Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2001. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 402-422).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: B, page: 3273. Adviser: Edward J. Heske. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences." Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 30, 2004.). Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-87). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

<p> Wildlife management and conservation frequently rely on understanding mechanisms that influence distribution and abundance of animals. I quantified space use for a population of inland riverine adult male alligators in Mississippi. Results indicated habitat selection is a scale-dependent process and aquatic vegetation, water depth, and water temperature may be important factors influencing alligator foraging and thermoregulation. Apparent habitat suitability and low alligator density did not manifest in an observed body size-based dominance hierarchy. I also analyzed long-term Mississippi alligator spotlight survey data for trends and effects of environmental covariates on counts. Model results indicated alligator counts have increased over time. This response likely reflects benefits accrued from decades of protection and wetland conservation. Distance sampling does not appear to be a feasible monitoring technique for riverine alligator populations. Nevertheless, it is important that survey protocols and monitoring programs account for imperfect detection and model important covariates.</p>

Expanding urbanization into undisturbed Sonoran Desert vegetation has led to public concern over the removal and destruction of large saguaro cacti (Carnegia gigantea). Development mitigation plans were established requiring transplantation, salvage and replacement of saguaros in certain development sites. However, no research has assessed whether native birds use transplanted saguaros at the same rate as non-transplanted cacti. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of saguaro transplantation on nest use. In Tucson, Arizona, 87 transplanted and 28 non-transplanted saguaros on a developed site and 26 non-transplanted saguaros on an undisturbed site were selected for observation of bird nesting activity during the breeding seasons of 1997 and 1998. Birds showed a preference for saguaros, transplanted or non-transplanted, which were surrounded by native vegetation and in areas with low human activity. I suggest that guidelines be revised for development mitigation standards and saguaro transplanting.

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests have changed considerably during the past century, partly because recurrent fires have been absent for a century or more. In dense stands of ponderosa pine in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a layer of pine needles has replaced understory vegetation. I examined the disturbance history, soil seed bank, and effects of prescribed burning and overstory reduction on understory vegetation in a ponderosa pine stand in the northern Black Hills. Cessation of fires, prolific ponderosa pine regeneration, and logging led to a dense, even-aged stand with very little understory vegetation and few viable seeds in the soil seed bank. Understory vegetation did not respond to restoration treatments the first growing season, but did respond the second growing season. Paucity of viable seeds in the soil seed bank does not appear to constrain recruitment of understory vegetation in dense ponderosa pine forests of South Dakota.

I studied bat activity at 13 artificial and 4 natural water sources in southern Arizona from May 1995 through August 1996 using mist-nets and ultrasonic detectors. I used 2 indices of bat activity, capture rates, calculated from mist-netting data, and bat passes/30 minutes, calculated from ultrasound data. Both methods provided similar information on temporal patterns of bat activity. Indices of bat activity were highest during the reproductive season (May through August) compared to the non-reproductive season (September through April). Bat activity did not differ between any of the 2-week time periods within the reproductive season. During the reproductive season, bat activity was bimodal with peaks during the first 2 hours after sunset and the 2 hours preceding sunrise. During the non-reproductive season, bat activity was unimodal, with the majority of activity occurred within 2 hours of sunset. I captured six bat species within the study area. Sex ratios tended to be male biased during the non-reproductive season but close to 1:1 during the reproductive season. Sex ratios did not differ between natural and artificial water sources for any of the bat species compared. Age ratios did differ significantly between natural and artificial water sites. A higher percentage of the total captures at natural water sources were juveniles compared to artificial water sources, possibly indicating higher reproductive output in areas surrounding natural sites. Indices of activity during the reproductive season were significantly higher at natural compared to artificial water sources. However, this difference was not due to higher insect biomass at natural water sources. I developed stepwise multiple regression models to explain variation in bat activity and species richness at water sources. Elevation, type of water source and distance to the nearest cliff or rock outcrop were significant variables in explaining variation in overall capture rates at water sources. Type of water source was the only significant variable explaining variation in ultrasonic activity (passes/30 min), while distance to the nearest source of permanent water and size of the water source explained 33% of the variation in species richness.