Other Life Sciences Commons^™

Designing A Regional Trail Network Of High Conservation Value Using Principles Of Green Infrastructure, Carroll I. Courtenay, Todd R. Lookingbill

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

Conservation and recreation planning potentially share many common goals, including the desire to increase landscape connectivity. Trail networks, however, typically develop independently of ecological corridors, with emphasis placed solely on their human services. The failure to align conservation and human use values results in missed opportunities to maximize the benefits of new trail development. This study uses concepts of green infrastructure and tools of connectivity modeling to identify priority locations for a regional trail network in the James River watershed, Virginia U.S.A. The approach uses methods derived from circuit theory to identify potential pathways that meet basic trail design criteria …

Aquaponics And Basil Plant Density, Danika L. Macmaster, Brook Murphy, Dudley Burton

STAR Program Research Presentations

Aquaponics is the use of water from a fish tank to provide nutrients to plants in a soil-less environment. The rocks cultivate the bacteria that turns the ammonia into nitrates that the plants need, and the plant bed functions as a filter for the fish tank. In this study, with the guidance of Doctor Dudley Burton, Doctor Brook Murphy, we researched the optimal plant density for basil in an Aquaponics system. We attempted to control or measure all the other variables to consider, as to isolate the variable of distance between plants. The water flow was spread through the plant …

Variation In Round Goby Feeding Interactions In Near-Shore Lake Michigan Based On Three Trophic Indicators, Michael Lee Henebry

Open Access Theses

Understanding trophic interactions of non-native species is key to elucidating their potential ecological role in newly-invaded ecosystems. The Great Lakes region has long been characterized by a high rate of invasive species establishment. Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus ) were first detected in Lake Michigan in 1994, and have since increased dramatically in abundance. While past studies of Round Goby in Lake Michigan have primarily focused on specific regions and habitats, Lake Michigan is a large, diverse system and Round Goby trophic interactions may vary across regions and over time. During May, July, and September 2010-2011, we collected Round Goby …

Report On The Workshop For Life Detection In Samples From Mars, Gerhard Kminek, Catherine Conley, Carlton C. Allen, Douglas H. Bartlett, David W. Beaty, Liane G. Benning, Rohit Bhatia, Penelope J. Boston, Caroline Duchaine, Jack D. Farmer, George J. Flynn, Daniel P. Glavin, Yuri Gorby, John E. Hallsworth, Rakesh Mogul, Duane Moser, P. Buford Price, Ruediger Pukall, David Fernandez-Remolar, Caroline L. Smith, Kenneth M. Stedman, Andrew Steele, Ramunas Stepanauskas, Henry Sun, Jorge L. Vago, Mary A. Voytek, Paul S. Weiss, Frances Westfall

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The question of whether there is or was life on Mars has been one of the most pivotal since Schiaparellis’ telescopic observations of the red planet. With the advent of the space age, this question can be addressed directly by exploring the surface of Mars and by bringing samples to Earth for analysis. The latter, however, is not free of problems. Life can be found virtually everywhere on Earth. Hence the potential for contaminating the Mars samples and compromising their scientific integrity is not negligible. Conversely, if life is present in samples from Mars, this may represent a potential source …

Culturally Responsive 4-H Youth Development In Southeast Alaska, Deb Jones, Linda Skogrand

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

Soil Moisture And Temperature Conditions Related To Cheatgrass Establishment Failure, Lauren Ducas

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

Cheatgrass, a widespread invasive plant, has taken over many rangelands in the Intermountain West. Restoration efforts have not met with much success. Early in cheatgrass’ growth period, if air temperatures fall too low and soils too dry, growth may be disrupted to the point of death of the cheatgrass plants. In this case, cheatgrass stands may revert to bare ground, providing opportunities for other invasive plants to establish, or possible restoration of native perennials. We conducted a computer modeling and observational field study to determine if air temperature and soil moisture conditions below its tolerance are associated with failure of …

Population Genetics And Microbial Communities Of The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus), Daniel Lyle Gaillard

Dissertations

The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, is an endangered species living in the southeastern United States. The recent and drastic decline in tortoise numbers has resulted in a multi-faceted approach to conserve this species. I used a population genetic approach to determine the population structure, genetic diversity and barriers to gene flow at a broad, regional and local scale. Tortoises are divided into five distinct genetic populations at the broad scale, the central populations have the highest levels of genetic diversity and the Tombigbee, Mobile, Apalachicola, Suwannee and St. John’s Rivers appear to be barriers to gene flow. At the regional …

Assessing Changes In Waterfowl Population And Community Dynamics, Beth E. Ross

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Studying long-term ecological studies can help ecologists understand what causes populations and communities of wildlife to change. Understanding these causes can help guide conservation efforts. Additionally, results from long-term datasets allow ecologists to predict how populations may shift with global change. Ecologists can then determine necessary management action to maintain sustainable populations in the future. However, there can be a large amount of “noise” in a long-term dataset. If ecologists fail to account for this noise, they may make incorrect management decisions. For example, samples taken in two nearby locations will likely be more similar than samples taken from two …

A Quantitative Approach To The Development Of Ecological Sites And State-And-Transition Models, Matthew W. Van Scoyoc

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes in land-use and climate can trigger changes in ecosystem conditions and may be driving ecosystems toward undesired “states” that provide inadequate ecosystem services. If these changes are drastic enough, energy intensive restoration programs are necessary to restore ecosystems to previous states. Landscape classification systems based on “ecological potential” offer a robust framework to evaluate and manage ecosystems. The ecological site concept is one such landscape classification system that has been developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and describes ecosystems and ecosystem dynamics relative to “reference conditions” and response to disturbance. Ecological sites have gained popularity with …

Paleozoic Seed Bank And Their Ecological Significance, Petra Seka Yehnjong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil seed banks are a reservoir of viable seeds present in the soil in plant communities. They have been studied and characterized in various ways in different habitats. However, these studies are limited to modern seed banks. This study extends seed bank studies to the Paleozoic Era. It was hypothesized that size distribution and seed density in Paleozoic seed banks exhibit similar patterns as in modern seed banks. Seed sizes and seed density of fossil seed from Wise Virginia were estimated. Modern seed bank information was obtained from published data. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test. The …

Developing A Field Indicator For Suckering Ability Of Quaking Aspen, Abbey M. Hudler Oksness

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Quaking aspen is an ecologically valuable deciduous tree species in the high elevation environment typical across many parts of western North America. It is a clonal tree species which primarily depends on vegetative regeneration by root suckering after an aboveground disturbance, e.g., wildfire, removes the stems. A flush of suckers will be stimulated after a disturbance and the resulting regeneration relies on available resources from the undamaged root system for resprouting. Due to wildfire suppression efforts of the last century, many aspen stands are considered mature, overmature, or decadent and lack regeneration to replace the overstory mortality. In the absence …

Variation In Vegetation And Microbial Linkages With Slope Aspect In A Montane Temperate Hardwood Forest, Frank S. Gilliam, Radim Hedl, Marketa Chudomelova, Rebecca L. Mcculley, Jim Nelson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Plant ecologists have long been interested in aspect-related contrasts of montane forests. Few studies have assessed correlation (linkage) among vegetation strata; fewer have included soil microbial communities. This study assessed contrasts in overstory, spring herbaceous, and soil microbial communities between northeast (NE) - and southwest (SW) -facing slopes in a second-growth West Virginia hardwood forest. We addressed three questions: (1) how do soil microbial, herbaceous layer, and overstory communities vary with slope aspect? (2) do forest vegetation strata and soil microbial communities exhibit linkage? (3) do biotic relationships and linkage vary with slope aspect? Moisture, organic matter, pH, soil NO …

Linking Temporal And Spatial Variability Of Millennial And Decadal-Scale Sediment Yield To Aquatic Habitat In The Columbia River Basin, Elijah Portugal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Historically the Columbia River was amongst the most productive salmonidbearing watersheds in North America. Currently, salmonid populations have collapsed and are estimated at ten percent of historic levels. Because of this, there are thirteen, Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed distinct population segments within the Columbia River Basin (CRB). The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) operates a substantial number of hydroelectric dams within the CRB. As the dams effectively block anadromy and are thought to be extremely detrimental to the long-term persistence of salmonid populations within the CRB, the BPA funds a series of programs to mitigate the impacts of dam operation. …

Environews #9: The Sunshine State Is In A State., Richard Philp

Data and Test Instruments

Sewage contamination and fertilizer runoff are polluting Florida's springs and rivers and legislative protection is weak. Lion fish are invading northern Gulf waters.

Land Use And Climate Variability Amplify Carbon, Nutrient, And Contaminant Pulses: A Review With Management Implications, Sujay S. Kaushal, Peter M. Mayer, Philippe G. Vidon, Rose M. Smith, Micheal J. Pennino, Tamara A. Newcomer, Shuiwang Duan, Claire Welty, Kenneth T. Belt

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture and urbanization is increasing globally at the same time climate extremes have increased in frequency and intensity. We review >200 studies of hydrologic and gaseous fluxes and show how the interaction between land use and climate variability alters magnitude and frequency of carbon, nutrient, and greenhouse gas pulses in watersheds. Agricultural and urban watersheds respond similarly to climate variability due to headwater alteration and loss of ecosystem services to buffer runoff and temperature changes. Organic carbon concentrations/exports increase and organic carbon quality changes with runoff. Nitrogen and phosphorus exports increase during floods (sometimes by an …

The Great Salt Lake's Two Deep Brine Layers, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Disassembly Of Actin Structures By Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Is A Downstream Effect Of Cell Swelling, Andrei G. Pakhomov, Shu Xiao, Olga N. Pakhomova, Iurii Semenov, Marjorie A. Kuipers, Bennett L. Ibey

Bioelectrics Publications

Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton structures was reported as one of the characteristic effects of nanosecond-duration pulsed electric field (nsPEF) in both mammalian and plant cells. We utilized CHO cells that expressed the monomeric fluorescent protein (mApple) tagged to actin to test if nsPEF modifies the cell actin directly or as a consequence of cell membrane permeabilization. A train of four 600-ns pulses at 19.2 kV/cm (2 Hz) caused immediate cell membrane poration manifested by YO-PRO-1 dye uptake, gradual cell rounding and swelling. Concurrently, bright actin features were replaced by dimmer and uniform fluorescence of diffuse actin. To block the …

Death Acceptance In Widowhood, Staci Ernsberger

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Death is a universal event that all living things experience. Older adults, in particular, are more mindful of death than younger generations because of their proximity and increased exposure to it. In addition, thoughts of one’s own death often increase with the death of a spouse. Previous research has explored the role of social support in death acceptance and the effect of previous marital satisfaction on a widow’s well-being. However, there is a lack of research regarding the experience of a widow’s personal death acceptance relative to spousal death acceptance and marital satisfaction. This phenomenological study aims to better understand …

Rhetoric And Science: Examining And Identifying The Rhetorical Techniques Used By Students In A Composition Classroom, Amanda Arp

Honors Program Theses

Student use of rhetoric can provide insight into student learning since rhetoric is, in part, epistemological. Epistemology refers to the study of the way someone thinks about a topic. Rhetoric is epistemological, therefore, because rhetoric is, at its core, the way ideas are thought about and expressed. Therefore, identifying and analyzing student usage of rhetorical techniques has the potential to allow a glimpse at the epistemological state of the student mind concerning their rhetorical learning. Insight drawn from knowing what students do and do not know concerning rhetoric could be extremely valuable to teachers in that it could pinpoint opportunities …

A Glutathione-Independent Glyoxalase Of The Dj-1 Superfamily Plays An Important Role In Managing Metabolically Generated Methylglyoxal In Candida Albicans, Sahar Hasim, Nur Ahmad Hussin, Fadhel Alomar, Keshore R. Bidasee, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Mark A. Wilson

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Methylglyoxal is a cytotoxic reactive carbonyl compound produced by central metabolism. Dedicated glyoxalases convert methylglyoxal to D-lactate using multiple catalytic strategies. In this study, the DJ-1 superfamily member ORF 19.251/GLX3 from Candida albicans is shown to possess glyoxalase activity, making this the first demonstrated glutathione-independent glyoxalase in fungi. The crystal structure of Glx3p indicates that the protein is a monomer containing the catalytic triad Cys¹³⁶- His¹³⁷-Glu¹⁶⁸. Purified Glx3p has an in vitro methylglyoxalase activity (K_m = 5.5 mM andk_cat = 7.8 s^-1) that is significantly greater than that of …

Understanding Traditions And Practices Of Medicinal Plant Use In Carhuamayo, Junin, Peru, Anastasia Orkwiszewski

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Understanding and preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Practices (TEKP) are essential for the continued resilience and cultural diversity of humanity. TEKP faces a multitude of threats from habitat loss, growth of the market economy, globalization, and acculturation. Medicinal plant use in the high Andean town of Carhuamayo, Junín, was studied to assess the vibrancy of that particular branch of TEKP in that area, in what parts of the population it was held, and what factors influence its loss or growth. Gender, age, migrant status, and acculturation levels were not found to be statistically significant in predicting medicinal plant knowledge. Analysis …

Nutrient Limitation In Three Lowland Tropical Forests In Southern China Receiving High Nitrogen Deposition: Insights From Fine Root Responses To Nutrient Additions, Feifei Zhu, Muneoki Yoh, Frank S. Gilliam, Xiankai Lu, Jiangming Mo

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Elevated nitrogen (N) deposition to tropical forests may accelerate ecosystem phosphorus (P) limitation. This study examined responses of fine root biomass, nutrient concentrations, and acid phosphatase activity (APA) of bulk soil to five years of N and P additions in one old-growth and two younger lowland tropical forests in southern China. The old-growth forest had higher N capital than the two younger forests from long-term N accumulation. From February 2007 to July 2012, four experimental treatments were established at the following levels: Control, N-addition (150 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1), P-addition (150 kg P ha^–1 yr^{–1 …}

Common Core 4th Grade Environmental Science Lesson Plans For California Teachers, Gillian Schoenfeld

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

This project and its analyses were conducted to assist California fourth grade elementary school teachers in adjusting to teaching Common Core standards and science curriculum in their classrooms. The project included the creation of lesson plans, which could be utilized throughout the state of California.

As the Common Core standards, California’s Next Generation Science Standards for K- 12, were just proposed in June of 2013, these lesson plans would help teachers update their lessons and provide them materials and concepts of how to do so. These lessons provide higher-order thinking for students, which is the whole concept of the new …

Decomposition Patterns And Nitrogen Dynamics Of Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans)Leaf Litter In Disturbed Estuaries Linked To The Lower Laguna Madre, Texas, Mario Alberto Marquez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Estuaries are among the most productive aquatic systems in the world but are subject to both anthropogenic and natural disturbances. With increasing environmental concerns, efforts have become commonplace in assessing the status and trends of environmental conditions. In this study, an assessment of ecosystem status of various estuaries affected by different disturbances, was attempted through the examination of key functional processes such as leaf litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics during decay. Three estuaries located along the Brownsville Ship Channel near the southern terminus of the Lower Laguna Madre in Texas were studied. The overlying goal of this study was to …

Common Raven Density And Greater Sage-Grouse Nesting Success In Southern Wyoming: Potential Conservation And Management Implications, Jonathan B. Dinkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Declines in the distribution and abundance of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter "sage-grouse") in western North America over the past century have been severe. The goal of my research was to increase the understanding of factors influencing where sage-grouse hens placed their nests, how common ravens (Corvus corax: hereafter "raven") impacted sage-grouse nest success, and whether high raptor densities negatively impacted hen survival of sage-grouse. I compared raven and raptor densities at sage-grouse nest and brood locations to available habitat. I also assessed how sage-grouse positioned their nests and broods relative to proximity to man-made structures, …

Amphibian Occupancy And Functional Connectivity Of Restored Wetlands In The Missouri River Floodplain, Michelle L. Hellman

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

Wetland decline may threaten many taxa including shorebirds, amphibians, and fish. As agencies increase restoration of wetland habitat, monitoring is crucial to inform the process. Permeable skin sensitive to water quality and biphasic life histories requiring both terrestrial and aquatic habitat make amphibians good indicators of wetland health. I modeled amphibian occupancy in restored Missouri River bends to determine habitat characteristics associated with the presence of amphibians.

Occupancy modeling acknowledges imperfect detection and allows the inclusion of detection covariates. To assess detection I examined two methods currently used to assess anuran occupancy in wetlands, aural anuran surveys and tadpole dip-netting. …

Modeling Usa Stream Temperatures For Stream Biodiversity And Climate Change Assessments, Ryan A. Hill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Stream temperature in one of the most biologically important aspects of water quality, but we lack temperature information for the vast majority of streams within the USA. Stream temperature can be influenced by several types of landscape and waterway alteration including upstream urbanization, agriculture, and reservoir releases. Stream temperatures are also expected to be affected by climate change over the next
century. We need to know how stream temperatures vary naturally, how they are influenced by human activity, and how they will respond to climate changes to effectively manage stream ecosystems. I used data from several thousand streams within the …

Importance Of Grass-Legume Choices On Cattle Grazing Behavior And Performance, Brody Todd Maughan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Livestock production systems have emphasized low diversity of high-producing forage species dependent upon costly fossil-fuel inputs. However, diversity of plants in natural systems is common, and diverse plant communities enable herbivores to meet needs for nutrition and health. Plants provide herbivores with nutrients and bioactive compounds – plant secondary compounds (SCs), which at appropriate concentrations can reduce internal parasites and greenhouse gas emissions, improve nutrient utilization and enhance meat quality in ruminants. In addition, SCs confer plants more resistance to environmental challenges such as drought or pests.

With my MS program, I sought to explore foraging behavior in cattle grazing …

Development Of Sediment Budgets At Multiple Scales, Susannah O'Brien Erwin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Channel morphology in alluvial rivers is determined by the flow of water and sediment, and the characteristics of the materials making up the channel boundary. Many modern river management problems depend upon our ability to predict channel behavior in response to changes in the delivery of water or sediment. Sediment delivery to a river may be altered by natural or human-caused changes, such as changes in land use in the watershed, construction and operations of dam, forest fires, or climate change. Understanding and predicting the effects of these alterations is important because changes in sediment supply and transport may alter …

Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Selection And Use Patterns In Response To Vegetation Management Practices In Northwestern Utah, Stephanie E. Graham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) are a sagebrush obligate species and an indicator of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitat quality. Sage-grouse populations have declined across western North America. Fragmentation of landscapes and habitat loss have been identified as factors that negatively impact sage-grouse populations. Wildfires can increase the distribution of invasive plants and contribute to fragmentation and habitat loss across sagebrush ecosystems. Greenstripping has been identified as a technique to reduce the threat of wildfire and subsequent spread of invasive species. Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is a semi-shrub that contains a high moisture content year-round, high …