Thesis (M.S.) in Ecology and Environmental Science--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-78).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 1996. / Adviser: Frances S. Chew. Submitted to the Dept. of Biology. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-184). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

No description available.

Thesis advisor: Heather C. Olins / This study creates a protocol to investigate microplastics in local freshwater wetlands surrounding Boston College. This study also investigated potential plastic-degrading bacteria in the sediment of local freshwater wetlands. A list of potential plastic-degrading bacterial species and genera were compiled from the literature. Using these compiled lists, we searched for these potential plastic-degrading organisms in our metagenomics and 16S datasets. Looking for potential correlations between abiotic factors and the abundance of potential plastic-degrading bacteria, for both data sets, it was found that sandy sediment had a higher abundance of potential plastic-degrading bacteria than non-sandy sediment. Finally, our list of plastic-degrading bacterial species was cross-referenced with a previously compiled list of potential pathogens. Of the 26 taxa in our sites that were identified as potential plastic-degrading bacteria, 57.69% of those taxa are also potentially pathogenic to humans. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Recently the uniqueness of the vernal pool habitat has been recognized by several groups of biologists. A survey of the literature reveals that interest of botanists, but one notes a lack of information of plankton which are so fundamental in the food web. Therefore, a taxonomic survey of the plankton seems appropriate. In the present study, the abundance of the predominant species of plankton were studied during a seasonal and also diurnal cycle. A possible correlation of this information with some physicochemical factors was also tested. Because of time constraints this study was limited to one pool but hopefully other researchers will extend this work in the future.

Mole salamanders (Ambystoma) and woodfrogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) are abundant in New England and depend on ephemeral wetlands for breeding. Their aquatic habitats have been well studied and are protected by several local and regional regulations. State endangered species laws also protect mabled salamanders (A. opacum), Jefferson salamanders (A. jeffersonianum), and blue-spotted salamanders (A. laterale). However, these amphbibians spend most of their adult lives in terrestrial habitats that remain poorly protected and elusive to researchers. In chapter 1, I developed a novel technique using passive integrated transponders for tracking small animals. I used this technique to track marbled salamanders walking up to 200 m from their breeding pond during post-breeding migrations. In Chapter 2, I examined the importance of multiple habitat variables for predicting the distributions of woodfrogs and spotted salamanders at 455 ponds in western Massachusetts. Based on a variable-comparison technique I developed, the best predictor for either species of amphibian was the amount of forest in the surrounding vii landscape. Both species were found more frequently in upland forests where the ponds are least protected by state and federal wetland regulations. In chapter 3, I used my data from chapter 2 and three other similar data sets to conduct an analysis of spatial scale and to parameterize a recently published resistant kernel model. The complex model parameterized by an expert panel did significantly worse than the null model. The distributions of both amphibians were best predicted by measuring the landscape at very large scales (over 1000 m). The most effective scales for conservation may be largest for organisms of intermediate dispersal capability. In chapter 4, I explored the evolution and genetics of the Jefferson/blue-spotted/unisexual salamander complex. I framed research into the fascinating unisexual reproductive system with a model that relates nuclear genome replacement, positive selection on hybrids, and biogeography of the species complex. I parameterized this model using genetic data taken from salamanders spanning Massachusetts and an individual-based breeding simulation. If paternal genomes are transmitted to offspring with the frequencies reported from laboratory experiments, then my model suggests that there must be strong selection favoring unisexuals with hybrid nuclei.

Vernal pools are essential breeding habitat for amphibians - the vertebrates most at-risk across the globe. Unfortunately, due to their small sizes and temporary nature, vernal pools are prone to indiscriminate destruction. This is the case in southern Ontario as most vernal pools have already been destroyed by human development. As such there is an urgent need to map remaining vernal pools in relatively undeveloped forested regions, such as the District Municipality of Muskoka in South-Central Ontario. This thesis aims to head-start the creation of a community-based vernal pool mapping project using LiDAR in South-Central Ontario. This goal has been broken down into two chapters with their own sub-objectives. In one chapter, we implemented a pilot study for integrating community involvement in potential vernal pool mapping across the Muskoka River Watershed (i.e., the major watershed of the District of Muskoka). We built a protocol and survey based on past vernal pool projects and studies which effectively integrated citizen involvement and also implemented novel online components (e.g., a portal) for vernal pool field-work. Our efforts were successful with positive feedback for the online components and a majority of the potential vernal pools located by our volunteers were probable vernal pools. In the other chapter, we developed two potential vernal pool mapping protocols using LiDAR based on regional characteristics of pools across the District of Muskoka in the Muskoka River Watershed and Coastal Georgian Bay. We demonstrated that the best mapping protocol for each of the two regions were associated with the protocol that was based on their respective pool characteristics. Moreover, we determined that while LiDAR can increase the accuracy of vernal pool mapping efforts, this is not always the case, especially when mapping vernal pools that occur in expansive bedrock laden regions. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Vernal pools, small forested temporary wetlands, provide essential breeding habitat for amphibians - the most threatened vertebrate group across earth. Unfortunately, most vernal pools in southern Ontario have been destroyed by human development, and there is an urgent need to map remaining vernal pools in relatively undeveloped forested regions, such as the District Municipality of Muskoka in South-Central Ontario. We implemented a pilot study for integrating community involvement in potential vernal pool mapping and developed two potential vernal pool mapping protocols using LiDAR based on regional pool characteristics. With successful integration of volunteers and mapping accuracies above 80%, we hope our findings will aid future vernal pool conservation, especially by head-starting the creation of a community-based vernal pool mapping project using LiDAR in South-Central Ontario.

No description available.

Temporary snowmelt pool ecosystems in southwestern Quebec were examined with special emphasis on identifying the macrofauna and determining their spatial distribution, as well as ascertaining temporal changes in community composition. 68 taxa were collected from ten snowmelt pools. Major taxa represented were Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Trichoptera, Odonata, Ephemeroptera, Anostraca, Isopoda, Amphipoda, Gastropoda and Bivalvia; the insects dominated the communities and the Culicidae (Diptera) was the most abundant taxon collected. The fauna were unevenly distributed both spatially and temporally amongst the pools. The occurrence of taxa was similar in pools in the same geographic location. The habitat characteristics of each pool, coupled with their proximity to a permanent waterbody and their accessibility to organisms, perhaps influenced the distribution of the various taxa. A successional pattern was observed in which filter-feeders and detritivores appeared first, followed by predators. After drought, a similar pattern was seen in pools that were replenished by summer rains, but taxon diversity was lower. In addition, pools with longer hydroperiods harboured more taxa than shorter-lived pools.

Successful reproduction in salamanders is driven by behavioral, environmental, and temporal interactions among adults. While much of our understanding of salamander mating systems is based upon either courtship behavior of both sexes or aspects of female choice, the decisions made by males regarding where to place spermatophores is much less quantified. In this study, we mapped male spermatophore placement in the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) with respect to ecological and spatial locations within a vernal pool complex in Charles City County, Virginia. The overall goal was to use the spatial and ecological placement of spermatophores to determine if individuals deposit spermatophores randomly within the vernal pool or if males exhibited specific preferences for deposition. Using comprehensive surveys of the vernal pools and individual spermatophores within a 0.5m2 grid and terrestrial LIDAR, a total of 218 spermatophores were identified and mapped. We repeated these surveys for two successive breeding seasons. Placement occurred at an intermediate depth and an intermediate distance to the edge. Males also preferred to place spermatophores on leaf substrate as opposed to sticks or conifer needles. The physical placement of spermatophores exhibited autocorrelation in space during single reproductive events as well as across breeding seasons. These results suggest that males actively select for specific locations within a pool for spermatophore placement-a proverbial Goldilocks zone-which may be consistent with increased reproductive success. This information is key to understanding salamander mating system parameters in this species and may contribute to developing more effective management strategies.