Thesis (M.S.) in Zoology--University of Maine, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-97).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: [29]-33)

Thesis--University of Florida. / Manuscript copy. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-95).

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.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2002. / Thesis submitted to the Divison of Science and Engineering. Bibliography: leaves 311-323.

No description available.

The Common tern (Sterna hirundo) is considered a sentinel wildlife species for monitoring mercury (Hg) and other contaminants within the St. Lawrence River Cornwall/Massena Areas of Concern (AOC). Here, I investigate the relationship between Hg bioaccumulation and diet using stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in adult and chick Common terns from three colonies along a 160 km transect of the upper St. Lawrence River. The foraging range of the colony furthest downstream (EMC) includes both the Massena and Cornwall AOC’s while the two upstream colonies (213 and Ice) are more removed from known point sources of Hg. I also sampled winter- and summer-grown breast feathers to compare diet and Hg exposure on the terns’ breeding ground vs. the terns’ wintering grounds. Hg exposure in summer-grown feathers was significantly higher than Hg exposure in winter grown feathers. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes revealed a switch from a marine-based diet during the winter months to a freshwater-based diet on the breeding grounds. Among colonies in summer-grown and chick feathers, the only significant difference in total mercury (THg) exposure was found in chick feathers where Hg was significantly lower at 213 than Ice – both of which are upstream from the AOC’s. However, THg was negatively correlated with δ13C in both winter and summer feathers, and the most parsimonious multi-regression model for winter and summer feathers indicated that δ13C explains 24 and 25% of the variation in Hg exposure, respectively. This suggests terns foraging offshore bioaccumulate more Hg than individuals foraging inshore or in freshwater (winter feathers), and that during the breeding period, terns foraging in pelagic habitats bioaccumulate more Hg than terns foraging in littoral habitats (summer feathers). For the upper St. Lawrence River, these results provide strong evidence that foraging habitat is more important than colony location in determining Hg exposure in a top trophic consumer. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-01 19:35:59.665

No description available.

Abstract During summer, May to September, of 2005, I examined nest-site selection and breeding ecology in a mixed-species colony of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii), Bridled Terns (Sterna anaethetus) and Black-naped (Sterna sumatrana) Terns on the islet of Jishan, Penghu, Taiwan. The aims are to identify characteristic differences of nest sites within the habitats, and to compare nest-site preferences of early- and late-nesting Roseate Terns. Significant interspecific differrences in nesting sites were found: Roseate Terns nested in areas with short vegetation and with higher nesting densities, Bridled Terns nested on screes, and Black-naped Terns nested on flat rocky surface. Hatching success was not correlated with site variables in Roseate Terns. Site characteristics of early- and late-nesting Roseate Tern nests differed. Late-nesting terns used sites with taller vegetation, less of walls around nests, fewer neighbors within 1 m, more nests on the edge of the subcolony, and with more visibility from 2 m compared with early-nesting terns. Human picking-up the eggs and typhoon appeared to be the major mortality factor on Jishan Islet. Roseate Terns with metal bands and leg-flags have been observed in the area. The results demonstrate that Roseate Terns tend to have a fidelity to a natal colony and some migrate to Australia for wintering.