The Effectiveness Of The Minnesota Buffer Law And Its Impacts On People,
2025
Bemidji State University
The Effectiveness Of The Minnesota Buffer Law And Its Impacts On People, Ellen P. Isakson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
In January 2015, the then-governor of Minnesota Mark Dayton announced new legislation that would require 50-foot vegetation buffers along all waterways in Minnesota; this legislation would come to be known as the Minnesota buffer law, exact requirements being “perennial vegetative buffers of up to 50 feet along lakes, rivers, and streams and buffers of 16.5 feet along ditches” (Albert, 2017; MN Board of Water and Soil Resources [MN BWSR] 4 ). A buffer in the context of vegetation and natural resource management is a strip of vegetation around a body of water “designed to intercept stormwater runoff and minimize soil …
Does Depth Affect Zebra Mussel Length In Scalp Lake?,
2025
Bemidji State University
Does Depth Affect Zebra Mussel Length In Scalp Lake?, Zanden Mellen
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Since its first sighting in 1996, zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha have been confirmed in hundreds of Minnesota lakes. Not only were they found in lakes, but they are also found in rivers too. With lack of effective treatments to impede their spread, zebra mussels continue to colonize new areas causing ecological as well as economic harm. The objective of this study was to see if there was a relationship between a zebra mussel length and the depth, they are found using shell length (mm) and depth (cm). The comparison of zebra mussel length and depth was done by performing a …
Age Class Is Not Related To Size Or Composition Of Home Ranges Among Suburban White-Tailed Deer During Parturition,
2025
Bemidji State University
Age Class Is Not Related To Size Or Composition Of Home Ranges Among Suburban White-Tailed Deer During Parturition, Nathan D. Pyburn
Journal of Earth and Life Science
How white-tailed deer use the landscape in an urban environment can help us understand the effects of urbanization on deer populations. White-tailed deer form observable matriarchal hierarchies in studied populations. This study examines the matriarchal structure, home range size, and home range composition of 25 collared white-tailed deer within the city limits of Bemidji, MN. The results found no significant difference between age class and home range size or composition. However, movement metrics from yearling and mature age classes were more similar than the juvenile age class females. I propose this is because social acceptance between mature females was higher …
Relationship Of Utricle And Trap Door Size On Common Bladderworts Utricularia Macrorhiza,
2025
Bemidji State University
Relationship Of Utricle And Trap Door Size On Common Bladderworts Utricularia Macrorhiza, Tegwen Romportl
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The common bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza is a carnivorous aquatic plant that captures organisms with its bladders. This study was aimed at setting the stage for future research which might determine if U. macrorhiza could be a biological method of control for invasive species. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between utricle and trap door sizes and to gather data on the size ranges of these two morphological features. A regression analysis was used to obtain results which showed there was enough evidence to suggest that the size of bladderwort trap doors have a significant, positive relationship …
A Mystery Of Microecology: Revealing The Ecological Relationship Between Allorhizobium Vitis And Missouri Native Grape Species,
2025
Missouri State University
A Mystery Of Microecology: Revealing The Ecological Relationship Between Allorhizobium Vitis And Missouri Native Grape Species, Hunter White
Graduate Theses/Dissertations
Crown gall disease can be very detrimental to grape and wine producers around the world by reducing vine vigor and yield. It is caused by the bacteria Allorhizobium vitis (A. Vitis) carrying a tumor inducing (Ti) plasmid. The A. vitis bacteria have been found in soil and cane tissues in vineyards around the world, and infect all cultivated grapes. However, there have been no reports of crown gall on native wild grapevines, and very little is known about the ecology of A. vitis in native ecosystems. I have sampled cambium tissues from three native wild grape species of …
Help Or Hindrance? Humans As A Range Expanding And Reducing Force For Himalayan Black Bears In Nepal,
2025
Missouri State University
Help Or Hindrance? Humans As A Range Expanding And Reducing Force For Himalayan Black Bears In Nepal, Suman Shree Neupane
Graduate Theses/Dissertations
I explore the relationship between Himalayan black bears (HBBs) and humans by constructing niche models for HBBs considering both natural and human influences. This approach allowed me to assess the net impact of human activities on HBBs, which face challenges like habitat fragmentation, but also reap some benefits (like increased food availability). I examined HBB niche impacts from humans by quantifying and comparing the extent of HBB niche space when including versus excluding anthropogenic influences. Specifically, I estimated the natural HBB niche space by assuming no human alterations of the landscape and compared this natural range to the observed range …
Using Lateral Flow Assay To Assess The Prevalence Of Trachemys Hybridization,
2025
Rollins College
Using Lateral Flow Assay To Assess The Prevalence Of Trachemys Hybridization, Lillian Groves
Honors Program Theses
The current study focuses on Trachemys species, which is a group of freshwater turtles found throughout the Greater Antilles. The role of studying an isolated island, such as the Dominican Republic, is significant because it serves as a way to better understand how the combined effects of species migration, mass tourism, and climate change can greatly impact isolated species. Of particular significance is how these forces interact in complex ways to reshape habitats and threaten biodiversity. Additionally, the introduction of a highly invasive species, Trachemys scripta elegans (T. scripta), in this environment pressures native species by acting as a source …
Elongate Locomotors Show Consistent Torque Patterns Across Substrates,
2025
University of Akron
Elongate Locomotors Show Consistent Torque Patterns Across Substrates, Spencer Bradford, Henry Astley
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
The four main movements found in snakes are understood mainly due to external study; however, muscular forces and resulting torques are poorly known. The main research objective is to study the torque production on different substrates using a snakebot. The study will give a rudimentary model for torque production on different substrates. It can then be compared against biological systems to understand snake movement at a muscular level. This study used a snakebot, allowing direct assessment of the current being run through each of its motors (proportional to torque). Data was then examined using a Principal Component Analysis test for …
Assessing Genetic Diversity And Population Structure In The Imperiled Aconitum Reclinatum (White Monkshood), An Endemic Wildflower Of Central Appalachia,
2025
Bucknell University
Assessing Genetic Diversity And Population Structure In The Imperiled Aconitum Reclinatum (White Monkshood), An Endemic Wildflower Of Central Appalachia, Diamanda A. Zizis
Master’s Theses
Aconitum reclinatum, white monkshood (Ranunculaceae), is a Pennsylvania critically imperiled plant species found in five states of the Appalachian region of the United States: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This plant is adapted to cool, moist environments but faces threats from increasing habitat loss, deer browse, logging, and changes in rainfall and temperature associated with climate change. Comprehensive knowledge of A. reclinatum genetic population structure remains limited. To address this, we collaborated with Natural Heritage programs within the range of A. reclinatum to sample populations across the species distribution and generate a genotyping-by-sequencing data set of …
Balancing Timber Harvest And Biodiversity: Impacts Of Selective Logging On Wildlife In The Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize,
2025
University of Montana
Balancing Timber Harvest And Biodiversity: Impacts Of Selective Logging On Wildlife In The Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize, Kilynn Groen
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Selective logging is often promoted as a sustainable forestry practice that maintains biodiversity and ecosystem function, yet its ecological consequences remain under examined, particularly in tropical forests. This study investigates how selective logging affects wildlife communities in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize. Using remote camera trap data from 22 sites (9 unlogged forest sites and 13 logged (stump) sites), we assessed species richness, trophic structure, and environmental predictors of wildlife abundance. While overall wildlife captures and species richness did not differ significantly between forest and stump habitats, principal component analysis revealed strong community-level separation, with stump habitats supporting distinct species …
Distribution And Ecology Of The Cedar Keys Mole Skink (Plestiodon Egregius Insularis),
2025
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Distribution And Ecology Of The Cedar Keys Mole Skink (Plestiodon Egregius Insularis), Kevin M. Enge, Louis A. Somma, Paul E. Moler, Travis M. Thomas, Matthew T. Fedler, John M. Matter, Dennis C. Haney
Papers in Herpetology
We conducted surveys for the Cedar Keys Mole Skink, Plestiodon egregius insularis (Mount), during 1989– 1999 and 2015–2024, examined museum vouchers, and compiled personal observations from others to determine the status and distribution of this subspecies, which has the smallest geographic distribution of the five subspecies and is being considered for federal listing. We observed Cedar Keys Mole Skinks on Airstrip Island, Atsena Otie, Cedar Point, Deer Island, North Key, Scale Key, Seahorse Key, Snake Key, and possibly Dog Island. We have anecdotal reports of Mole Skinks on Way Key, which contains the most potential habitat and is the main …
Helminth Parasites Of Galápagos Mammals: A New Cestode Of The Genus Raillietina From The Endemic Rice Rat Nesoryzomys Swarthi And A Summary Of Parasites From Both Endemic And Invasive Rodents,
2025
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Helminth Parasites Of Galápagos Mammals: A New Cestode Of The Genus Raillietina From The Endemic Rice Rat Nesoryzomys Swarthi And A Summary Of Parasites From Both Endemic And Invasive Rodents, Scott Lyell Gardner, Emma K. Chesley, Michael C. Friedle, Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan Dursahinhan
Scott L. Gardner Publications
In this first report of endoparasites from endemic land-mammals of the Galápagos Islands, we describe a new species of cestode of the genus Raillietina (Cyclophyllidea: Davaineidae) from a species of Nesoryzomys and summarize the extent of helminth parasitism in both oryzomyine endemics and introduced species of Rattus. Up to the current time, no helminth parasites have been reported from rodents of the Galápagos, and little work has yet been done describing and synthesizing Galápagos parasite diversity. In historical times, several species of autochthonous rodents have occupied the islands including: Nesoryzomys narboroughi Heller 1904, N. fernandinae Hutterer and Hirsch …
Identifying The Impacts Of Land Use/Land Cover Changes On Ecosystem Services From A Geospatial Perspective In Albany County,
2025
University at Albany, State University of New York
Identifying The Impacts Of Land Use/Land Cover Changes On Ecosystem Services From A Geospatial Perspective In Albany County, Kyaw Khaung Thant Zin
Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)
Ecosystem services encompass the broad array of direct and indirect advantages that people derive from nature and its ecosystems. Considering accelerating environmental change and degradation, recognizing the importance of these services is more crucial than ever, as they illustrate the many ways in which healthy ecosystems sustain human life. However, these services are diminishing at a rapid and unprecedented rate, raising global concern over both the transformations taking place and their root causes. Among the leading threats, land-use change stands out as a particularly significant one, influenced by a variety of driving factors. Albany County, New York, characterized by its …
Genome-Wide Snp Analyses Reveal High Gene Flow Of Endemic Smallscale Croaker (Boesemania Microlepsis) In The Lower Mekong Basin,
2025
Nha Trang University
Genome-Wide Snp Analyses Reveal High Gene Flow Of Endemic Smallscale Croaker (Boesemania Microlepsis) In The Lower Mekong Basin, Quyen Dang Ha Vu, Christopher E. Bird, Oanh Thi Truong, Sang Quang Tran, Ellen E. Biesack, Amanda S. Ackiss, Kent E. Carpenter, Binh Truy Dang
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
The Smallscale Croaker, Boesemania microlepis, is a valuable fishery resource in the Mekong River basin that lacks clear biological data to understand its basic ecology and conservation management priorities. This species is common in the southernmost floodplain of the Mekong which extends from Tonlé Sap in Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. This floodplain is of particular biodiversity conservation concern because of the many upstream dams that restrict water flow in an ecology that relies heavily on a flood-pulse cycle. The literature regarding the biology B. microlepis in this region contains conflicting ideas that populations are both highly …
Anthropocene Genetic Diversity Loss In The Marine Tropics,
2025
Drexel University
Anthropocene Genetic Diversity Loss In The Marine Tropics, René D. Clark, Brendan N. Reid, Eric Garcia, Marial Malabag, Robin S. Waples, Rene A. Abesamis, Jemelyn Grace P. Baldisimo, Abner A. Bucol, Kyra S. Fitz, Sharon F. Magnuson, Richard N. Muallil, Cleto L. Nanola Jr., Roy Roberts, John C. Whalen, Christopher E. Bird, Kent E. Carpenter, Malin L. Pinsky
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Genetic diversity is a crucial component of biodiversity, and as such, its maintenance and preservation is of high conservation concern. Tropical environments are undergoing intense rates of environmental change, and these changes may be driving large declines in genetic diversity. However, data on genetic diversity are highly skewed towards temperate regions. The degree to which diversity loss has occurred in tropical species, particularly marine species, remains an open and important question. Here, we directly compare genomic data from modern and museum collections of two commercially-harvested nearshore marine fishes (Equulites laterofenestra and Gazza minuta) gathered from a single location …
Preservation Of Genetic Diversity And Selection Over A Century In A Coral Reef Fish (Taeniamia Zosterophora) In The Philippines,
2025
Rutgers University
Preservation Of Genetic Diversity And Selection Over A Century In A Coral Reef Fish (Taeniamia Zosterophora) In The Philippines, Kyra S. Fitz, Rene A. Abesamis, Jemelyn Grace P. Baldisimo, Abner A. Bucol, René D. Clark, Eric Garcia, Ivan R. Lopez, Sharon F. Magnuson, Marial J. Malabag, Richard N. Muallil, Lynne R. Parenti, Brendan R. Reid, Mudjekeewis D. Santos, Christopher E. Bird, Kent E. Carpenter, Malin L. Pinsky
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Evaluating the evolutionary impacts of anthropogenic activity on populations is key to understanding species resiliency and to designing effective conservation strategies. Sequencing DNA from historical specimens provides the opportunity to establish a historical baseline and empirically assess changes in genetic diversity, changes in effective population size, and selection over time. Here, we sequenced historical and contemporary samples of the cardinalfish Taeniamia zosterophora collected in 1908 and in 2021-2022 across two sites with differing human impact in the Philippines. At both sites, genetic diversity increased over time, with contemporary samples having significantly higher Watterson's Θ than historical samples. This diversity increase …
Assessing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Composition And Diversity Across A Land-Use Gradient In Eastern Washington Prairies,
2025
Eastern Washington University
Assessing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community Composition And Diversity Across A Land-Use Gradient In Eastern Washington Prairies, Katherine I. Cole
EWU Masters Thesis Collection
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are key to healthy, functioning terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Associating with over 80% of all extant land plants, they play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling, and contribute to overall plant health. Given their significance to terrestrial ecosystems, AMF have a crucial role to play in the successful restoration of Eastern Washington’s native prairies. However, AMF community composition is significantly altered by the commercial agricultural practices used extensively in this region for over 100 years. The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Prairie Restoration Project aims to restore ~120 acres of farmland to native prairie. This research provides insight …
Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations,
2025
West Virginia University
Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations, Angie M. Martin
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Arthropods, or phylum Arthropoda, are the largest group of animals, accounting for over three quarters of all animal records on NCBI Taxonomy. And yet, only 40% of all deposited sequences on NCBI Nucleotide come from arthropods. Clearly, arthropods are an understudied group of animals: they are small, often drab, and lead lives very alien to our own. Arthropods have chitinous exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, and include crabs, barnacles, insects, spiders, and millipedes. Since the era of DNA based studies took off in the 1980s, DNA and other small molecules have been integral to our understanding of the Earth …
Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health,
2025
West Virginia University
Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health, Kinsey Reed Close
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The sustainability of agricultural landscapes depends on understanding the complex interactions between plants, soil, and microbes. In Appalachia, a region shaped by complex terrain and long histories of human and ecological interaction, small family farms produce hay, livestock, and row crops. These agroecosystems, though often treated as “artificial” by many ecologists, have the potential to support both food production and biodiversity conservation if managed with an understanding of ecological complexity. This dissertation examines how plant and microbial diversity interact with soil and management to influence nutrient cycling, soil health, and long-term resilience in Appalachian agricultural systems. A literature review revealed …
Women's Involvement In Fisheries Co-Management Of The World's Largest Desert Lake, Turkana, Kenya,
2024
Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Environment and Resource Development, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536-20115 Egerton, Kenya
Women's Involvement In Fisheries Co-Management Of The World's Largest Desert Lake, Turkana, Kenya, Maurice O. Ogoma, Judith C. Koskey
Journal of Bioresource Management
Despite their significant presence in the fisheries workforce, women's roles are often less recognized compared to men's. This study investigated the participation of women in beach management units (BMUs) and fisheries activities in Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert Lake. Data were collected from 200 women respondents across eight purposively sampled BMUs, focusing on gender representation, leadership roles, participation in fisheries activities, factors influencing participation, and strategies for promoting gender equity. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of women's involvement in fisheries activities. Findings indicated that while gender representation aligned with Kenya's constitutional one-third gender …
