Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Fisheries Research Report No. 110 - A Research Vessel Survey Of Bottom Types In The Area Of The Abrolhos Islands And Mid-West Trawl Fishery., C. J. Dibden, L. M. Joll

Fisheries Research Reports

To address the concern expressed by Commercial rock lobster fishers operating in the Abrolhos Islands area, that expanding saucer scallop trawl activity was damaging the sea floor biota in areas which they considered good rock lobster habitat and poor scallop habitat, an underwater video survey was conducted by the Fisheries Department Research Division, with the following objectives:

1. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas currently and historically trawled for scallops in the Abrolhos Islands area and adjacent waters;

2. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas adjacent to these trawled areas, where potential for conflict …

Life History, Ecology, And Low Ph Tolerance Of The Freshwater Prawn, Palaemonetes Kadiakensis Rathbun, In A Mitigated Wetland Of The Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia, Jennifer Ann Aderman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

An ecological life history study of the freshwater prawn Palaemonetes kadiakensis was conducted at the mitigated wetland of the Green Bottom Wildlife management Area (GBWMA). Monthly samples were collected from November 1996 through November 1997. In addition, weekly samples were collected from May through November for growth and reproductive analysis. Monthly samples yielded 520 prawns. Palaemonetes kadiakensis had a one-year life cycle, with all adults dying by September. Males averaged 23.82 mm (range = 14.15 to 36.75 mm) and females averaged 26.78mm (range = 15.06 to 38.60 mm) in length. Males averaged 0.087g (range = 0.014to 0.293 g) and females …

An Assessment Of The Prevalence Of The Bass Tapeworm, Proteocephalus Ambloplitis, And Other Parasites In Five Species Of Basses From River And Lake Ecosystems In West Virginia, J. Alyce Bradbury

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Two-hundred and fifteen basses were collected from four river sites (Racine Locks and Dam, Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam; Ashland, KY—Ohio River; London Locks and Dam—Kanawha River) and five reservoir sites (Beech Fork Lake, East Lynn Lake, Summersville Lake, Burnsville Lake, and Stonewall Jackson Lake,). The five species of bass caught were: largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui; spotted bass, Micropterus punctulatus; white bass, Morone chrysops; and hybrid bass, Morone chyrsops x Morone saxatilis. Basses were collected by three methods: 1) local anglers (hook and line), 2) gill netting surveys; and 3) …

Improving Recovery Planning For Threatened And Endangered Species, Theodore Foin, Seth Riley, Anitra Pawley, Debra Ayres, Tina Carlsen, Peter Hodum, Paul Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Improving Recovery Planning For Threatened And Endangered Species, Theodore C. Foin, Seth P. Riley, Anitra L. Pawley, Debra R. Ayres, Tina M. Carlsen, Peter J. Hodum, Paul V. Switzer

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Declines In Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations In Southern Lake Michigan, 1980–1993, Thomas F. Nalepa, David J. Hartson, David L. Fanslow, Gregory A. Lang, Stephen J. Lozano

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Densities of the major benthic macroinvertebrate groups declined dramatically at sites shallower than 50 m in southern Lake Michigan between 1980 and 1993. Declines in Diporeia, Oligochaeta, and Sphaeriidae ranged from 40 to 75% at these depths. Total densities declined from 16 800·m^–2 in 1980–1981 to 4,800·m^–2 in 1992–1993 at sites in the 16–30 m depth interval and from 21,300 to 11,300·m^–2 at sites in the 31–50 m depth interval. Changes at sites deeper than 50 m were minimal; only sphaeriids declined to any extent. Declines in oligochaetes and sphaeriids occurred uniformly throughout the nearshore region …

Chondrocranial Anatomy And Skeletogenesis In Dendrobates Auratus, Rafael O. De Sá, Shannon Hill

Biology Faculty Publications

The larval chondrocranium and visceral skeleton of Dendrobates auratus ls described and compared with those of other dendrobatids. Four characters, i.e. lack of fusion between orbital cartilages and otic capsules, wide processus muscularis palatoquadrati, lack of processus pseudopterygoideus, and lack of processus anterolateralis hyalis, represent derived conditions for Dendrobates within Dendrobatidae. Cranial and postcranial ossification sequences are reported for D. auratus and Epipedobates tricolor. Skeletogenesis is earlier in E. tricolor, but the overall pattern of ossification is similar in the two species.

The Annual Reproductive Cycle Of Oryzomys Palustris In A Virginia Tidal Marsh, Erin A. Dreelin

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The objectives of my study were to determine when the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) begins and ends reproduction during the year, if there are seasonal changes in litter size, and the weight at which sexual maturity is reached. Monthly samples of rice rats were trapped from May 1995 to May 1996 in Northampton County, Virginia. Rice rats were trapped with Fitch live traps, euthanized in the field, and brought to the lab for necropsy. Data from two other studies of rice rats in Northampton County were also examined. Potential breeders did not reproduce with equal intensity throughout the …

Ecological Relationships Between The Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys Palustris) And The Meadow Vole (Microtus Pennsylvanicus) In Two Virginia Tidal Marshes, Christopher P. Bloch

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Small mammals were trapped for 23 months on two live trap grids in tidal marshes in Northampton County, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, to examine ecological relationships between the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) and the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Population density, survival rates, capture probability, recruitment, residence time, and home range size were calculated for each species. Patterns of reproductive activity and fluctuations in mean weight were also observed.

There were considerable differences in population dynamics between the two sites. At Grid 2, where vegetative cover was more abundant, population densities of rice rats and meadow voles …

Human Trampling In The Upper Rocky Intertidal: Trampling And Recovery In Barnacle Mediated Succession, Timothy Lawrence Grubba

Dissertations and Theses

Marine intertidal ecosystems are vulnerable to human interference, because trampling can be a significant problem. I studied the impacts of trampling on community patterns and succession in a rocky intertidal habitats. This study was divided into two phases: (1) a trampling phase and (2) a recovery phase. Both phases are focused on two barnacles, Balanus glandula and Chthamalus dalli, and on fucoid and red algae. The trampling phase tested the effects of trampling on these organisms. The effects of herbivores, primarily limpets (Collisella digitalis) were also tested to determine whether anthropogenic (trampling) and natural (herbivory and limpet …

Diet And Growth Of Larval And Juvenile Grass Pickerel, Esox Americanus Vermiculatus, And Central Mudminnow, Umbra Limi, In The Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, Cabell County, West Virginia, Erica Midkiff

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The grass pickerel, Esox americanus vermiculatus, is listed as Undetermined on the Vertebrate Species List of Concern in West Virginia. The central mudminnow, Umbra limi, is a disjunct population in Green Bottom Swamp. The lentic, vegetated areas that are required for spawning for the grass pickerel and the central mudminnow have been reduced by residential, agricultural, and industrial developments. Green Bottom Swamp, a naturally occurring wetland of 58 ha, and a nearby mitigated wetland of 29 ha, provides spawning habitat for the grass pickerel and the mudminnow. Fishes were collected in beds of Potamogetan crispus and Ceratophyllum demursum …

Habitat Use By Migrant Whooping Cranes In Saskatchewan, Brian W. Johns, Eric J. Woodsworth, Ed A. Driver

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We investigated habitat use by migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Saskatchewan between 1986 and 1990. At foraging and roosting sites and a sample of randomly selected sites we measured various habitat parameters. Palustrine and lacustrine wetlands were the most frequently used wetlands. Temporary and seasonal wetlands were the primary roost habitat during spring migration, and semi-permanent and permanent wetlands were frequently used during the fall. Cranes were attracted to areas of higher than average wetland density. Land use within 2 km of roost sites was intensively modified by man. Cereal crops were the most used feeding areas. …

Availability Of Stopover Habitat For Migrant Whooping Cranes In Nebraska, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Four stratified random samples of 512 National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps within the central Nebraska portion of the Wood Buffalo-Aransas whooping crane (Grus americana) migration corridor were used to evaluate the availability of wetland roost sites. Wetlands were eliminated as potential roosts if visibility was obscured by vegetation or slope, if certain human activities occurred within 100-800 ro, or if water < 30 em deep was not available. Seasonal emergent wetlands, available as roosts primarily in spring, dominated all samples, particularly in the nortb. Sixty-five percent of all wetlands >0.04 ha passed map review and 52 % passed when ground-truthed. NWI map review was a good predictor of both suitability (63 % correct) and unsuitability (73 % correct). More than one-half of all open and emergent …

Woody Vegetation Expansion And Continuing Declines In Open Channel Habitat On The Platte River In Nebraska, Paul J. Currier

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Aerial videography in 1988 and 1994 of the same selected segments of the Big Bend reach of the Platte River in central Nebraska was compared. During this 6-year period, channel area declined 4 to 41 % (median 26%). In river segments where the channel had already narrowed significantly and at sites where channel habitat is actively managed declines were less (17-18%). These substantial changes occurred during a time that included a relatively low flow period (1990-92). Flows during the summer gertttination and establishment period (mid-May through August) for cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and willow (Salix spp.), the …