Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-162).

Thesis (M Arch)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2009. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Mike Everts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-90).

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1983. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-104). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Sept. 15, 2009). Thesis advisor: David G. Anderson. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Graduation date: 2005

Seasonally, in 1998 and 1999, I examined spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblages of agricultural, forested, and acid mine drainage tributaries within the Wayne National Forest (WNF) in southern Ohio. Land use and natural disturbance explained patterns in stream fish assemblages. Creek chub and green sunfish were present in all land use types. Generally, with the exception of creek chub and green sunfish, species most abundant in one land use type occurred infrequently in the other land use types sampled. For example, redbelly dace and blacknose dace dominated forested assemblages but rarely occurred in mining or agricultural assemblages. Agricultural sites consisted of higher order streams, located at lower elevations with reduced canopy cover. Forested sites included intermittent streams associated with higher elevation, low stream order, and high canopy cover. Acidic conditions characterized mining sites, which otherwise remained physically similar to forested sites. Stream order, elevation, and canopy cover explained the majority of the variance in assemblage structure within 1998, and pH was also important. In 1999, water quality, specifically dissolved oxygen, and seasonal variation became important. Assemblages changed following drought in 1999. Forested assemblages remained most similar following drought, while agricultural assemblages exhibited less similarity (i.e., greater variability). These results suggest that large-scale reach characteristics and chemical signals related to land use are important to fish assemblage structure, but in times of environmental fluctuation, water chemistry of other site-specific variables may be of even greater importance due to physiological tolerances and limitations of fishes. / Graduation date: 2002

Riparian zones provide habitat for breeding birds in the semiarid western United States; however, there are few data available that address the effects of livestock grazing strategies on riparian habitats and avian communities. Documenting avian community composition in different riparian vegetation communities and relating vegetation communities to livestock grazing strategies may identify management alternatives that are sustainable from a wildlife habitat perspective, and may permit constructive coalitions between agricultural industry and environmental groups. I compared diurnal breeding bird abundance, individual species abundance, and species richness, and vegetation composition and structure among 12 streamside riparian areas of Bear and Silvies valleys in eastern Oregon during 1993 and 1994. Bird and vegetation data were collected along four replicate transects within each of three riparian vegetation communities characterized by vegetation structure: herbaceous, discontinuous willow (Salix spp.), and continuous willow. These riparian vegetation communities were grazed under summer season-long, summer short-duration, and fall short-duration livestock grazing strategies, respectively, >5 years before the study. Differences in riparian vegetation among communities were primarily related to shrub structure by experimental design. The continuous willow community had more shrub cover overall (P<0.001) and within each 1-m height interval from 0-4 m (P<0.013) than the herbaceous and discontinuous willow communities. The herbaceous community had no shrub cover >1 m in height. Willows extended farther (P=0.031) from the steam edge in the continuous willow community than in the discontinuous willow community. No willows were detected in the herbaceous community. I detected 4,016 birds representing 56 species along the transects. Total bird abundance was greater (P<0.001) in the continuous willow community than in the herbaceous and discontinuous willow communities. Species richness was inconsistent (P=0.034) between years within communities; it was greatest (P<0.037) in the continuous and discontinuous willow communities in 1993, and greatest (P<0.003) in the continuous willow community in 1994. Total bird abundance and species richness in 1994 increased with willow volume (r��>0.707, P<0.001). Of 23 bird species with >20 individual detections over both years, 13 species were most abundant in one or two vegetation communities (P<0.088). Seven species (yellow warbler [Dendroica petechia], song sparrow [Melospiza melodia], willow flycatcher [Empidonax traillii], American robin [Turdus migratorius], common snipe [Gallinago gallinago], bobolink [Dolichonyx oryzivorus], and Vaux's swift [Chaetura vauxi]) were most abundant in the continuous willow community. Three species (savannah sparrow [Passerculus sandwichensis], black tern [Chlidonias niger], and American wigeon [Anas americana]) were most abundant in the herbaceous community. Willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) were most abundant in the herbaceous and discontinuous willow communities whereas cinnamon teal (A. cyanoptera) were most abundant in the herbaceous and continuous willow communities. Red-winged blackbirds (Ageliaus phoeniceus) were inconsistent (P=0.032) between years within communities: they were most abundant in the continuous willow community in 1993, and most abundant in the continuous willow and herbaceous communities in 1994. Hydrophytic woody vegetation within semiarid rangeland environments increases structural complexity and is associated with avian abundance and diversity. Yellow warblers, willow flycatchers, and song sparrows, which depend on hydrophytic shrubs for nesting almost exclusively in the semiarid West, are especially threatened by the elimination or simplification of woody riparian vegetation. I suggest that riparian vegetation structure and composition, which is associated with avian abundance, species richness, riparian associate bird species, and landscape-level biological diversity, be maintained where possible. Seasonal light (<30% use) fall short-duration grazing seemed to be compatible with the maintenance of woody riparian vegetation whereas summer season-long and summer short-duration grazing is likely incompatible. / Graduation date: 1995

The ecology of female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and their broods was studied during 1988-90 on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. Survival of 127 radio-marked ducklings from 64 broods was 0.18 to 10 days of life, and 0.37 and 0.34 to fledging for 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. For the 3 years of the study, 49.2% of hens lost their entire brood; 81.2, 36.8, and 37.5% in 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. Ninety-three percent of mortality occurred on or before 10 days of life. No significant differences were detected in the proportion of radio-marked ducklings lost from early hatched or late hatched nests. A variety of predators consumed radio-marked ducklings; however, 49% of the cases of mortality were a result of an unknown predator. During 1989 and 1990, 3 radio-marked ducklings from 16 hens which appeared to lose their entire brood were fledged by other brood hens, and of 29 radio-marked ducklings that reached 44 days of life, 6 (20.7%) had joined other broods. Movements, home range, and habitat use were determined for 27 radio-marked broods. Relocation movements (>1000 m in 24 hrs) occurred in 12 of the 27 broods, primarily in the first week and after the fourth week of life. In 1989, significantly fewer radio-marked ducklings from broods hatching in permanent marshes survived to fledge compared to those originating in seasonal wetlands. Mean size of home ranges was 1.27 ± 0.47 km² and 0.62 ± 0.21 km² in 1989 and 1990, respectively. Most habitat selection by brood rearing hens occurred at the second order, (selection of home range area). Hens selected seasonally flooded wetlands with a cover component and avoided open or permanently flooded habitats. Estimated recruitment (females fledged/adult female in the spring population), proportional change in population size, and number of fledged young varied markedly during the 3 years of the study. Estimated recruitment was 0.31, 1.26, and 0.83 for 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. The estimated proportional change in population size ranged from 0.73 in 1988 to 1.29 and 1.04 during 1989 and 1990, respectively. Number of fledged young ranged from 915 in 1988 to 6,102 in 1989. Movements, habitat use, and survival of postbreeding radio-marked mallard hens were also determined. From mid-April to early August, 5,279 exposure days without the loss of a radio-marked hen were tallied. Of the 4 hens which emigrated from the study area, all were unsuccessful in rearing a brood. Unsuccessful hens moved to surveyed areas north of the study area significantly sooner than successful hens. Canals were the primary habitat utilized by postbreeding hens in 1988 while mixed seasonal and emergent permanent marsh were the most frequently used habitats in 1989 and 1990. Open seasonal and mixed seasonal marshes were the most frequently utilized habitats by incubating hens. Radio-marked hens moved a mean distance of 1,350 m from the nest to suspected feeding areas. / Graduation date: 1992

There is no abstract available for this thesis. / Department of Anthropology

No description available.