Acoustic Monitoring Of Oak Toads (Anaxyrus Quercicus), A Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Ecosystem Endemic Amphibian,
2025
Marshall University
Acoustic Monitoring Of Oak Toads (Anaxyrus Quercicus), A Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Ecosystem Endemic Amphibian, Alex Ward Foote
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The Longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world with only 3% remaining. Many endemic species to the longleaf pine ecosystem are also in decline and suffer from habitat loss resulting from fire exclusion, urbanization, agriculture, and industrial silviculture. Oak Toads (Anaxyrus quercicus) are a longleaf pine ecosystem obligate; the species is experiencing declines across its range and only has protections in Virginia and North Carolina. We used data from an array of Automated Recoding Units across four years (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019) at three state-owned wildlife management areas to capture audio files …
A Metadata Analysis Of Unionid Mussels Of The Greenup Pool Of The Ohio River Using Occupancy Modeling And Species Area Curves,
2025
Marshall University
A Metadata Analysis Of Unionid Mussels Of The Greenup Pool Of The Ohio River Using Occupancy Modeling And Species Area Curves, Tyler Mitchell Annarino
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Although North America contains the largest diversity of freshwater mussels in the world, only ~24% of species in the United States and Canada have stable populations. This group provides unique hurdles for surveying, and current unionid survey protocols include neither longitudinal studies nor randomization of sites. This project conducts a metadata analysis of freshwater mussels in the Greenup Pool of the Ohio River (GPOR) to answer three questions: 1. Does a combination of longitudinal scope, randomization of sites, and historic methodology of surveying result in useful occupancy/detection models (ODMs) of unionids in large streams at the family level? 2. Does …
Effects Of In-Stream Large Woody Debris Management On Riparian Salamander Population Dynamics,
2025
Marshall University
Effects Of In-Stream Large Woody Debris Management On Riparian Salamander Population Dynamics, Sydney Hermann
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
The addition of large woody debris (LWD) into streams is an increasingly common habitat restoration method used to support brook trout populations and other sensitive freshwater species. Wood jams create localized reductions of water velocity, increase organic matter retention, intensify overbank flows, and promote habitat heterogeneity. These changes enhance interaction between the floodplain and the stream which can influence forest habitat variables such as leaf litter, soil pH, moisture, and invertebrate abundance. Salamander demographics reflect the stability of these forest habitat variables, and population declines can be indicative of environmental disturbance, stress, or change. Evaluating how this trout-targeted management effects …
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 …
Parallel Inquiries: Investigation Of Social Resource Use In Early Career Stem Teachers And Impacts Of Metal Pollution On Fingernail Clam Microbiome,
2025
Eastern Washington University
Parallel Inquiries: Investigation Of Social Resource Use In Early Career Stem Teachers And Impacts Of Metal Pollution On Fingernail Clam Microbiome, Emily Hamada
EWU Masters Thesis Collection
No abstract provided.
Chironomids Shed Light On Organic Matter Dynamics In Macroinvertebrate Communities In Prairie Pothole Lakes In West-Central Minnesota, Usa,
2025
University of Minnesota - Morris
Chironomids Shed Light On Organic Matter Dynamics In Macroinvertebrate Communities In Prairie Pothole Lakes In West-Central Minnesota, Usa, Tracey M. Anderson, Sarah G. Winikoff, Michael L. Sorensen, Melissa L. Rudeen
Biology Publications
The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) in North America is characterized by a high density of wetlands that can range from temporary habitats to small lakes. Much of the PPR has been converted to agriculture resulting in outright habitat loss, eutrophication, sedimentation, introduction of agrochemicals, and the introduction of invasive plants and animals. We compared two prairie pothole lakes, Cottonwood Lake and Page Lake, to assess the functional roles and trophic structure of the macroinvertebrate communities in this highly altered landscape. We collected macroinvertebrate samples from littoral and profundal regions of each lake with an Ekman grab sampler in winters of …
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 …
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 …
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.
The Nesting Ecology Of Southern Two-Lined Salamanders (Eurycea Cirrigera) In Urban Streams,
2025
Kennesaw State University
The Nesting Ecology Of Southern Two-Lined Salamanders (Eurycea Cirrigera) In Urban Streams, Leah T. Rittenburg, Emma G. Downing, Todd Pierson
Faculty Articles
Urbanization alters many aspects of stream ecosystems, and its effects upon wildlife will likely increase as more watersheds become developed. This may be particularly true for species with complex life histories, which could be vulnerable in different life stages. Eurycea cirrigera (Green) (Southern Two-lined Salamanders) are common members of many stream communities in the southeastern United States, and they prefer to nest in cobble with little sedimentation—a microhabitat that is threatened by stream degradation. We collected data on the nesting ecology of this amphibian species in urban streams in Atlanta, Georgia, to evaluate microhabitat availability, nest-site selection, and the influence …
Presence Of Potential Nursery Habitat For The Lemon Shark In Mississippi Coastal Waters,
2025
University of Southern Mississippi
Presence Of Potential Nursery Habitat For The Lemon Shark In Mississippi Coastal Waters, Lindsay K. Bomgardner, P. O. Grammer, Angie Hoover, Anna Millender, Jeremy Higgs, Jill M. Hendon, Michael J. Andres
Gulf and Caribbean Research
No abstract provided.
