Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 79 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-78).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Sept. 10, 2009). Thesis advisor: Vena M. Long. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 1987. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 279-298).

Dispersal of aquatic insects is difficult to measure with traditional direct trapping methodologies. However, genetic markers are an ideal surrogate to indirectly infer dispersal and gene flow. For this research, a portion of the cytochrome oxidase I gene was used to evaluate gene flow and dispersal of Epeorus pleuralis located in the northern Appalachian headwater streams of the Allegheny, Genesee, and Susquehanna watersheds. A total of 536 basepairs from 16 individual insects were used for analysis. Thirteen haplotypes were discovered, two of which were shared between the Allegheny and Genesee streams. Although no shared haplotypes were found in the Susquehanna, analysis of molecular variance results suggest that there is not a significant genetic difference between the three populations and attributes the majority of variation to within population differences.

M. S.

Feeding trials.showed that ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) performed well on diets containing 20% Christmas hollyfem (Polystichum acrostichoides) or mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), but diets containing 40% of these forages resulted in lower protein and energy intake and the Christmas hollyfem diet caused a loss of body mass. Grouse were not able to maintain themselves solely on evergreen leaves. Glucuronide excretion was greatest for the 40% mountain laurel diet. Ornithine conjugate excretion was greatest for a diet with 40% deciduous leaves. Sulfate excretion did not vary among diets. Intake rate of leaves was an asymptotic function of bite size when the density of bites did not limit intake. Intake rate of leaves decreased at plants densities < 322 plants/m2. The maximum intake rate of leaves was 25% of the intake rate of aspen buds observed in wild grouse (Huempfuer and Tester 1988). Intake rate of raisins was an asymptotic function of bite size and was 20 times greater than the intake rate of leaves. Ruffed grouse in the Southeast must forage for> 100 min/day under ideal conditions to satisfy energy requirements. / Ph. D.

Interpretive reprocessing of seismic reflection data and correlation of the seismic data with gravity data have elucidated Paleozoic and Grenvillian structures in the southern Appalachians. The seismic data include ADCOII, Seisdata, and COCORP reflection profiles which traverse the Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont geologic provinces of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Based on the reprocessed data, all of the major faults within the allochthonous upper crust, including the Brevard fault zone and the Hayesville fault, are interpreted to root in the Blue Ridge master decollément. Reflectors extending beneath the surface location of the Hayesville fault may be a deformational zone that extends in the direction of structural strike and is associated with Alleghanian transpression. Alternatively, the reflectors may actually represent the subsurface location of the J layesvil1e fault, in which case convergent reflector geometry of the Hayesvi1le fault and the Blue Ridge thrust suggest that the Blue Ridge thrust occupied a zone of weakness previously created by the Hayesville fault. Both the Blue Ridge thrust and Brevard fault zone ramps are interpreted to have a genetic re1ation to underlying basement topography. Relative amplitude data enabled the discrimination between Blue Ridge-Inner Piedmont crystalline rocks from underlying Lower Paleozoic shelf strata, thereby allowing the delineation of the Blue Ridge thrust. The revised geometry of the Blue Ridge thrust constrains the top of the shelf sequence beneath the Blue Ridge to depths less than 3 km. This relatively shallow depth of the shelf sequence, and the presence of duplex structures and bright spots within the sequence are auspicious factors for hydrocarbon exploration. Reflectors within the upper-to-lower crust are interpreted to be preserved Grenvillian structures that were reactivated at the basement surface during Late Proterozoic-Early Cambrian extension. The reflectors are cross-cut by proposed post-Grenvillian, pre-Alleghanian low density intrusions that have acoustically transparent bases. Correlation of seismic and gravity data suggests that disturbances in the Douguer gravity field can be attributed to these structures within the autochthonous crust. Discontinuous reflection packages from depths of 36-42 km are interpreted to originate from the Mohorovicic Discontinuity. The reflectors trend about N 15°E with a true dip of approximately 15°NW. / Master of Science

Drift was measured monthly at four sites on a southern Appalachian stream in order to examine spatial and temporal patterns along elevational and stream size gradients. Measurements consisted of four, one-hour samples corresponding to dawn, mid-day, dusk, and mid-night monthly for 14 months. On average, only 10% of the drifting insects were terrestrial, but terrestrial inputs became numerically important during summer and fall. There were no significant differences among sites in aquatic insect drift density, although taxa richness and total drift (#/sec) increased significantly downstream. None of the sites exhibited a consistent diel pattern. But, all of the lower three sites exhibited decreased drift density during the day. <i>Baetis</i>, the dominant aquatic taxon in the drift, exhibited a typical alterans patterns at UBC, LBC, and CC. Aquatic insect drift density was highest in summer when flows were lowest, while total drift (#/s) was highest in late spring and winter. FPOM and mean daily water temperature accounted for 64% of the variation in total aquatic insect drift density and 60% of <i>Baetis</i> drift density, suggesting both passive and active components in drift. Both variables were also highly correlated with drift density. Taxonomic composition of drift differed from that of the benthos, indicating drift was not simply random, but that taxa vary in the propensity to drift. Overall, this study found more evidence of temporal (diel and seasonal) drift patterns than spatial (along the gradient). / Master of Science

The central concern of the present study is to determine the extent to which economic and subregional structure of the Appalchian Region affects the rate of in-migration. Previous work has centered on the massive out-migration from the Region during the forties and fifties, the economic destitution of the mountain dwellers, and the success of the stem-family structure in maintaining lines of communication between the mountain base and the urban branches. However, Appalachia is a heterogeneous and changing Region. Recently, the Appalachian Regional Commission (1977) has documented a net positive rate of in-migration to two of the Subregions, while at the same time noting the further economic development of the Region. Research by Lowry (1966) and Todaro (1976) offer the most useful economic explanations for migration for the Appalachian situation. A regression analysis was applied to Census data gathered on thirty-eight urbanized areas situated in or adjacent to the Appalchian Region. It was found that in-migration to these urbanized areas is dependent upon the availability of economic opportunity as well as subregionalization of the area. In-migration was determined in large part upon the fluctuation of employment opportunities in the form of either unemployment rates or the percent of persons employed in tertiary occupations. Adjusted income was only of secondary importance. When controlling for all other variables, location of an urbanized area in the Northern Subregion resulted in a substantial reduction in the rate of in-migration. / Master of Science

M.S.