Additional Geographic Records Of Dekay’S Brownsnake (Storeria Dekayi) In Nebraska, Including A Late Seasonal Observation And Likely Range Expansion,
2025
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Additional Geographic Records Of Dekay’S Brownsnake (Storeria Dekayi) In Nebraska, Including A Late Seasonal Observation And Likely Range Expansion, Lauren Bahe, Dan D. Fogell, Keith Geluso
Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies
Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) occurs across much of eastern North America, inhabiting diverse environments such as marshes, woodlands, woodland edges, and urban areas. In Nebraska, recent studies documented its presence beyond the extreme southeastern region of the state, indicating a potential range expansion to the west and north. Our study continues to update its distribution with four additional county records. Two counties, Franklin and Harlan, represent the farthest west observations for Dekay’s Brownsnake in the state, further indicating a likely westward expansion. An observation from 6 December 2023 also represents the latest seasonal observation in the state. Despite …
Social Networks And Behavioral Adaptation Of Serrano Horses In A Rewilding Initiative In Spain,
2025
CUNY Hunter College
Social Networks And Behavioral Adaptation Of Serrano Horses In A Rewilding Initiative In Spain, Ashley Bruno
Theses and Dissertations
Rewilding is a conservation measure that involves actively relocating species or restricting human land use to improve ecosystem sustainability. However, critics raise concerns that rewilding privileges ecosystem function over endangered species. Due to a lack of monitoring around species’ relocations, uncertainty lies in ecological outcomes and psychological, social, cultural impacts on affected animals. For this project, we collaborated with the non-profit Rewilding Europe that sought to conserve Serrano horses (Equus caballus), an ancient and under-studied breed of Spanish horse by relocating 11 individuals to a protected site in Guadalajara, Spain in June 2022. Our research aimed to address …
Impact Of Nature-Based Tourism On Bird Vocalization Rate In The Bajo Del Tigre Reserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Impact Of Nature-Based Tourism On Bird Vocalization Rate In The Bajo Del Tigre Reserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Abby K. Bressette, Adriana Arias Aguilar
Environmental Studies Publications
Nature-based tourism benefits economies, communities, and conservation initiatives, but it can also have unintended negative effects on wildlife. For birds, vocal communication is essential, yet it can be disrupted by anthropogenic noise. In this study, I used passive recording to examine how human visitation impacts the rate of bird vocalizations in the Bajo del Tigre Reserve in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Overall, bird vocalization rate was not affected by visitation (p > 0.05), but species-specific differences were found. Vocalizations of the lesser greenlet showed no significant change with visitation (p > 0.05). In contrast, the orange-billed nightingale-thrush exhibited a decrease in vocalization rates …
Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project,
2025
Regis University
Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Emily A. Patton
Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)
This is a masters Thesis for MS in Environmental Biology containing four chapters including a literature review, grant proposal, journal manuscript, and stakeholders report on a current environmental issue. (1) Noise Pollution and Avian Communication in Urban Ecosystems: When the Natural World Struggles to Hear Itself. Urban noise masks essential bird vocalizations, which harms avian fitness. Most species are displaced, and those few urban birds which counteract this noise with song adaptations likely experience trade-offs. America's noise policy remains undeveloped, threatening the health of both humans and avian wildlife (2) Application of Noise Barrier Technology for the Restoration of Urban …
Learning In Nonleafcutting Fungus-Gardening Ants,
2025
University of Texas at Tyler
Learning In Nonleafcutting Fungus-Gardening Ants, Elizabeth D. Boshers
Biology Theses
Social complexity influences learning and other cognitive behaviors, but for insects, this influence is not well understood. Delayed rejection is an aversive learning behavior previously studied exclusively in leafcutting ant species, the most socially complex of the fungus-gardening ants. Fungus-gardening ants are unique in that they do not directly consume the material they forage, using it instead as substrate to cultivate a symbiotic fungus on which the ants are obligately dependent. Here, I attempt to induce delayed rejection in several fungus-gardening ant species that exhibit a range of social complexity, then compare the characteristics of delayed rejection behavior among species. …
Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet,
2025
Bemidji State University
Evaluating The Condition Of Age-0 Burbot In Relation To Diet, Cian Verbridge
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Burbot are becoming more and more popular for angling and aquaculture. However, populations have been declining across the world. Very little information is available about their early life and their interactions in the ecosystem due to challenges in sampling. Condition estimates and diet metrics were used to better understand the status of burbot in Lake Bemidji. Using backpack electrofishing, 45 young of the year burbot were collected. The lengths ranged from 86 to 146 mm and the wet weights ranged from 4.29 to 24.36 g. The stomach contents were removed and stored in ethanol for later analysis. The burbot were …
Size Of Age-0 Sander Vitreus Pre And Post Dreissena Polymorpha Infestation On Brainerd And Bemidji Area Lakes,
2025
Bemidji State University
Size Of Age-0 Sander Vitreus Pre And Post Dreissena Polymorpha Infestation On Brainerd And Bemidji Area Lakes, Quady Bernu
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Walleye Sander vitreus is the Minnesota state fish and a vital predator fish in lake ecology. Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha were first found in Minnesota inland lakes in the 1980’s. These mussels have had huge impacts on water clarity as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton population levels which affect how age-0 fish feed, especially a low light feeding predator fish like walleye. A study took place on age-0 walleye size and it supported the conclusion that age-0 walleye were negatively impacted by zebra mussels in Minnesota’s large lakes. The goals of this study were to determine how the size of …
The Evolution Of The Stress Response In The Trinidadian Killifish: Ecological Drivers And Maternal Mediation,
2025
University of Texas at Arlington
The Evolution Of The Stress Response In The Trinidadian Killifish: Ecological Drivers And Maternal Mediation, Mikaela E. Feder
Biology Dissertations - Archive
Ecological variables can induce the stress response in organisms. Yet, few studies have tested for evolutionary shifts in stress responses across ecological gradients. In these studies, we used Trinidadian killifish found in sites with predators (high predation, HP) and sites where they are the only fish present (killifish only, KO). HP and KO populations differ in a suite of behavioral and life-history traits, making the Trinidadian killifish an excellent model to examine evolutionary physiology. My dissertation addresses the knowledge gap by examining: (1) how baseline cortisol differs in wild-caught Trinidadian killifish found in HP and KO sites, (2) the influence …
Use Of Public Information For Prospecting And Nest Site Selection By Western Bluebirds (Sialia Mexicana),
2025
Cal Poly Humboldt
Use Of Public Information For Prospecting And Nest Site Selection By Western Bluebirds (Sialia Mexicana), Fatime Wadad Jomaa
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Public information that provides an estimate of reproductive success, in addition to information gained through direct environmental sampling, may provide an efficient way for individuals to assess future breeding site quality. I investigated the hypothesis that prospecting Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) use post-breeding public information to select nest sites the following year across winegrape vineyards in Napa Valley. In late summer of 2023, I installed 200 nest boxes across 10 vineyards without prior box history. To simulate conspecific presence and successful breeding, boxes within 5 experimental vineyards were designated either full-treatment (boxes directly broadcasting adult song and nestling …
Activity, Movement, And Reproductive Patterns Of The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus Triporcatus) In Belize,
2025
Missouri State University
Activity, Movement, And Reproductive Patterns Of The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus Triporcatus) In Belize, Larissa Sage Saarel
Graduate Theses/Dissertations
The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus), a near-threatened species native to southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and western Honduras, faces multiple environmental challenges, yet its activity patterns, movement patterns, and reproductive biology remain poorly understood. This thesis investigates both seasonal activity and reproductive cycles of female S. triporcatus in Belize. To assess diel and seasonal activity, I tracked 12 female turtles and collected data using activity loggers. I also collected movement data through radio-telemetry and acoustic tracking methods. Results indicated that the species is primarily nocturnal, with increased activity during the wet season, particularly during flooding events. Turtles …
If You Give A Tadpole A Chemosensory Stimulus: Detection Of Invasive Predatory Cues And Signs Of Conspecific Communication In Pseudacris Sierra Tadpoles,
2025
Claremont University Consortium
If You Give A Tadpole A Chemosensory Stimulus: Detection Of Invasive Predatory Cues And Signs Of Conspecific Communication In Pseudacris Sierra Tadpoles, Faben Tesfazion
Scripps Senior Theses
Amphibians are at disproportionately higher risks of extinction than all other vertebrate classes, and a major causing factor is invasive predation. The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), native to Eastern North America, is a notorious invasive species which preys on native Sierran treefrogs (Pseudacris sierra) in Northern and Central California. These treefrogs have yet to be placed on any Special Animals List, suggesting the presence of adopted behaviors against predation. Past studies have documented the importance of chemical sensing in anuran tadpoles as predator detection tools. This study tests if Sierran treefrog tadpoles can recognize invasive chemical …
‘Who’S Your Daddy?’: Ddradseq Parentage In Broodstock-Offspring Pairs Of Diadema Antillarum In A Population Restoration Initiative,
2025
University of Central Florida
‘Who’S Your Daddy?’: Ddradseq Parentage In Broodstock-Offspring Pairs Of Diadema Antillarum In A Population Restoration Initiative, Bianca R. Rosendahl
Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works
In the early 1980s Diadema antillarum, or the long-spined urchin, was hit by a catastrophic mass mortality event across the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, inclusive of the Florida Keys. The cause of this die-off event was likely triggered by a pathogen or environmental stressor that decimated native populations by up to 98%. The species has not yet fully recovered and is struggling with recruitment success which is why it may benefit from an ex-situ recovery program. In this study, I used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify genetic variation and analyze parentage in a captive population of …
Behavioral Observations And Analysis Of Twix: The Cape Porcupine At The Lake Superior Zoo,
2025
Claremont Colleges
Behavioral Observations And Analysis Of Twix: The Cape Porcupine At The Lake Superior Zoo, Erin Davidson
Scripps Senior Theses
The three main goals of zoos are outlined as: education, conservation, and research. In our modern world, the focus of zoos has shifted away from simply housing animals, and towards how we can best promote proper animal welfare for individuals in human care. Animal welfare can be defined as the “mental health” of non-human species of fauna, and is greatly influenced by the stressors within the environment, as well as the option of choosing how to interact with and respond to the environment. Animals housed in zoos are presented with unique stressors that they often do not choose to experience, …
Assessing The Effects Of Wildfire Season Pm2.5 Exposure And Environmental Variables On Breeding Season Avian Body Condition,
2025
Scripps College
Assessing The Effects Of Wildfire Season Pm2.5 Exposure And Environmental Variables On Breeding Season Avian Body Condition, Cira Seyer-Ochi
Scripps Senior Theses
The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires pose growing threats to wildlife, yet the indirect effects of wildfire smoke on avian populations remain largely unstudied. This exploratory study provides an initial assessment of how particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) associated with smoke pollution from the 2017 California wildfire season, in conjunction with precipitation and habitat type, influences the body condition of four resident bird species during the 2018 breeding season. Using bird banding data from 29 Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) stations, I assessed the potential interactions between PM2.5 concentrations, precipitation, and habitat type with body condition for Song Sparrows …
Severe Aggression Among Zoo-Housed Coconut (Trichoglossus Haematodus) And Rainbow (Trichoglossus Moluccanus) Lorikeets: Wellbeing Considerations For Free-Flight Aviaries,
2025
University of North Florida
Severe Aggression Among Zoo-Housed Coconut (Trichoglossus Haematodus) And Rainbow (Trichoglossus Moluccanus) Lorikeets: Wellbeing Considerations For Free-Flight Aviaries, Emily Simkins
UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations
As conservation and education institutions, modern zoos balance the needs of animals with the interests of visitors through several strategies which can increase animal wellbeing and improve visitor experience. Environmental enrichment is frequently employed to increase the suitability of anthropogenic environments for zoo-housed animals, such as through walkthrough habitats and free-flight aviaries. While habitats such as these are important for visitor experience and can be enriching to animals, there are also wellbeing considerations for these spaces. Walkthrough habitats can be a potential source of fear and stress for animals, as shown by increased frequencies of vigilance, undesirable behavior, and aggression. …
Long-Term Abundance Estimates Of A Northeast Florida Estuarine Dolphin Community: Evaluating The Impacts Of The 2013–2015 Cetacean Morbillivirus Unusual Mortality Event,
2025
University of North Florida
Long-Term Abundance Estimates Of A Northeast Florida Estuarine Dolphin Community: Evaluating The Impacts Of The 2013–2015 Cetacean Morbillivirus Unusual Mortality Event, Allison L. Wilkins
UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops erebennus) in the St. Johns River (SJR), Jacksonville, FL, are subjected to substantial anthropogenic stressors (e.g., vessel traffic, dredging, fisheries interactions) and were heavily impacted by the 2013-2015 Mid-Atlantic cetacean morbillivirus unusual mortality event (UME). High prevalence of skin lesions and frequent sightings of emaciated dolphins suggest declining health and viability of the SJR dolphin community. Sighting data from Jul. 2011 to Oct. 2019 provided the rare opportunity to investigate long-term changes in dolphin abundance surrounding the UME. This study produced the first dolphin abundance estimate within the Jacksonville Estuarine System stock since 1997, …
All Wrapped Up: How Choice Of Egg Wrapping Substrate During Oviposition Site Selection Affects Predation And Embryonic Growth In Eastern Newts,
2025
Bucknell University
All Wrapped Up: How Choice Of Egg Wrapping Substrate During Oviposition Site Selection Affects Predation And Embryonic Growth In Eastern Newts, Anna Prohofsky
Master’s Theses
Parental care behaviors have a significant impact on the survivorship of offspring and therefore the inclusive fitness of the parent. These behaviors are broad and varied and include defending against predators, acquiring food, and choosing where to lay their eggs. The latter, oviposition site selection, has significant impact on embryo survivorship in oviparous animals, as the chosen sight can impact factors such as incubation temperature, predation risk, and resource availability. For amphibians, oviposition site selection is particularly crucial as their eggs lack a calcareous shell, leaving them more susceptible to environmental conditions and predation. In response to this, amphibians have …
If You Build It: Using Ground Squirrel Risk Perception To Test Wildlife Crossing Structure Success,
2025
Central Washington University
If You Build It: Using Ground Squirrel Risk Perception To Test Wildlife Crossing Structure Success, Sarah Sanz
All Master's Theses
Roads and traffic present many risks for wildlife, and animals must be able to accurately assess risks in their environment. Animals can often perceive the level of risk they face, and their behavioral responses can alter their fitness and potentially even whole-population dynamics. However, animals may be unable to properly measure the levels of risk near roadways because roads present novel environmental conditions and alter predators’ behavior. To mitigate some of the ecological problems created by roadways, wildlife crossing structures (WCSs) are being incorporated into transportation projects. To understand whether WCSs provide quality habitat for wildlife, we compared the levels …
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 …
