Browsing by Author "Steury, Todd"

Now showing items 1-20 of 37

Adaptive developmental plasticity and hormetic effects in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis)

Hoffman, Alexander (2024-05-01) ETD File Embargoed

Stressors experienced during development can have persisting detrimental effects on an individual’s phenotype, as well as indirect effects on the phenotype of offspring. However, developmental stressors can also be beneficial ...

Alabama Pilot Survey for a New National Outdoor Recreation Survey Focusing on Minority Access and Views

Groetsch, Caitlin (2022-09-19)

Since 2014, the agencies tasked with managing our outdoor recreation sites have experienced a knowledge gap caused by the discontinuation of the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (NSRE), which was previously ...

Assessing the Spread and Movement of Cotton Leafroll Dwarf Virus and Cotton Infesting Aphids in the Southern U.S.

Mahas, John (2024-05-01) ETD File Embargoed

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is the only known vector to transmit cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) to cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., but the role of the aphid vector in the epidemiology of CLRDV is not ...

An assessment of red wolf (Canis rufus) population persistence using classical and individual-based modeling approaches

Mahoney, Peter (2011-03-30)

Population viability analysis (PVA) has become the quintessential analytical tool for conservation biologists. However, as interest in PVA has grown, many notable concerns have been raised about the predictive accuracy of ...

THE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MENTAL GLAND SECRETIONS OF BOTH SEXES OF GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS)

Kelley, Meghan (2021-07-19)

All living chelonian species (e.g., turtles and tortoises) are experiencing population declines, causing a new imperative to maintain the longevity of adults and to facilitate reproduction. One strategy in facilitating ...

Commercial and Recreational Angler Conflict with Coastal Wildlife on the Alabama Coast: Protecting Sea Turtles and Dolphins with Greater Awareness

Olivas, TiAnna (2024-06-11)

Human-wildlife interactions in the Gulf of Mexico fisheries, especially along Alabama’s coast, increasingly impact for-hire fishing industries and commercial shrimp industries. Both industries face growing challenges from ...

Conservation Compliance and Public Awareness: Assessing Dolphin and Sea Turtle Interactions in Coastal Alabama

Henry, Hannah (2024-06-26)

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) serve as critical legislation for safeguarding marine species in the United States, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico region. Despite legal ...

A Decision Support Tool: Integrating Wildlife Occupancy Models with Stand Projections

Tacconelli, Michelle F. (2011-08-16)

With the increase in consumptive trends of wood products there is greater push for ecosystem management. Ecosystem management is a process that aims to conserve major ecological services and restore natural resources while ...

Determining the spatial and seasonal influences of microbial community composition and structure from the Hawaiian anchialine ecosystem

Hoffman, Stephanie (2016-12-09)

Characterized as coastal bodies of water lacking surface connections to the ocean but with subterranean connections to the ocean and groundwater, habitats belonging to the anchialine ecosystem occur worldwide in primarily ...

The Ecology of Scatterhoarding in a Flooded Ecosystem

Wilson, Sarah (2018-05-16)

Food hoarding is a strategy typically used by species that experience times with little food readily available. Scatterhoarders store single food items in many locations throughout their home range before the food-scarce ...

EFFECT OF WAVE ACTION, BIOFOULING CONTROL, AND DENSITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EASTERN OYSTERS (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA)

Lewis, John (2021-06-21)

To better understand the impacts of wave action on oyster performance and its interaction with other farming choices, triploid oysters were deployed utilizing the adjustable longline system at an oyster farm site near Deer ...

Effects of culture methods in the Pacific Northwest on the levels of Vibrio spp. in farm-raised oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Kelly, James (2021-05-18)

Oyster aquaculture utilizes both on-bottom and off-bottom culture techniques to harvest raw oysters for the half-shell market. In the Pacific Northwest, the farming practices for growing the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea ...

Evaluation of reproductive behavior in white-tailed deer through genetic parentage analysis

Irvin, Stephanie (2011-04-28)

Few studies have utilized genetic technology to examine reproductive behavior in white-tailed deer through parentage analysis, resulting in gaps in knowledge of reproductive behavior in white-tailed deer. This study examined ...

The Evolution of Scatterhoarding Behavior and Behavioral Adaptations of Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Ramirez, Sarah (2023-07-16) ETD File Embargoed

We investigated the evolution of scatterhoarding behavior (storing food for future use) and behavioral adaptations of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). First, we simulated the evolution of scatterhoarding ...

Examining Sense of Place and Florida Black Bear Habitat Use in Florida’s Northwestern Panhandle: A Social-Ecological Approach to Landscape Management

Lowery, Damon (2011-07-07)

Florida’s Northwestern Panhandle is one of the last undeveloped areas of Florida coastline and faces potential alterations in the near future. These changes will have landscape level impacts, and this study aimed at ...

Exploring the social habitat of Alabama Public Land Hunters

Birdsong, Max (2019-05-15)

The United States has been facing a decline in the number of licensed hunters since around 1980, posing a serious threat to state conservation agencies who receive funding from hunting license sales. Recent research ...

Foraging and Spatial Ecology of Red Wolves (Canis rufus) in Northeastern North Carolina

Dellinger, Justin (2011-03-30)

Red wolves (Canis rufus) are critically endangered, with <150 individuals in the only wild population. I collected scats (fecal deposits) of red wolves from that population for 2 consecutive pup-rearing seasons. Packs ...

Genetic Diversity and Connectivity of Black Bears (Ursus americanus) in Alabama.

Draper, John (2017-04-21)

One of the major concerns in conservation today is the loss of genetic diversity which is a frequent consequence of population isolation and small population sizes. Fragmentation of populations and persecution of carnivores ...

Genetic Structure, Diversity, and Connectivity of Alabama Black Bear (Ursus americanus) Populations

Graham, Stephanie (2016-05-18)

Black bear (Ursus americanus) abundance and distribution has declined drastically across the southeastern United States, where a range reduction of 80% has occurred. In this study, the structure, diversity, and connectivity ...

How does the major histocompatibility complex influence reproductive success in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)?

Ivy-Israel, Natascha (2019-07-23)

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products can influence sexual selection through their impact on the vertebrate immune system. Individuals with greater MHC diversity are generally believed to have more effective ...