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Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
A Multi-Taxonomic Approach To Assess The Impact Of Overabundant White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In Forest Ecosystems Across Northeast Ohio, Sara A. Laux
ETD Archive
Browsing by white-tailed deer has alters plant species diversity of the forest understory across much of North America. A reduced understory may lead to the simplification of the forest-floor microhabitat, causing broad scale shifts in the community composition and abundance of litter-dwelling arthropods and small mammals. The objectives of this study were to 1) document changes in the forest-floor microhabitat as a result of over-browsing by deer and 2) determine if differential browsing pressures indirectly affect faunal biodiversity (litter-dwelling arthropods and small mammals) of forest ecosystems. I predicted that browsing within the understory will reduce structural complexity of the forest-floor …
Singing Behavior And Geographic Variation In The Songs Of The Veery (Catharus Fuscescens) Across The Appalachian Mountains, Courtney L. Brennan
Singing Behavior And Geographic Variation In The Songs Of The Veery (Catharus Fuscescens) Across The Appalachian Mountains, Courtney L. Brennan
ETD Archive
The Veery (Catharus fuscescens) is a common Neotropical migrant thrush whose breeding distribution spans the Northern United States and southern Canada and continues south through the high elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. Despite its wide distribution, many aspects of Veery biology are largely unknown, including a clear characterization of song and knowledge of geographic song variation. I describe the song structure, repertoire size, and patterns of song delivery in the songs of the Veery and describe geographic song variation across four regions along the Appalachian Mountains. Visual analysis of song spectrogram images of territorial males revealed that Veeries' repertoire ranges …
Influence Of Earthworms On Plant And Soil Invertebrate Communities Of The Cleveland Metroparks, Anton F. Schermaier
Influence Of Earthworms On Plant And Soil Invertebrate Communities Of The Cleveland Metroparks, Anton F. Schermaier
ETD Archive
No native earthworms exist in the Great Lakes region of Ohio. All earthworms found in previously glaciated areas of the United States either migrated from unglaciated areas or were introduced as a result of human activities such as agriculture and sport fishing. Non-native earthworms may facilitate dramatic changes in structure and function of plant and invertebrate communities of forest ecosystems. This study examined how the presence of non-native earthworms within the Cleveland Metroparks may correspond with plant and soil invertebrate communities. Special attention was given to the Asian earthworm, Amynthas spp., a recent arrival to northeastern Ohio and a particularly …
Assessment Of Habitat Use By Eastern Coyote (Canis Latrans) Along An Urban-Parkland Gradient, Beth A. Judy
Assessment Of Habitat Use By Eastern Coyote (Canis Latrans) Along An Urban-Parkland Gradient, Beth A. Judy
ETD Archive
This study used coyote howl surveys combined with GIS to locate local coyote (Canis latrans) populations, determine the habitats where coyotes occur and estimate coyote group sizes in Bedford, North Chagrin and West Creek Reservations within the Cleveland Metroparks, Ohio. The CMP were established in 1917 and are the oldest park districts in the state of Ohio. There are 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) of land in 16 reservations and in 2008 approximately 43,000,000 people visited the Cleveland Metroparks. Bedford, North Chagrin and West Creek Reservations have a mixture of park, forest, woodlots, residential neighborhoods, industrial areas, commercial property, open water, …