The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success,
2026
Hollins University
The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success, Anna R. Starman
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Foraging efficiency may be enhanced by flashing patches of white wing and tail feathers and has been documented in several avian species. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos, NOMO) exhibit this “wing-flashing” (WF) behavior while foraging, during displays, and in response to predators. In NOMOs, WF has been hypothesized to increase foraging success, but previous findings are inconclusive. To further investigate the biological role(s) of WF behavior in NOMOs, the ventral surface of white primary feathers of male NOMOs were artificially darkened, and the foraging and provisioning rates of undarkened (control) males and their mates were compared. While foraging, undarkened …
Fisheries Research Report No. 359: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2025,
2026
Edith Cowan University
Fisheries Research Report No. 359: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2025, Alissa Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Troy Matthews
Fisheries Research Reports
Ongoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Perth Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boatbased recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. This information is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as for Australian …
Buzzes Over Burrows: Bats And Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Western Kansas,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Buzzes Over Burrows: Bats And Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs In Western Kansas, Patrick L. Geyer
Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice
The native grasslands of the Great Plains and the organisms that inhabit them are threatened by the anthropogenic disturbance of land-use change; prairie dogs (Genus Cynomys) are one such example. These mammals are considered ecosystem engineers due to their behaviors that physically modify the areas they inhabit, directly affecting the resources available to surrounding organisms. Much research exists on established or potential relationships between black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and other taxa; until recently, one taxon group absent from mentions of an association with black-tailed prairie dogs was bats (Order Chiroptera). Results of acoustic studies in eastern …
Floodwater Salinity And Flood Duration Regulate Greenhouse Gas Production In High- Latitude Coastal Wetland And Tundra Soils,
2026
South Dakota State University
Floodwater Salinity And Flood Duration Regulate Greenhouse Gas Production In High- Latitude Coastal Wetland And Tundra Soils, Mia J. Dicianna
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Coastal high-latitude ecosystems are increasingly flooded from storm surges associated with climate change, exposing soils that were historically infrequently inundated to higher-salinity waters for longer durations. Sub-Arctic wetlands and tundra store large amounts of carbon, yet how flooding characteristics, particularly flood duration, influence microbial mineralization and, consequently, greenhouse gas (GHG) production in these soils remains poorly understood. We conducted a full-factorial microcosm incubation experiment in which coastal wetland and tundra soils were subjected to simulated flooding with three durations (1, 3, and 10 days) and four salinity treatments (unflooded, freshwater, 3 ppt, and 12 ppt) and measured carbon dioxide (CO2) …
Oyster Drill (Stramonita Haemastoma Complex) Habitat Preferences In A Shallow Coastal Estuary,
2026
University of South Florida
Oyster Drill (Stramonita Haemastoma Complex) Habitat Preferences In A Shallow Coastal Estuary, Coen Mcgarrah, Cynthia Lupton, Eric Sparks, Jennifer L. Debose
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Southern oyster drill snails (Stramonita haemastoma complex) are nuisance organisms within the Gulf of Mexico. This is due to their damaging impact on recovering and farmed oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations, which are one of the drills’ main food sources. Oyster reef recovery and increased aquaculture production are priorities for Mississippi and the wider northern Gulf coast. The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) hosts multiple oyster reef restoration sites within its boundaries, yet no comprehensive survey of oyster drill abundance has been conducted in this area to date. Additionally, knowledge of oyster drill preferences for sediment …
Does Fishery Management For Groupers (Teleostei: Epinephelidae) Protect Them Effectively? Context From The Iucn's Red List Of Threatened Species,
2026
Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
Does Fishery Management For Groupers (Teleostei: Epinephelidae) Protect Them Effectively? Context From The Iucn's Red List Of Threatened Species, Sean T. Fennessy, Christi Linardich, Kevin Rhodes, Joao P. Barreiros, David Pollard, Eloy Sosa-Cordero, Felicia Coleman, Alfonso Aguilar-Perera, Christopher R. Malinowski, Thierry Brulé, Pedro Afonso, Kayan Ma, Min Liu, Muktha Menon, Colin Wen, Stanley K. H. Shea, Sean N. Porter, Matthew Craig, Yvonne Sadovy De Mitcheson
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Worldwide, groupers (Epinephelidae) are commercially valued fishes, which also play key ecological roles on tropical and subtropical reefs. In 2007 and 2016, the IUCN's Groupers and Wrasses Specialist Group assessed all 160+ grouper species, with 17 of these being identified as threatened in 2016 and the major threat factor being overexploitation. Our present study aimed to identify whether management measures (MMs) for previously assessed groupers were established, whether these measures aligned with IUCN's Red List categories, and whether they effectively protect grouper populations. Experts in grouper biology and management assigned scores per grouper species based on the extent to which …
Larval Genomics As A Viable, Fisheries-Independent Tool For Investigating Population Structure In Tropical Pacific Tunas,
2026
Boston University
Larval Genomics As A Viable, Fisheries-Independent Tool For Investigating Population Structure In Tropical Pacific Tunas, Jacob E. Jaskiel, Hannah E. Aichelman, Giulia Anderson, Louw Claassens, James E. Fifer, Christina M. Hernandez, Alexa K. Huzar, Joel K. Llopiz, Jan W. Witting, Sean P. Mullen, Randi D. Rotjan
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Understanding how dispersal, life history, and environmental variability shape genetic connectivity in the open ocean remains a central challenge in evolutionary biology. Highly migratory marine predators like tunas have traditionally been considered genetically homogeneous across ocean basins, yet emerging genomic evidence suggests that cryptic population structure can persist even in species with high gene flow and large effective population sizes. We used 2bRAD sequencing of 348 larval and subadult skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), and bigeye tuna (T. obesus) collected from the central Pacific across 7 years of sampling to examine species boundaries, …
A Re-Evaluation Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) Spawning Distribution In The Western Atlantic Ocean,
2026
National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A Re-Evaluation Of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Thynnus) Spawning Distribution In The Western Atlantic Ocean, David E. Richardson, Katrin E. Marancik, Malgorzata Adamus, Elizabeth A. Broughton, Robert K. Cowen, Trika Gerard, Christina M. Hernández, John J. Hoey, Joel K. Llopiz, Molly E. Lutcavage, Estrella Malca, Debra L. Palka, Lourdes Vásquez-Yeomans, Harvey J. Walsh, C. Michelle Willis, Glenn A. Zapfe
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
There is currently a lack of consensus on the spatial, seasonal and decadal-scale patterns of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) spawning in the western Atlantic Ocean. We compiled ichthyoplankton and reproductive data to characterize bluefin spawning patterns and the uncertainty in these patterns. Ichthyoplankton data indicates that bluefin spawn in the Gulf of America/Gulf of Mexico, northwest Caribbean Sea, north of the Bahamas, along the inshore edge of the Florida Current off the Carolinas and in the western Slope Sea. Reproductive studies identified these same spawning areas, as well as the Windward Passage and waters east of the …
False-Positive Detections In Avian Auditory Surveys: Effects Of Song Number And Directionality In A Calibration-Based Immersive Sound Environment,
2026
University of Montana
False-Positive Detections In Avian Auditory Surveys: Effects Of Song Number And Directionality In A Calibration-Based Immersive Sound Environment, Katia Elena Chavez
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Detection-based surveys are widely conducted to monitor wildlife populations and provide data for estimating density and abundance. Avian count surveys are especially common because birds respond quickly to habitat degradation and restoration, making them effective indicator species. However, these detection-based surveys rely heavily on human observers and are prone to errors. If left unaddressed, these errors can bias estimates of species occurrence, and abundance, leading to misleading ecological inferences and management decisions. False-positive errors have received limited attention, in part because they are difficult to identify without independent confirmation of true species. To investigate false-positive rates in a controlled setting, …
Long-Term Banding And Encounter Patterns Of Cinnamon Teal Banded In Utah (1960-2025),
2026
University of Montana
Long-Term Banding And Encounter Patterns Of Cinnamon Teal Banded In Utah (1960-2025), Gracie A. Henrie
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Utah is a valuable breeding and nesting ground for a number of waterfowl species, largely because of the Great Salt Lake, which supports over 400,000 acres of wetland habitat (Ducks Unlimited, n.d.). The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages 24 wildlife management areas (WMAs) with the purpose of creating high quality waterfowl habitat in these wetlands that can be enjoyed by hunters, recreators, and birds alike (Wildlife/Waterfowl Management Areas (WMAs), 2025). Effective management is supported with an understanding of the movement and demographic patterns of the waterfowl species the WMAs are designed to support. Bird banding is one tool managers …
Herbivore Cues And Plant Damage-Associated-Compounds Jointly Alter Seed Germination And Seedling Herbivory,
2026
University of Rhode Island
Herbivore Cues And Plant Damage-Associated-Compounds Jointly Alter Seed Germination And Seedling Herbivory, Katherine Overstrum
Open Access Master's Theses
While plant defense against herbivory is primarily thought to occur following attack, there is also evidence that plants can detect and respond to pre-attack cues. These cues include chemicals released from damaged conspecifics and kairomones, non-attack-related substances emitted by an herbivore that plants can detect and use to their benefit. It is unknown, however, whether or how plants react to the interaction of these pre-attack cues. We measured germination, growth, and herbivore susceptibility of B. nigra seedlings in an experiment that crossed the presence/absence of crushed B. nigra leaves with the presence/absence of mucus of a generalist herbivore, A. subfuscus …
Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization,
2026
University of Kentucky
Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization, Lauren C. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science
The evolution of modern horses has a well-documented fossil record and has long been of interest to the genetics community. Although non-caballine equids (e.g. zebras, donkeys, and asses) can hybridize with horses, the resulting offspring are typically infertile. Despite these reproductive barriers, genomic analyses reveal regions of high sequence similarity among equid species. This dissertation investigates the role of historical introgression in the evolution of modern Equus species. The first chapter re-evaluates earlier findings derived from a limited horse population and a single reference genome. The variants of the identified regions were pushed through Ensembl’s Variant Effect Predictor to assess …
Using Camera-Based Unmarked Spatial Capture-Recapture Modeling To Estimate Reintroduced Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Population Parameters And Distribution In Southeastern Kentucky,
2026
University of Kentucky
Using Camera-Based Unmarked Spatial Capture-Recapture Modeling To Estimate Reintroduced Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Population Parameters And Distribution In Southeastern Kentucky, Claire Marie Muia
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Estimation of population parameters is important for wildlife management decisions. Elk reintroduced to southeastern Kentucky experienced early irruptive population growth and are currently monitored using a statewide harvest-based statistical population reconstruction model (SPR) across the Kentucky Elk Restoration Zone (KERZ). Because the SPR model is spatially coarse and difficult to scale to the smaller management units comprising the KERZ, we conducted a spatially explicit capture-recapture study using a clustered camera-trapping array deployed for 10 weeks from June–August 2024 to estimate elk population parameters within Management Unit 4. Due to a lack of resights of GPS-marked elk, population parameters were estimated …
Systematics Of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera),
2026
Arcadia University
Systematics Of Disk-Winged Bats (Thyroptera), Courtney L. Klumpp
Capstone Showcase
This thesis investigates the evolutionary relationships among disk-winged bats in the genus Thyroptera, a small group of Neotropical bats known for the adhesive suction disks on their wings and feet that allow them to roost inside tightly rolled leaves. The distinctive morphology and behavior of these bats have not been extensively documented, and their phylogenetic relationships remain only partially resolved. The goal of this research is to better understand how these species are related to one another and to determine whether the five recognized species of Thyroptera form a single monophyletic group. To address this question, morphological and genetic …
Indirect Effects Of Coral Bleaching On Tursiops Truncatus Diet And Foraging Behavior In Bocas Del Toro, Panama,
2026
Claremont Colleges
Indirect Effects Of Coral Bleaching On Tursiops Truncatus Diet And Foraging Behavior In Bocas Del Toro, Panama, Annabel Fiero
Scripps Senior Theses
Indirect effects, where another species or factor mediates the effects of a given species, are critical to ecosystem structure and resilience. Shifts in fish community structure, as a result of rapidly declining coral reefs in the Caribbean due to warming-induced bleaching, pose a threat to apex predators like Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphins). Branching corals create habitat niches for numerous fish species. These fish rely on coral for food and habitat, and in turn provide food for upper trophic levels. Prior research has highlighted how coral bleaching will disrupt Acroporid reef building corals and fish community structure, but the effects of …
How Semiflightless Birds Adapt: A Survey From Barú, Costa Rica,
2026
Scripps College
How Semiflightless Birds Adapt: A Survey From Barú, Costa Rica, Eli P. Laloudakis
Scripps Senior Theses
When we think of birds, we think of flight. Because of this, scientific research often focuses on how birds evolved flight and how their wings function during flight. However, not all birds can fly or fly well, as wings wax and wane on developmental, seasonal, and evolutionary time scales (Dial and Heers 2021). Consequently, rudimentary wings can be found in developing birds, secondarily flightless or semiflightless birds, birds that undergo simultaneous molts, and extinct theropods with “protowings” (structures that preceded fully functional wings). Secondarily flightless and semiflightless birds often evolve where there is no/low predation, abundant year-round food supply, and …
Overview And Methods Of Molecular Paleontology: A Review,
2026
The University of Akron
Overview And Methods Of Molecular Paleontology: A Review, Shelby Touchstone
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Molecular paleontology—the study of ancient biomolecules preserved in fossils and sediments, including ancient DNA, lipids, and proteins—has motivated researchers since the 1950s, inspiring both scientific inquiry and broader cultural imagination. Think Jurassic Park. This honors thesis presents a comprehensive review of the history, current state, and methods of the field of molecular paleontology. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and scholarly resources accessed through databases such as EBSCO and Bierce library, this review examines key techniques such as Next Generation Sequencing and amino acid racemization and will go over limitations and controversies in the field. It will also explore potential new …
Toadally Not A Frog: A Neuromuscular Physiology Study,
2026
The University of Akron
Toadally Not A Frog: A Neuromuscular Physiology Study, Iris Renna
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Upper-level physiology labs in undergraduate education use freshly isolated bullfrog and/or leopard frog tissue to teach core concepts in nerve and muscle physiology. Sourcing live animals for routine educational use raises ethical and conservation concerns. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are an invasive species that are routinely culled, can provide a potential source of laboratory animals which would remove pressure to native amphibian populations. This study tested the hypothesis that cane toads can serve as a functional substitute for bullfrogs and/or leopard frogs in the muscle and nerve physiology lab. Isolated sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle preparations from cane …
Impacts Of Offshore Wind Energy Development On The Commercial Sea Scallop Fishery,
2026
Rutgers the State University of New Jersey
Impacts Of Offshore Wind Energy Development On The Commercial Sea Scallop Fishery, Sarah Borsetti, Daphne M. Munroe, John M. Klinck, Andrew M. Scheld, Eileen E. Hofmann, Eric N. Powell, David B. Rudders
CCPO Publications
The Atlantic sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery on the Northeast U.S. continental shelf generates approximately USD 500 million ex-vessel revenues annually, making it one of the most valuable single species fisheries in the United States. Wind energy development is planned for key areas on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic shelf where the Atlantic sea scallop fishery operates, creating novel challenges in managing trade-offs between traditional users like fisheries and new users like offshore wind energy. An agent-based modeling framework that integrates spatial dynamics in Atlantic sea scallop stock biology, fishing fleet behavior, and federal management decisions, was implemented to investigate …
The Shoreline Protection Potential Of Oyster Reefs: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis,
2026
William & Mary
The Shoreline Protection Potential Of Oyster Reefs: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jessica R. Fergel, Robert E. Isdell, Gabriella Dipetto, Karinna Nunnez, Sean T. Gregory, Evan Hill, Donna Marie Bilkovic
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
Nature-based solutions for erosion control that incorporate oyster reefs, alone or in combination with other habitats, are an increasingly popular approach due to their potential to protect shorelines and enhance oyster production. However, the extent to which natural or constructed oyster reefs provide shoreline protection remains unclear. We conducted a global systematic literature review and meta-analysis to summarize and evaluate the potential of oyster reefs in attenuating waves, promoting sediment accretion, and/or reducing shoreline erosion. Factors extracted from studies included shoreline protective measures examined, oyster reef structure type, and oyster reef tidal location. The results of the meta-analysis showed generally …
