. Darimont, M. H. H. Price, N. N. Winchester, J. Gordon-Walker, P. C. Paquet

Biogeography and Ecological Opportunity Collection

Aim Predator–prey dynamics in fragmented areas may be influenced by spatial features of the landscape. Although little is known about these processes, an increasingly fragmented planet underscores the urgency to predict its consequences. Accordingly, our aim was to examine foraging behaviour of an apex mammalian predator, the wolf (Canis lupus), in an archipelago environment.

Location Mainland and adjacent archipelago of British Columbia, Canada; a largely pristine and naturally fragmented landscape with islands of variable size and isolation.

Methods We sampled 30 mainland watersheds and 29 islands for wolf faeces in summers 2000 and 2001 and identified prey remains. We examined …

Apparent Sibling Rivalry In The Freshwater Clam Sphaerium Striatinum, Mark Beekey, Ronald H. Karlson

Biology Faculty Publications

In Sphaerium striatinum, a freshwater brooding bivalve, up to 97.5% of offspring that adults initially produce fail to reach independence. Marsupial sacs, specialized extensions of gill filaments that act as nurseries, initially contain multiple offspring in various sizes and stages of development. However, by the time offspring reach later stages of development, marsupial sacs typically contain only one offspring. Brood mortality is hypothesized to be the result of competition among embryos for nutrients and/or space. Sphaeriid eggs do not contain enough yolk for offspring to complete development. Adults supply additional nutrients required to reach independence. Brood capacity is limited by …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2003), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

Macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed have been quantitatively sampled since summer 1999. This report presents the data from the fifth year of sampling in 2003. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. ( 2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will be updated …

Description Of A Multilevel Cryptic New Species Of Phyciodes (Nymphalidae: Melitaeinae) From The Southern Appalachian Mountains, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Phyciodes incognitus is described as a new species from the medium to high elevation hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains, type locality: Duncan Ridge Road, 3,700 ft., Union County, Georgia, United States. Phyciodes incognitus is verified from four colonies in Union County, Georgia, United States, and Clay and Macon counties, North Carolina, United States. It is projected to range, in suitable habitat, as far north as montane Pennsylvania, United States (indicated by photos). Phyciodes incognitus possesses a unique set of character traits that are virtually identical to both P. tharos and P. cocyta but at differing character …

Zebra Mussels Affect Benthic Predator Foraging Success, Mark Beekey, D. J. Mccabe, I. E. Marsden

Biology Faculty Publications

The introduction of zebra mussels (Dreissena spp.) to North America has resulted in dramatic changes to the complexity of benthic habitats. Changes in habitat complexity may have profound effects on predator-prey interactions in aquatic communities. Increased habitat complexity may affect prey and predator dynamics by reducing encounter rates and foraging success. Zebra mussels form thick contiguous colonies on both hard and soft substrates. While the colonization of substrata by zebra mussels has generally resulted in an increase in both the abundance and diversity of benthic invertebrate communities, it is not well known how these changes affect the foraging efficiencies of …

Determinants Of Marshbird Occurrence In Reclaimed Coal Mines, William E. Vetter

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Several marshbird species in the Midwest have suffered population declines linked to the loss and degradation of wetland habitat. As a result, many marshbirds have been listed as species of management concern at the state and federal levels. However, reclaimed surface mines in the Midwest may benefit these marshbirds since most reclaimed mines contain a much greater density and diversity of wetlands than the surrounding agricultural landscape. In 2002 and 2003, point counts were used to survey wetlands on reclaimed mines and at non-mine sites in west-central Indiana for the uccurrence of American bittern, least bittern, green heron, American coot, …

A New Species Of Callulina (Anura: Microhylidae) From The West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, Rafael O. De Sá, Simon P. Loader, Alan Channing

Biology Faculty Publications

The description of the species Callulina kreffti was based on specimens collected in the East Usambara Mountains of Tanzania. Successive collecting has shown this species to be widely distributed through the Eastern Arc Mountains. Advertisement calls from populations in the type locality of Callulina kreffti were compared with calls from populations in the West Usambara Mountains. Analysis of the calls suggested that these two populations of Callulina represent two separate taxa. Subsequent morphological and molecular investigations indicated that these two populations are distinct. Herein, we describe a new Callulina species on the basis of call, morphology and molecular sequences.

A New Toad (Anura: Bufonidae) From Uruguay, Raúl Maneyro, Diego Arrieta, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

A new species of toad is described from small streams in the hills of Cuchilla de Haedo and Cuchilla Grande in northeastern Uruguay. Specimens of the new species were previously mistaken for Bufo arenarum; they differ from B.arenarum by having elongated parotoid glands and reddish-brown parotoid and cephalic crests. A discriminant analysis resulted in three groups corresponding to B. arenarum, Bufo rufus, and the specimens herein described as a new species.

Survey Of Anuran Populations Within Minnesota, Chris Thorman

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

A Concise Update Of The Information Provided In The Butterflies Of Southern California (1973) By Thomas C. Emmel And John F. Emmel, Kenneth E. Davenport

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

This paper’s purpose is to bring together in one resource a concise, but thorough, report on the current status of butterflies discussed in the Butterflies of Southern California by Thomas C. Emmel and John F. Emmel, published by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, United States. 1973. This update deals primarily with new species or subspecies, taxonomic matters, and new distributional information. The family order follows A Catalogue / Checklist of the Butterflies of America North of Mexico by Clifford D. Ferris, editor, published by the Lepidopterists’ Society as Memoir No. 3, 1989. Species order …

A Taxonomic Examination Of Harkenclenus Titus (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) In The Eastern United States: Recognition And Resolution Of Taxonomic Problems By The Delineation Of Old Names, Naming Of A Long Recongnized (But Heretofore Undescribed) Subspecies, And Description Of A Wide Ranging New Subspecies, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Harkenclenus is retained per dos Passos 1970 as a genus distinct from Satyrium. The names titus and mopsus have long been considered to apply to two subspecies. These are demonstrated to be synonymous as both names are based on southeastern United States populations. The holotype of titus (Natural History Museum London) is examined and its type locality established as Screven County, Georgia, United States. A neotype is established for the synonymic name mopsus, type locality, Screven County, Georgia, United States. This leaves the long recognized northern subspecies without a name; it is described as new subspecies Harkenclenus titus …

Distribución Geográfica De La Fauna De Anfibios Del Uruguay, Diego Nuñez, Raúl Maneyro, José A. Langone, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Datos precises sobre la distribución geográfica de los organismos de una región son necesarios y prerrequisito para entender las interrelaciones ecológicas entre las comunidades biológicas. Esta información también contribuye a entender el componente histórico de la región posibilitando la determinación de centros de origen y el establecimiento de patrones de diversidad (Ron, 2000), así mismo posibilita realizar inferencias acerca de los mecanismos de especiación en los diferentes grupos zoológicos (Bridarolli & Di Tada, 1994).

La distribución geográfica de los anfibios en Uruguay ha sido parcialmente reportada (Achaval & Olmos, 1997; Langone, 1995; Maneyro et al, 1995; Maneyro & Langone, 2001). …

Características Histológicas De La Tumefacción Frontal De Melanophryniscus (Amphibia: Anura: Bufonidae), Daniel E. Naya, José A. Langone, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Se analizó la histología tegumentaria de la región cefálica en seis especies del género Melanophryniscus, pertenecientes a los grupos stelzneri (4) y tumifrons (2), con el objetivo de esclarecer la estructura de la tumefacción frontal y su posible función. Las características generales de la histología del grupo stelzneri, coincidieron con las descripciones tegumentarias existentes para el género. Sin embargo, la región cefálica frontal en las dos especies del grupo tumifrons muestran cambios histológicos correlacionados a la tumefacción frontal. Esta estructura presenta una organización similar a otras macroglándulas presentes en la dermis de anuros (e.g., parotoides, paracnémicas), y por tanto se …

On The Engimatic Distribution Of The Honduran Endemic Leptodactylus Silvanimbus (Amphibia: Anura: Leptodactylidae), W. R. Heyer, Rafael O. De Sá, Sarah Muller

Biology Faculty Publications

Most species of the frog genus Leptodactylus occur in South America, and all authors who have treated the zoogeography of the genus have concluded that it originated somewhere in South America (e.g., Savage 1982). Savage (1982, 518) summarized the historical herpetofaunal units of the Neotropics as follows: "All evidence points to an ancient contiguity and essential similarity of a generalized tropical herpetofauna that ranged over tropical North, Middle, and most of South America in Cretaceous-Paleocene times. Descendents of this fauna are represented today by the South and Middle American tracks (Elements). To the north of this fauna ranged a subtropical-temperate …

A Case For Taxonomic Recognition Of The Taxon Enodia Anthedon Borealis A. H. Clark (Satyridae), Alex Grkovich, Harry Pavulaan

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Clark (1936) described the taxa anthedon and borealis both as new subspecies of Enodia portlandia (Fabricius, 1781). Clark described borealis as the northernmost phenotypically different taxon in this group. Anthedon later became recognized as a distinct species with borealis as a subspecies of it. Masters (1971) characterized E. anthedon borealis as displaying several subtle phenotypic differences from nominotypical anthedon and also noted significant differences in behavior and habitat and reinforced the continued recognition of borealis as a valid subspecies. However, a number of publications after 1971 generally failed to recognize subspecific status for borealis, either ignoring borealis entirely …

A Taxonomic Review Of Chlosyne Ismeria With Description Of A New Subspecies From The Southern Appalachian Mountains, Ronald R. Gatrelle

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

The taxon Boisduval and Le Conte described in 1833 as Melitaea ismeria is examined as a historical entity and confirmed as a sister subspecies of the taxon Chlosyne ismeria nycteis. The ismeria populations in the southern Appalachian mountains (United States) are described as a new subspecies: Chlosyne ismeria obsoleta. In facies, this new subspecies is most similar to the western subspecies Chlosyne ismeria drusius in that it is dark and contrasting in its dorsal markings. It is known to range from the mountain region of extreme northern Georgia north in the Appalachians to near southwestern Virginia, United States. …

Benthic Biological Monitoring Program Of The Elizabeth River Watershed (2002), Daniel M. Dauer

Elizabeth River Reports

Executive Summary

A study of the macrobenthic communities of the Elizabeth River watershed was initiated in summer 1999. This report presents the data from the fourth year of sampling in 2002. The three objectives of the Benthic Biological Monitoring Program of the Elizabeth River watershed are: (1) To characterize the health of the tidal waters of the Elizabeth River watershed as indicated by the structure of the benthic communities. ( 2) To conduct trend analyses on long-term data at 14 fixed-point stations to relate temporal trends in the benthic communities to changes in water and/or sediment quality. Trend analyses will …

A Subspecific Assessment Of The Genus Hesperia (Hesperiinae) In Eastern North America (Part I: The South): New Subspecies Of Hesperia Metea, Hesperia Sassacus And Hesperia Meskei, Ronald R. Gatrelle, Marc C. Minno, Alex Grkovish

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Hesperia meskei pinocayo Gatrelle and Minno is described from Big Pine Key, Monroe County, Florida, United States. This subspecies is thought to be nearly extinct. Its mainland status is uncertain. It is characterized by bi-colored ventral hindwings with more prominent ventral hindwing spots. Hesperia metea intermedia Gatrelle is described from Pickens County, South Carolina, United States. Its range is from northwestern South Carolina, United States west through Mississippi, United States and probably into Missouri, United States. Males have the least dorsal fulvous of the metea subspecies; ventrally they are well marked. Females are similar to subspecies licinus. Hesperia sassacus …

Effect Of Food Availability On Reproduction And Brood Size In A Freshwater Brooding Bivalve, Mark Beekey, Ronald H. Karlson

Biology Faculty Publications

Brood size is often constrained by the amount of energy available to produce offspring. Yet, energetic constraints may not be as important if the physical capacity to brood offspring is limited. Investigating the relative importance of energetic and physical constraints on brood size is necessary to understand how reproductive strategies are molded by natural selection. We investigated how food availability affects brood size in Sphaerium striatinum, a freshwater bivalve. We reared juveniles to adulthood under three food levels in a common garden experiment. The number of reproductive attempts, brood size, and stage of offspring development were measured. Clams reared …

The Distribution Of Macroinvertebrates In The Schoolcraft/Mississippi River-Lake System, Sarah Roley

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Butterflies Of The North Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, David L. Threatful

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

An annotated list of 106 species of butterflies known to occur in the north Okanagan area of British Columbia, Canada is presented. Information is provided on flight phenology, elevation and habitat for each species. Field work over the past 100 years shows that this is one of the premiere areas in Canada for butterfly species diversity. More than one third of all known Canadian butterflies have been found in this small area.

Male Reproductive Dynamics In The Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus, Jamie S. Heisig

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The population size structure of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, in the Florida Keys, Florida (USA) has undergone a dramatic shift as a result of fishing pressure on the large individuals of the population. Male lobsters are affected most by fishing because of sexual dimorphism in size and other studies have shown that male size has direct impacts on reproductive output (i.e., number of fertilized eggs/clutch) that are independent of female size. To assess more precisely the impact of male size on fertilization success, I conducted laboratory experiments and field observations to examine various male reproductive attributes over …

Fixation Of Type Locality For Lycaena Acmon Westwood And Characterization Of The Species And Its Distribution, Paul A. Opler

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Lycaena acmon Westwood, 1852 is based on a painting and plate legend in Westwood and Hewitson’s Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera. The specimen illustrated was located in the British Museum Natural History and is the holotype by monotypy. The accompanying plate legend gives “California” as the type locality. Because the butterfly is a member of a complex of species, now considered in the genus Plebejus (Opler and Warren, 2003), that requires much systematic study, and some confusion exists on the identity of L. acmon, it is necessary to fix a more specific type locality, to characterize the species, …

Ecology Of The Missouri River: Missouri River Creel Survey, Bellevue Bridge To Camp Creek, 30 March Through 11 October 2002. Supplement I, Gerald Mestl

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This report describes Missouri River activities and results related to a channelized Missouri River creel survey conducted from 30 March through 11 October 2002. This is the third of a planned annual creel survey to be conducted on alternating sections of the channelized Missouri River to measure changes in recreational fishing activity, especially those changes due to large scale habitat restoration efforts. Future reports will contain additional analyses of these data. Anglers spent over 42,000 hours fishing the Missouri River from Bellevue (rkm 967.7) to Camp Creek (rkm 883.5) during the survey period. Effort was steady from late spring (4/27 …

Mechanisms Promoting Upriver Transport Of Two Species Of Larval Fish In The Hudson River Estuary (Usa), Eric T. Schultz, Kamazima M M Lwiza, Megan C. Fencil, Jennifer M. Martin

EEB Articles

Bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli and naked goby Gobiosoma bosc larvae have been reported to move up-estuary. In the present study, we examined depth preferences and periodic vertical movements that might promote such along-estuary transport in these 2 species. We conducted 2 cruises of 3 d each in the Hudson River estuary, USA. The cruises were 1 wk apart, coinciding with spring and neap tides. We sampled every 2 h with an ichthyoplankton trawl to permit tests of time, depth, and lateral position on larval concentration. We also collected data on water-column structure with a CTD, and current velocity with an …

A Watershed Analysis Of Threemile Pond: Implications For Water Quality And Land Use Management, Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College, Problems In Environmental Science Course (Biology 493), Colby College

Colby College Watershed Study: Threemile Pond (2003)

The 2003 Colby Environmental Assessment Team chose to study the Threemile Pond watershed. The Threemile Pond watershed is located in Vassalboro, China., Windsor, and Augusta, Maine. Threemile Pond is a popular site for recreation and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Like all other lakes in Maine, it is a young lake. However, intensive human activity in the watershed contributes a substantial amount of nutrients and the lake has algal blooms annually in the summer months. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of land use and development on the water quality of …