Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

Dilution-To-Extinction Reveals Shifts In Carbon Substrate Utilization And Functional Capacity Following Soil Microbial Diversity Loss, Thi Doan '27, Uyen Le '27, Crimson Hickman, Philips Akinwole

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Soil microbial communities play critical roles in ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition, yet it remains unclear how losses in microbial diversity influence these functions independent of total biomass. In this study, we examined how reductions in microbial diversity affect soil metabolic activity while controlling for microbial abundance. We used a dilution-to-extinction approach by inoculating sterilized soil with 10-fold serial dilutions of a soil slurry (10⁰ to 10⁻⁶), followed by a 21-day incubation to allow microbial regrowth. Biomass (measured as phospholipid phosphate), and metabolic activity (measured with BIOLOG EcoPlates) were used to quantify microbial biomass and …

Gall Presence And Herbivory In Goldenrod: Examining Variation In Leaf Damage And Herbivore Communities, Sahit Liyanage '28, Rose Keith

Annual Student Research Poster Session

We examined whether gall presence was associated with herbivory in 28 goldenrod plants at Ullem during summer 2026. We compared 14 galled and 14 ungalled plants for percent leaf damage, herbivore richness, and overall herbivore community composition. Galled plants showed slightly higher leaf damage and herbivore richness, but none of these differences were statistically significant. These results suggest that gall presence alone did not strongly explain variation in herbivory among the plants sampled.

Phenotypic Variation Between Surface And Cave-Adapted Poeciliids And Its Effect On Metabolism, Karch Knipp, Michael Tobler, Soren Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Cave-adapted organisms often exhibit pronounced morphological changes relative to their surface counterparts, a phenomenon known as troglomorphy. In Poecilia mexicana (Atlantic molly), these differences include variation in coloration between surface and cave populations. Troglobitic organisms also typically exhibit reduced metabolic rates, likely as an adaptation to environments with low primary productivity. This makes P. mexicana an ideal system for investigating the evolution of metabolic traits. In this study, we leveraged variation in coloration among cave-dwelling mollies to examine potential associations with resting metabolic rate (RMR). Coloration was quantified using PCR values, and individuals were categorized as “yellow” or “non-yellow.” We …

Relationship Between Morphological And Behavioral Laterality In Astyanax Mexicanus, Allison Lendman, Michael Tobler, Erik Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Populations within the Astyanax genus have experienced extreme differences in environment, leading to distinct morphological adaptations. The cave populations of these fish are eyeless and have acquired fixed, cranial asymmetries. We explored a possible relationship between this physical asymmetry and behavioral laterality. We tested 28 adult fish, 14 male and 14 female, from the Pachón cave in controlled behavioral trials. We found that both sexes demonstrated behavioral laterality, observed as a consistent left-turn bias in these trials. This supports the hypothesis that these populations display behavioral laterality that is correlated to their physical asymmetries. Ongoing research comparing behavioral patterns in …

Under The Surface: Human Disturbance Reduces Species Richness In Glade Microhabitats, Maddie Smith, Becky Hansis-O'Neill, Aimee Dunlap Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Human disturbance can alter microhabitats in ways that affect biodiversity, especially in sensitive ecosystems like glades where many animals rely on rocks for thermoregulation and refuge. This study examined how rock displacement by human activity influences species richness and community composition in glade habitats at Shaw Nature Reserve and Victoria Glades Conservation Area. We hypothesized that disturbed rocks would be less suitable for wildlife and would support fewer species. From September to November 2025, about 30 rocks per site were pseudo-randomly selected and monitored. Each rock was classified as displaced or nondisplaced, and all organisms found beneath them were recorded. …

Wasps Survive Tornadoes, But It Impacts Nest Growth, Natalie Cummins, Sara E. Miller

Undergraduate Research Symposium

As the climate becomes more variable, extreme weather events become more common. Last May, St. Louis was hit by an EF-3 tornado. Many areas of the city suffered 90-150 mph winds and severe property damage. We knew there were established paper wasp populations in the affected areas, and so we took this opportunity to monitor emerging nests throughout the summer and fall in both tornado-affected and non-affected areas to observe any possible effect on their nest growth rate and overall size. There is currently very little literature investigating the response of insects to natural disturbances, like tornadoes. Additionally, most studies …

Bifurcation Dynamics Of A Harvested Predator-Prey Model, Hala H. Emam, Mohamed F. Abouelenein, Mona Anis, M. Y. Hamada, F. A. Atia, H. El-Metwally

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

In ecosystems, the harvesting effect is essential to preserving the relationships between prey and predator. This work examines a model of predator-prey in discrete time with harvesting. The Jacobian matrix's eigenvalues are calculated for the associated fixed points. We examine the dynamical and qualitative analysis of this model, look into the criteria for stability and bifurcation, and analyze analytical results that show the rich dynamics and complexity of this model. We give sufficient circumstances for the Period-doubling at the interior equilibrium point by employing the harvesting effect. The discrete system's chaos control is carried out, and the outcomes are supported …

Distribution And Diversity Of Ponyfishes (Perciformes, Leiognathidae) In The Waters Of Sonmiani’S Bay, Balochistan, Pakistan, Noor Hawa, Noor Us Saher

Journal of Bioresource Management

The current research was conducted during October 2020 to September 2021 in bay waters of Sonmiani, Balochistan as aimed to fill the paucity of diversity and distribution of research for the bay waters. Monthly fish samples were collected using gill net and beach seine during high and low tide. In the present study, out of nine species, the six species were identified as a new report species belongs to Leiognathidae family. Secutor interruptus (N=132) was the most abundant species whereas the least abundant species collected during the study period was Karalla daura (N=1). Highest diversity (1.37) was estimated during the …

Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Urban Green Spaces In Guinea Savanna Area Of Nigeria, Alexander Terdoo Akighirga, Babatunde Saheed Bada, Abiodun Olusegun Oladoye, Benard Bunde Meer, Dau Henry Japheth

Journal of Bioresource Management

Rapid urbanization and associated emissions have increased the need to quantify the carbon-storage role of urban green spaces. This study assessed the carbon sequestration potential of roadside tree corridors in Makurdi, within Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna Zone. In this study, sequestration potential denotes standing above-ground carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock rather than an annual rate. Six 2 km road segments were purposively selected, and all live trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm within a 2 m-wide band on both sides were inventoried, covering 4.8 ha. Stem diameters at the base, middle and upper sections and total height were …

Nontarget Analysis Of The Volatile And Semivolatile Chemical Profile Of Wildland Firefighter Gear: Insight Into Occupational Exposure And Health Implications, Patrica Ivy Agorsor, Husam Kafeenah, Margaret D. Taiwo, Robin M. Verble, Michael O. Eze

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Prescribed fire releases a complex mixture of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds to the environment. Firefighters are directly exposed to these hazardous mixtures through occupational activities. This study investigated the volatile and semivolatile chemical contamination profile of firefighter protective gear and the effectiveness of laundering as a decontamination strategy. Our results revealed that firefighter gear accumulated a broad spectrum of combustion-derived contaminants, predominantly composed of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and derivatives, phenolic compounds, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Representative compounds identified included toluene, biphenyl, naphthalene, 1-methynaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, phenol, alkylated phenols, and chlorinated phenols. Quantitative analysis revealed representative combustion-derived compounds at concentrations (mean …

Impact Of Disturbances On Butterfly Communities At The Forest Edge Of Bukit Mas Village, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Nurhayati Nurhayati, Mufti Petala Patria, Nurul Winarni, Fairuz Husna

Makara Journal of Science

Biotic homogenization can negatively impact ecosystem function and stability, reducing species diversity and interac-tions. Although deforestation has declined in Gunung Leuser National Park since 2011, associated pressures still operate at various places within the park, possibly leading to biotic homogenization. This study looked into the differences in butterfly diversity under three habitat types to understand their responses to various levels of disturbance, including en-vironmental factors. This research was carried out in September 2023 at the forest edge of the Bukit Mas Village, North Sumatra. We used the Point Count method; observations were made twice in the morning (08.00–12.00 h) and …

Toxic Plants In Zimbabwe: The Lantana Camara Species, Frank Kapungu, Cecilia Masvingwe

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Lantana camara is a major invasive plant species in Zimbabwe. Its toxic effects pose a threat to livestock production, biodiversity, and development. A survey was carried out throughout the country to investigate the distribution of L. camara in Zimbabwe and assess the extent of its spread. Identification was done by toxicologists with the support of an experienced botanist from the National Herbarium of Zimbabwe. The location of the plants was identified using a portable Garmin eTrex® 10 Handheld GPS navigation device., and the coordinates were recorded. Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) was used to plot the map. L. camara was …

Implementation Of The Trojan Sex Chromosome Approach In The San Juan River: Investigation And Validation Of Feminization Methods For Channel Catfish, Chad Teal

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Scorpio Basraensis Sp. N. From Southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Jafar A. Makki, Shurooq A. Najim

Euscorpius

A new scorpion species, Scorpio basraensis sp. n., is described and illustrated from Basra Province, southern Iraq. Scorpio basraensis sp. n. is compared with all known species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 occurring in countries surrounding Iraq. The new species can be distinguished by the circular genital operculum in males and the cordiform genital operculum in females (not posteriorly elongated), a densely hirsute body, appendages and metasoma, a distinctly elongated telson vesicle, discrete granules on the external surface of the chela manus that are not flattened, and pectinal tooth counts of 11–13 in males and 9–11 in females. …

Differential Equation Modeling For Sustainable Resource Management: A Steady-State Optimal Harvesting Approach, Iordanka N. Panayotova, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

Mathematical models based on differential equations provide a powerful framework for connecting real-world data to informed decision-making. In this work, we present a student-accessible project that uses an optimal-control framework to study the sustainable management of biological resources.

Motivated by fisheries management, we examine a predator--prey system in which harvesting decisions must balance ecological and economic considerations. The model is formulated as an optimal control problem that seeks to maximize the total discounted net revenue from harvesting. Rather than solving for the complete time-dependent harvesting trajectory, we restrict the analysis to positive controlled coexistence equilibria and characterize an interior stationary …

Exploring Evolution As A Unifying Theme In The General Biology For Majors Course Sequence, While Iteratively Examining Attitudes And Decisions About Learning: An Application Of Lonergan’S Transcendental Method, Christine E. Gray

San Jose - Lonergan Chair in Catholic Philosophy

As I reflect upon my journey as an educator, I recognize it has been shaped, in large part, by my own foundational roots in the Catholic Liberal Arts tradition. As I prepare for another academic year, I find myself, once again, considering how my pedagogical practice can better meet my students “where they are” in my General Biology for Majors I and II courses. Since that “place” is shaped by a student’s prior experiences, both in and out of the classroom, I also recognize that “place” is unique for each student. This is precisely why each term pushes me to …

Hwi 20th Volume Milestone

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human-Wildlife Interactions is entering a milestone volume in 2026.

Genomic Analysis Reveals New Subspecies Of Cercyonis Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini), Jing Zhang, Qian Cong, Jinhui Shen, Leina Song, Todd L. Stout, Michael S. Fisher, Robb Hannawacker, Nick V. Grishin

The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey

Genomic analysis of Cercyonis (Cercyonis) Scudder, 1875 (Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815) partitions the subgenus into three species groups and reveals five new subspecies from the USA (type localities in parentheses): Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala koosharem Stout and Grishin, ssp. n. (Utah, Sevier Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala lasala Grishin, M. Fisher, and Hannawacker ssp. n. (Utah, Grand Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) pegala hortoni Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Gila Co.), Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii maculana Grishin, ssp. n. (Colorado, Montezuma Co.), and Cercyonis (Cercyonis) meadii rimana Grishin, ssp. n. (Arizona, Yavapai Co.). A neotype is designated for Satyrus boopis Behr, 1864 (USA, California, Contra Costa Co.). …

Variability In Nutrient And Carbon Cycling Of Constructed Marshes, Alyssa Leclaire, Jenny Davis, Molly Bost, David De La Garza

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Salt marshes provide valuable ecosystem services, including filtering nutrients and trapping sediments from the water column, but are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise and coastal development. Constructed marshes offer a potential pathway to offsetting marsh loss, but the extent to which they can replace the ecosystem services provided by mature natural marshes is not well understood. Using a chronosequence of constructed marshes (1, 21, and 44 years old) and a natural reference marsh (>100y old) in Beaufort, NC, we assessed the development of plant communities, sediment characteristics, and nutrient and carbon cycling over time. We compared aboveground biomass, surface …

A Decision Analytic Approach To Hierarchical Decisions For Double-Crested Cormorant Conflict Resolution, Kelly F. Robinson, Travis O. Brenden, Alex Maguffee, Charles R. Bronte, Randall M. Claramunt, Thomas R. Cooper, Robin L. Debruyne, Brian S. Dorr, James F. Farquhar, Jana R. Lantry, James R. Jackson, David G. Fielder, Rachel L. Pierce, Doug Schultz

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Double-crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) are piscivorous, migratory waterbirds that often conflict with fisheries interests in North America, stemming from depredation effects on fish populations. A new permitting process in the United States allows natural resource agencies to request permits for lethal take of cormorants in special instances like depredation of managed fish stocks. This rule does not include guidance for when cormorant take might be actionable. We developed a hierarchical structured decision making (SDM) framework for evaluating whether, when, and how much cormorant take might be necessary. A broad-scale, or “umbrella,” SDM framework established the overarching problem, objectives …