Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) has been studied for over two decades and listed as endangered for most of that time. Though the flycatcher has been granted protected status since 1995, critical habitat designation for the flycatcher has not shared the same history. Critical habitat designation is essential for achieving the long-term goals defined in the flycatcher recovery plan where emphasis is on both the protection of this species and "the habitats supporting these flycatchers [that] must be protected from threats and loss" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2002). I used a long-term data set of habitat characteristics collected at three study areas along the Lower Colorado River to develop a method for quantifying habitat quality for flycatcher. The data set contained flycatcher nest observations (use) and habitat availability (random location) from 2003-2010 that I statistically analyzed for flycatcher selection preferences. Using both Pearson's Chi-square test and SPSS Principal Component Analysis (PCA) I determined that flycatchers were selecting 30 habitat traits significantly different among an initial list of 127 habitat characteristics. Using PCA, I calculated a weighted value of influence for each significant trait per study area and used those values to develop a habitat classification system to build predictive models for flycatcher habitat quality. I used ArcGIS® Model Builder to develop three habitat suitability models for each of the habitat types occurring in western riparian systems, native, mixed exotic and exotic dominated that are frequented by breeding flycatchers. I designed a fourth model, Topock Marsh, to test model accuracy on habitat quality for flycatchers using reserved accuracy assessment points of previous nest locations. The results of the fourth model accurately predicted a decline in habitat at Topock Marsh that was confirmed by SWCA survey reports released in 2011 and 2012 documenting a significant decline in flycatcher productivity in the Topock Marsh study area. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Applied Biological Sciences 2013

No description available.

No description available.

Successful foraging by avian predators is influenced largely by prey availability. In a large-scale experiment at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment project within the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, I manipulated two components of prey availability, water depth and vegetation density (submerged aquatic vegetation and emergent vegetation), and quantified the response by wading birds in terms of foraging habitat selection and foraging success. Manly's standardized selection index showed that birds preferred shallow water and intermediate vegetation densities. However, the treatments had little effect on either individual capture rate or efficiency. This was a consistent pattern seen across multiple experiments. Birds selected for certain habitat features but accrued little benefit in terms of foraging success. I hypothesize that birds selected sites with shallow water and intermediate vegetation densities because they anticipated higher prey densities, but they did not experience it here because I controlled for prey density. / by Samantha Lantz. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Forage availability, diets, distribution, and productivity were compared for Roosevelt elk, Cervus elaphus roosevelti, using improved (i.e. seeded, fertilized, and grazed) and untreated areas of the Oregon Coast Range. Seasonal forage availability was substantially different on 1-year-old improved and untreated clearcuts, but the differences diminished by clearcut age 4 and essentially disappeared by clearcut age 7. Elk diets, as evaluated by fecal analysis, were similar in plant species composition and DAPA concentrations on both areas. There was no significant difference in estimated calf birth weights or survival, or in pregnancy and lactation rates, kidney and metatarsal marrow fat concentrations, or breeding dates of adult cows using improved and untreated areas. Summer and winter calf ratios were similar in 7 of 8 seasons sampled. There was no significant difference in home range or core area size, and distances traveled were similar on both areas in all seasons except winter. Elk exposed to summer sheep grazing were displaced an average of 1211 m (SD = 28 m) for an average of 14 weeks (SD = 5 weeks). Elk using improved areas stayed closer to forage areas in spring, but otherwise there was no significant difference in proximity to forage. Elk from both areas demonstrated preferential use of meadows, and used other forage areas in proportion to their availability. The combined results indicated that the forage improvement practices were ineffective in producing any measurable benefits for elk. / Graduation date: 1994

Thesis (MTech. degree in Game Range Management.)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2010. / Lion (Panthera leo) social organisation in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana, and the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, South Africa, was investigated. Situated 20 km apart, the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is predominantly unfenced with unrestricted animal movements, as opposed to the Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve which is completely fenced. Historically both lion populations have faced various but similar pressures such as safari hunting, snaring, poisoning and killing due to perceived conflict with livestock farmers.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis provides opportunities for second grade students to explore, study, and apply critical thinking skills in reference to the local wildlife and current environmental issues.

No description available.