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 …
Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact,
2025
Bemidji State University
Modeling Wild Rice Bed Health: A Dual Metric Approach For Bed Strength And Invasive Impact, Seth Sisneros-Martinez
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Wild rice (mannoomin; Zizania palustris) is an aquatic grain that grows in slow-moving rivers and shallow bays throughout northern Minnesota. In Headquarters Bay on Leech Lake, wild rice has served as a cultural staple for Indigenous communities for centuries. However, its population has declined in recent years due to multiple environmental issues. One potential contributor is Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum; EWM), an invasive species that forms dense mats capable of outcompeting native aquatic vegetation, including wild rice. EWM was first recorded on the southern shoreline of Leech Lake in 2005 and has since become widespread. This study …
The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities,
2025
Bemidji State University
The Effect Of Zebra Mussels On Minnesota Fish Communities, Benjamin D. Strei
Journal of Earth and Life Science
Zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an aquatic invasive species that has been spreading quickly throughout Minnesota water bodies since 1989. Zebra mussels are known to change certain morphological conditions in lakes such as turbidity, phytoplankton abundance, and aquatic invertebrate populations. However, studies showing impacts of the infestation of zebra mussels on the health of a fish community have been hard to prove due to a lack of repeated surveys and a suite of other confounding variables such as natural and seasonal variability, plant community, and lake morphometry. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine whether zebra mussels have …
How Individual Traits Predict Distribution Patterns And Community Convergence,
2025
University of Texas at Arlington
How Individual Traits Predict Distribution Patterns And Community Convergence, Zachary K. Lange
Biology Dissertations - Archive
One of the fundamental questions in biology is whether natural conditions lead species and communities toward predictable outcomes. Answering this question requires understanding how traits of individual organisms are connected to species- and community-level patterns. In Chapter 2, I examined how thermal physiology and environmental temperatures interact to determine the distribution patterns of Anolis lizards on the Greater Antilles. I combined lab-measured thermal traits (critical thermal minimum: CTmin, critical thermal maximum: CTmax, thermal preference: Tpref) with occurrence and abundance data from 21 species of Anolis lizards collected from extensive mark-resight surveys of communities across …
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 …
Microsatellites Reveal The Population Genetic Structure Of Yellow Perch In Minnesota,
2025
Bemidji State University
Microsatellites Reveal The Population Genetic Structure Of Yellow Perch In Minnesota, Megan Boche
Journal of Earth and Life Science
When analyzing a population’s genetic makeup, looking at variation of individuals and populations is a crucial factor. The management of yellow perch will be aided by this information particularly in regard to stocking or relocation. Microsatellite loci were used to analyze the genetic population structure of yellow perch Perca flavescens within and among 29 sampling areas throughout Minnesota’s basins. Seven microsatellite DNA loci were evaluated, with heterozygosities ranging from 0.41 to 0.78. The Lower Mississippi basin samples showed higher numbers of alleles per locus and greater expected heterozygosities compared to other basins, with Lake Pepin (PEP) exhibiting the highest average …
Aquatic Invertebrate Populations In Roadside Wetlands In Relation To Water Characteristics,
2025
Bemidji State University
Aquatic Invertebrate Populations In Roadside Wetlands In Relation To Water Characteristics, Ellen P. Isakson
Journal of Earth and Life Science
The continual habitat destruction and draining of wetland systems makes the need to understand the ecology of roadside wetlands all the more necessary. Roadside wetlands provide valuable habitat to countless aquatic invertebrates, which can provide insight into the health of the wetland system due to their diversity. The objective of this study was to analyze the populations of aquatic invertebrates in roadside wetlands in relation to water characteristics such as pH, salinity, conductivity, water depth and temperature, and dissolved oxygen. This was done by collecting samples of invertebrate populations from roadside wetlands, in addition to data on water quality characteristics …
Community Assembly Across Environmental Gradients: Contrasting Patterns Of Funtional Convergence And Divergence In California Coastal Grasslands,
2025
Cal Poly Humboldt
Community Assembly Across Environmental Gradients: Contrasting Patterns Of Funtional Convergence And Divergence In California Coastal Grasslands, Ernesto Chavez- Velasco
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Elucidating how plant community assembly processes interact across spatial scales to shape ecosystem function remains a central challenge in ecology. These processes are often hierarchical, with broad scale environmental filters constraining the composition of local communities. I investigated these hierarchical processes across three California coastal grassland sites spanning a ~1000 km gradient. At these sites, I measured community composition, standing biomass, four functional traits (plant height, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf lobedness), and estimated species’ environmental niches. To identify assembly mechanisms, I used null models to assess functional convergence or divergence and scaled these patterns with …
Variation In The Timing And Duration Of Rough-Skinned Newt (Taricha Granulosa) Larval Period In The Center Of Their Geographic Range (Humboldt County, California),
2025
Cal Poly Humboldt
Variation In The Timing And Duration Of Rough-Skinned Newt (Taricha Granulosa) Larval Period In The Center Of Their Geographic Range (Humboldt County, California), Emmery R. Parker
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa) occur along the Pacific coast of the U.S. from central California to southwestern Alaska at elevations from zero to 2,800 m. Across that range, the timing and duration of various life history events (i.e., hatching, metamorphosis, breeding, and oviposition) are largely unknown, although general trends have been observed in a few locales. Larval life stages are particularly important for determining amphibian population persistence, but there have been no formal studies describing the larval period of rough-skinned newts. Using minnow-trap and dip net surveys at nine lentic sites in northern Humboldt County, California (elevations 400 …
The Chesapeake Pearl: A Proposal For An Environmental Public Art Installation,
2025
Pitzer College
The Chesapeake Pearl: A Proposal For An Environmental Public Art Installation, Samuel I. Reichard
Pitzer Senior Theses
In this thesis, I lay the foundation for an environmental art project along Chesapeake Bay. It includes an analysis of relevant literature and case studies, as well as a proposal for the project. The Chesapeake Pearl (working title) would be a 20-foot spherical aquarium that will visually display the water filtration capacity of eastern oysters and native seagrass, aiming to inspire curiosity around these organisms and the greater Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The project exists at the intersection of environmental art and environmental education and seeks to promote learning and public engagement through visually demonstrating a scientific process, the water filtration …
Are There Predictable Shifts In Fish Communities Following Instream Habitat Restoration? A Multistream Analysis.,
2025
Eastern Illinois University
Are There Predictable Shifts In Fish Communities Following Instream Habitat Restoration? A Multistream Analysis., Ryan A. Skowronski
Masters Theses
In the past two centuries, anthropogenic stressors have degraded the structure and function of streams by accelerating bank erosion, decreasing riparian buffer zones, and altering the natural flow regime. Habitat restoration has become a common mitigation strategy in response to stream degradation, though empirical research evaluating its effectiveness is lacking in the United States. This study investigated responses in fish community following habitat restoration in five restored, Illinois streams. We assigned fish species to habitat, trophic, and reproductive guilds based on their habitat preferences, feeding habits, and life history. Streams were separated into enhancement and removal groups for analysis. Shifts …
Parasite Communities Of Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales Notatus) From Several Creeks In East Central Illinois,
2025
Eastern Illinois University
Parasite Communities Of Bluntnose Minnow (Pimephales Notatus) From Several Creeks In East Central Illinois, Md Rowshan Alam
Masters Theses
Parasites of freshwater fish play a vital functional role in aquatic ecosystems, but the spatial and ecological determinants of their prevalence and characteristics are still poorly understood. The current study quantified the diversity, prevalence, and environmental determinants of whole parasite burdens in bluntnose minnows across multiple creeks in central Illinois. Fish sampling and the collection of stream habitat data were conducted during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Fish were examined for parasites using necropsy and histology. A total of 20,817 parasites, predominantly trematodes (Posthodiplostomum spp.), cestodes (Proteocephalus spp), and protozoans, were identified. The most prevalent and abundant …
Unraveling Reproductive Complexity: Integrative Assessment Of White Crappie Pomoxis Annularis Spawning Dynamics In Kentucky Lake,
2025
Murray State University
Unraveling Reproductive Complexity: Integrative Assessment Of White Crappie Pomoxis Annularis Spawning Dynamics In Kentucky Lake, Emily A. Freeman
Murray State Theses and Dissertations
In large reservoirs such as Kentucky Lake, White Crappie Pomoxis annularis exhibit complex reproductive dynamics, including variable annual recruitment and frequent skipped or partial spawning events. This study investigates the energetic and environmental factors influencing spawning success in Jonathan Creek, a northern embayment of Kentucky Lake. Using a dual sampling approach, I combined citizen science angler-caught fish during the pre-spawn with trap netting in shallow spawning areas to capture crappie during the full reproductive cycle. Physiological, biometric, and egg analyses revealed that spawning success was driven more by pre-spawn energetic conditions than by the conditions during the spawn. Elevated water …
The Future Of Shipping At The Biodiversity-Climate Nexus : Round Table Report,
2025
World Maritime University
The Future Of Shipping At The Biodiversity-Climate Nexus : Round Table Report, Mary S. Wisz, Fabio Berzaghi, Mikaela Gomez, Maud C. Quinzin, Renis Auma Ojwala, Emily Nuckolls
Reports
This report presents the outcomes of a cross-disciplinary Round Table hosted by the World Maritime University (WMU) from May 13-15, 2024, in Malmö, Sweden. The event brought together 51 experts from academia, industry, NGOs, and international organizations, including the IMO, to explore shipping’s role at the biodiversity-climate nexus. The Round Table had a particular focus on the impacts of shipping that are currently unregulated or under-regulated, and opportunities to address biodiversity loss and pollution as the sector decarbonizes. The report highlights the need to apply comprehensive, ecosystem-based approaches to effectively manage shipping's impacts, including cumulative impacts, on the environment, people, …
Bioremediation In The Chesapeake Bay: Anthropogenic Ocean Acidification Mitigation In An Interactive Multi-Trophic Ecosystem,
2025
Virginia Commonwealth University
Bioremediation In The Chesapeake Bay: Anthropogenic Ocean Acidification Mitigation In An Interactive Multi-Trophic Ecosystem, Cree Taylor
AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship
Zostera marina is a species of marine macrophyte that has been largely prioritized in past submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration initiatives within the Chesapeake Bay because of its 1) previous abundance, 2) demonstrated carbon burial abilities, and 3) observed ability for meadows of Z. marina to ameliorate low pH conditions. Due to the temperature variability and poor water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, Z. Marina beds have experienced several die-off events with limited capacity for regrowth. Ruppia maritima, an opportunistic species with tolerance to temperature shifts within the bay, may have the potential to maintain SAV coverage in areas …
Rejuvra's Effect On Soil Seed Banks,
2025
The University Of Montana
Rejuvra's Effect On Soil Seed Banks, Blake J. Roeslein, Bryan Endress, Abby Mcmurtry, Akasha Faist
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Invasive annual grasses are a major driver of grassland degradation globally. In perennial grasslands, invasion can heavily impact biodiversity, including potential changes to the soil seed banks. Seed banks, the living seeds stored in the upper soil column, play an important role in healthy systems, or can harbor invasive species. To reduce negative invasion outcomes, whether in the seed bank, or aboveground vegetation, pre-emergent herbicides are a commonly used tool for land managers. Pre-emergent herbicides work by targeting seeds as they germinate and begin emerging from the soil. Thus, our study asks 1) how does pre-emergent herbicide influence germination and …
Noaa Oceanic And Atmospheric Research Ocean Carbon Observing Science Plan Fy25 To Fy35,
2025
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Noaa Oceanic And Atmospheric Research Ocean Carbon Observing Science Plan Fy25 To Fy35, United States National Oceanographic And Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Technical Reports and Related Materials
United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration oceanic and atmospheric research ocean carbon observing science plan for fiscal years 2025 through 2035.
Tree Crown Economics Of Broadleaf Deciduous Forests,
2025
West Virginia University
Tree Crown Economics Of Broadleaf Deciduous Forests, Yiting Fan
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Tree crown architecture, a critical determinant of forest ecosystem processes such as photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, and spectral reflectance, is shaped by adaptive trade-offs in resource use and environmental responses. However, significant gaps remain in our understanding of how these traits vary across species, environmental gradients, and temporal scales. This dissertation addresses these gaps by employing remote sensing data across three interconnected studies. Together, these studies advance tree crown economic theory, highlighting how crown traits mediate trade-offs between light capture and water-use efficiency and how these traits influence forest responses to global change. Collectively, this dissertation offer insights for improving models that …
‘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 …
An Integrated Wetland Condition Index And Environmental Metric Framework For The Prairie Pothole Region,
2025
South Dakota State University
An Integrated Wetland Condition Index And Environmental Metric Framework For The Prairie Pothole Region, Mercedes L. Batalla
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) assists landowners with protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands. Evaluating wetland conservation efforts is crucial for informing future management decisions. However, assessment frameworks vary across regions and among stakeholders. The Prairie Pothole Region is an ecologically unique landscape characterized by its abundance of wetlands that provide important ecosystem services. To evaluate wetlands enrolled in ACEP, I sampled forty-five semi-permanent wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region from July – August 2023 and 2024. I selected and sampled twenty-six wetlands enrolled in ACEP. Nineteen additional wetlands not enrolled in ACEP were also sampled; these included nine …
