Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2004. / Thesis advisor: Sylvia L. Halkin. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Biological Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-87). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and Tricolored Herons that nest in the Everglades have declined sharply over the past decade, due in part to food resource limitations. Here, I examined the diet of small herons to determine how prey characteristics affected the fitness of small herons in the highly modified Florida Everglades. Analysis of these diet differences showed birds nesting in 2017, a hydrologically dryer-than average year, and a more taxonomically varied diet were associated with nest success and improved body condition of nestlings. Over half (51%) of the fish biomass Little Blue Herons consumed were non-native species, compared to 14% and 19% non-native fish biomass consumed by Snowy Egrets and Tricolored Herons, respectively. Surprisingly, <7% of fish biomass available in the Everglades were comprised of non-native fish species, suggesting that small herons, and Little Blue Herons in particular, may be using alternative foraging habitats, to supplement their dietary needs. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy

Geographically isolated wetlands (GIWs) within the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain have been increasingly recognized for their importance in providing ecosystem services. These wetlands serve as valuable foraging and breeding habitat for wetland-dependent species, including wading birds. I quantified wading bird presence in GIWs in southwestern Georgia and determined the relative importance of factors influencing their use of these wetlands. I also examined the diet of a nesting colony of Little Blue Herons; a species experiencing population declines throughout most of the Southeast. I found that wetland-specific parameters were important factors in predicting wading bird use of GIWs, and wading birds utilized agricultural and natural wetlands differently depending on hydrological seasonality. Little Blue Herons were primarily consuming large anurans and anuran larvae, which are characteristic of agriculturally modified wetlands. The seasonal process of receding water levels in GIWs and subsequent concentration of / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Avian reproductive success varies depending on environmental conditions, degree of predation, location, and food availability. I examined food availability and nesting habitat of wading birds in South Florida. Evaluating prey availability and prey used by two small heron species demonstrated the ability for small herons to maintain consistent diets through fluctuating environmental conditions, within and across different wetland types. Small herons may be able to cope with environmental changes by altering foraging locations and strategies. Regarding nesting habitat, man-made sites may provide habitat comparable to natural sites, at least in the short-term. The nest’s position can influence its susceptibility to increased temperatures and predators, particularly for. Climatic conditions such as rainfall can also impact nesting success by altering foraging conditions and fish behavior. Understanding the effects of hydrologic regimes on biota can have practical applications since ecosystems around the world share similar problems with competing demands for resources, and there is a concern for how use can affect the quality of the resource. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

I examined genetic variation for two populations of Black-crowned Night Herons using a 467 base pair region of the mitochondrial DNA. One population inhabits an environment highly impacted by industrial waste, heavy metals, and urbanization; while the other, a reference population, comes from a contaminant-free area. I observed a total of 10 haplotypes, three of which the two populations share. One individual from the contaminated site was ostensibly heteroplasmic. I found no evidence of significant genetic differentiation between the two populations. Coalescent simulation results provided evidence that both populations have undergone or are currently undergoing population expansion. The results of the biological marker I developed showed a high diversity for the ND-6 gene, making it a useful biomarker of population effects.

Thesis (M.S.)--Georgia Southern University, 2006. / "A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science" ETD. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-38)

The relationship between water-level fluctuations and wading bird nest numbers and nesting location is well documented, yet species-specific reproductive responses of wading birds to environmental drivers and nesting habitat type is poorly understood. Here, I compared the reproductive responses of two ecologically similar species, Snowy Egret and Tricolored Heron, to foraging conditions influenced by water management and examined the effect of nestling island type on the reproductive success of three wading bird species. Reproductive responses to foraging conditions were broadly similar between Snowy Egrets and Tricolored Herons, however this study revealed specific-specific differences that could lead to different population dynamics in response to management over the long-term. I also found that these two species had lower productivity at spoil islands than marsh colonies, whereas Great Egret productivity did not vary by colony type. This study demonstrates the importance of establishing species-species relationships between productivity and environmental conditions / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection