Doctor of Philosophy / Division of Biology / Martha E. Mather / Understanding the complex relationship between organismal distribution and spatial heterogeneity is central to many ecological questions. This challenge of identifying the biodiversity consequences of spatial patterns is especially critical for resource conservation at the larger riverscape scale because climate- and human-related impacts often act through intricate and spatially-connected organismal-habitat relationships. Specifically, resource managers cannot manage the adverse effects of common disturbances on aquatic ecosystems (e.g. water-withdrawal, dams, urbanization) if the influence of spatial heterogeneity is not recognized and understood. Towards this larger goal, I examined the role of spatial heterogeneity on stream fish biodiversity in the Upper Neosho River, KS in three ways. First, I used a mosaic approach (in which connected, interacting collections of juxtaposed habitat patches were examined) to build the scientific foundation for a general model that aids in the understanding and environmental management of disturbance-related, ecologically-based conservation problems. Second, I examined landscape metrics to quantify the impact of low-head dams on stream habitat and fish diversity. Third, I evaluated multiple quantitative approaches to develop a fuller understanding of how the arrangement of habitats across the riverscape influenced stream fish biodiversity. Related to these questions, the dissertation research provided four key take-home messages that advanced science-based conservation related to stream fish habitat and biodiversity. First, mapping larger-scale patterns of heterogeneity showed that quantitatively-different, physically-distinct pool, riffle, run, and glide habitats were arranged in unique combinations created diverse habitat mosaics across sites. Second, riffles, which comprised < 5% of all habitat patches, acted as keystone habitats that disproportionately increased fish biodiversity (i.e., species richness was significantly higher in mosaics with higher numbers of riffles). Third, mosaic approach metrics provided new insights into the influence of low-head dams on stream fish biodiversity that were not detected with traditional approaches to habitat sampling and statistical analysis. For example, low-head dams dampened the natural habitat diversity that is needed for the maintenance of resilient communities. Furthermore, using path analysis, I found that species richness was higher immediately below low-head dams as mediated through an increase in the proportion of riffle habitat, but this higher species richness was offset by a greater decrease in species richness in the impoundment habitat above low-head dams. Thus, the choice of scale influenced the interpretation of how dams affected habitat heterogeneity and resultant organismal patterns. Finally, landscape approaches to examining compositional and configurational heterogeneity provided new insights about stream fish habitat-biodiversity relationships. For example, riffle patch density had a positive effect on species richness, species richness was higher within shallow, slow flowing riffles, and adjacent neighbor habitats affected riffle species richness as mediated through alterations to within-habitat characteristics. In summary, quantifying the complex patterns of spatial heterogeneity in a range of ways can aid in the understanding of habitat-biodiversity patterns and help conserve stream fishes at a variety of scales.

Many researchers have pointed out the difficulties teachers face with managing student oppositional behaviour in the classroom. Most pre-service teacher education programs emphasize the curriculum content and the planning of lessons to the exclusion of specialized training in classroom management approaches. This oversight has led to inadequate classroom management skills in many teachers and can result in low teacher self-efficacy and high rates of stress and burnout. Many commonly employed strategies used by teachers to manage problem behaviour focus on reductive consequences that can have a range of negative side effects. Other strategies may be proactive and effective, but are often too complicated and impractical for regular use. In this paper we propose a “keystone” approach to classroom management that may be more efficient and effective for teachers to use in the classroom. With this approach, teachers focus on a circumscribed set of specific classroom skills that have the potential to produce widespread improvement in child outcomes. Empirical support for this approach is discussed.

Many researchers have pointed out the difficulties teachers face with managing student oppositional behaviour in the classroom. Most pre-service teacher education programs emphasize the curriculum content and the planning of lessons to the exclusion of specialized training in classroom management approaches. This oversight has led to inadequate classroom management skills in many teachers and can result in low teacher self-efficacy and high rates of stress and burnout. Many commonly employed strategies used by teachers to manage problem behaviour focus on reductive consequences that can have a range of negative side effects. Other strategies may be proactive and effective, but are often too complicated and impractical for regular use. In this paper we propose a “keystone” approach to classroom management that may be more efficient and effective for teachers to use in the classroom. With this approach, teachers focus on a circumscribed set of specific classroom skills that have the potential to produce widespread improvement in child outcomes. Empirical support for this approach is discussed.

Boys and Girls Club kept me out of prison. It kept me focused in school and on life; and has made me a productive citizen in the society. (Boys & Girls Club alum) This qualitative study evaluated and compared the influence of the Boys & Girls Club and Keystone Club programs on alumni in regards to their career and life experiences. Data were collected through personal interviews of each alumnus in the study. Each interview focused on the alumni’s experiences and benefits gained in either the six core areas of the Keystone Club program or the five core areas in which Boys & Girls Club members participate. The researcher asked staff from the Bryan and College Station Clubs to identify alumni for whom they still had contact information and would be likely to participate. The researcher then used the naturalistic inquiry approach to gather information regarding the experiences and benefits of alumni’s participation in the Keystone Club and Boys & Girls Club programs. The sample of convenience included 14 individuals who had participated in either program in the cities of Bryan or College Station, Texas. The major findings of the study were as follows: 1) All Boys & Girls Club alumni and Keystone Club alumni learned leadership skills through their participation in the programs; 2) All Boys & Girls Club alumni and Keystone Club alumni learned to interact with various cultures as a result of their exposure to the programs; 3) A greater number of alumni from the Keystone Club described “goal setting” as a key lesson than did alumni from the Boys & Girls Club; 4) Alumni from the Keystone Club are more likely than the alumni from the Boys & Girls Club to give back to their community. Recommendations for the clubs include the implementation of community service projects in the Boys & Girls Club program as well as helping youth identify and set goals. For the Keystone Club program, a Job Shadow Day and a College Student Shadow Day were both recommended to help students identify future careers and explore higher education.

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species that creates networks of underground burrows that are home to an additional 350 species, where 60 are vertebrates. Vertebrates have been shown to differ between habitat types and seasonally, but limited information is known about vertebrate associates in our region. This study was one of the first to investigate this in our region of south Florida. This study was designed to investigate factors that may affect the presence of vertebrates at gopher tortoise burrows. Camera data was collected to determine vertebrate presence and if specific vertebrate groups elicit a territorial response from the tortoise, while habitat vegetation surveys and weather data were collected to evaluate seasonality. Statistical analysis showed variation in vertebrate presence both seasonally and by habitat type. Few territorial interactions were observed overall. This study acts as a starting point to increase our understanding of local tortoise populations. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 2009. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-05, page: 2639. Adviser: Paula A. Holoviak. Includes supplementary digital materials.

Avalanche paths are unique ecosystems that represent a significant portion of the landscape in the northern Rocky Mountains. Frequent avalanche disturbance results in vegetative cover that is unlike the adjacent coniferous forest. These high relief environments have the potential to remove carbon from the atmosphere at rates differing from those of the surrounding forest, and to regulate matter and/or energy fluxes to downslope ecosystems. This thesis attempts to estimate organic carbon on south-facing avalanche paths in the southern portion of Glacier National Park, Montana. I am specifically interested in total organic carbon density, compartmental carbon density, and change in organic carbon over time as a function of shrub and tree diameter. Using an integrated sampling method, estimates of total organic carbon on avalanche paths appear to be different than those of the adjacent forest and similar to those of other shrub formation types in the area. However, the potentially moveable litter compartment is consistently larger. Organic carbon from shrub and trees growing on paths appears to be increasing at a continuous rate leading up to disturbance, while a typical individual's rate of increase appears to be slowing. The organic material temporarily stored on avalanche paths could serve as an important outside carbon source for near and distant aquatic ecosystems.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-132).

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-91).

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-91)