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- Title
- A comparison of body proportions in juvenile sea turtles: how shape may optimize survival in a vulnerable life stage.
- Creator
- Pate, Jessica Hope, Salmon, Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Marine turtles produce many offspring which offsets the high mortality experienced by turtles during early development. Juvenile mortality might be reduced by evolving effective behavioral as well as morphological anti-predator defenses. Body proportions of three species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea) of turtles were measured in the first fourteen weeks of development to examine how growth may mitigate predation by gape-limited predators. Growth was categorized as...
Show moreMarine turtles produce many offspring which offsets the high mortality experienced by turtles during early development. Juvenile mortality might be reduced by evolving effective behavioral as well as morphological anti-predator defenses. Body proportions of three species (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Dermochelys coriacea) of turtles were measured in the first fourteen weeks of development to examine how growth may mitigate predation by gape-limited predators. Growth was categorized as isometric if shape did not change during development or allometric if body shape did change. All three species showed allometric growth in carapace width; however it was less pronounced in the larger D. coriacea turtles. Allometric growth in carapace width decreased as all three species grew in size. When high predation occurs in early development, many species will favor rapid growth into a size refuge. Juvenile sea turtles may optimize their survival by growing allometrically when predation risk is the greatest.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004223, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004223
- Subject Headings
- Predation (Biology), Sea turtles -- Growth, Sea turtles -- Mortality, Sea turtles -- Population viability analysis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Novel Interaction: The thin stripe hermit Crab, Clibanarius vittatus, kills the Florida crown conch, Melongena corona, for its shell.
- Creator
- Cutter, Jennifer, Devlin, Donna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be...
Show moreThe hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be classified as competition because there is no opportunity for Melongena to gain from the interaction. Therefore the term “lethal eviction” is hereby proposed for this interaction. The ability to kill a gastropod to obtain a superior shell gives Clibanarius vittatus an evolutionary advantage over other hermit crab species. It is not known if the outcome of this interaction is widespread where both species occur or if it is confined to the study area.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925
- Subject Headings
- Crabs--Behavior., Crab culture., Predation (Biology), Adaptation (Physiology), Aquatic ecology., Intertidal ecology., Conservation biology.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Aggressive Behaviors Of Adult Male Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) During Intraspecific And Interspecific Aggressive Interactions.
- Creator
- Volker, Cassandra L., Herzing, Denise L., Hughes, Colin, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are two sympatric species resident to the Bahamas. The visibility of the Bahamian water provided a unique opportunity to study spotted dolphin communication during aggression. This study’s main focus was to decipher any similarities or differences in the behaviors used by spotted dolphins during interspecific and intraspecific aggression. Both similarities and differences were discovered. Biting,...
Show moreAtlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are two sympatric species resident to the Bahamas. The visibility of the Bahamian water provided a unique opportunity to study spotted dolphin communication during aggression. This study’s main focus was to decipher any similarities or differences in the behaviors used by spotted dolphins during interspecific and intraspecific aggression. Both similarities and differences were discovered. Biting, following, and chasing behavioral events were used more during interspecific aggression, while the display behavioral class was used more than the contact behavioral class during intrabut not interspecific aggression. This study showed that spotted dolphins use more energy intensive and risky behaviors when fighting interspecifically. This could result from having to fight and defend females from a larger species, trying to avoid sexual harassment from bottlenose males, or needing to use behaviors that are more overt and easily understood during interspecies communication.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004638, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004638
- Subject Headings
- Atlantic spotted dolphin--Bahamas., Aggressive behavior in animals., Social behavior in animals., Aquatic mammals--Behavior., Predation (Biology), Predatory marine animals--Ecology.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Analysis of Cuban treefrog (osteopilus septentrionalis) predation on native Florida treefrog species.
- Creator
- Planas, Anthony, Cunningham, Miranda, Frazier, Evelyn
- Date Issued
- 2013-04-05
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361165
- Subject Headings
- Cuban treefrog--Florida, Osteopilus septentrionalis, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Colony regeneration following damage and size-dependent mortality in the Australian ascidian Podoclavella moluccensis Sluiter.
- Creator
- Davis, A. R., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1988
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3353826
- Subject Headings
- Ascidians, Sea squirts--Australia, Predation (Biology), Mortality, Animal colonies
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Crayfish (Procambarus spp.) sorting and density effects across a predator gradient.
- Creator
- Kellogg, Christopher M., Dorn, Nathan, Graduate College
- Date Issued
- 2011-04-08
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3165803
- Subject Headings
- Crayfish culture, Predation (Biology), Sunfishes
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Culture of Mercenaria mercenaria (Linnaeus): effects of density, predator exclusion device, and bag inversion.
- Creator
- Fernandez, Eva M., Lin, Junda, Scarpa, John
- Date Issued
- 1999
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3174048
- Subject Headings
- Northern quahog --Development, Northern quahog --Reproduction, Density, Fouling, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Diet and foraging ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys Terrapin) in south Florida.
- Creator
- Denton, Mathew, Baldwin, John D., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
Dietary resource use for diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapins) in subtropical mangrove habitats in south Florida creeks and islands was examined to elucidate long-term individual foraging strategies. Fecal analysis revealed seven categories of food items with gastropods, crabs, and bivalves being the most dominant food items respectively. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed differences in habitat, but not terrapin size class. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the findings,...
Show moreDietary resource use for diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapins) in subtropical mangrove habitats in south Florida creeks and islands was examined to elucidate long-term individual foraging strategies. Fecal analysis revealed seven categories of food items with gastropods, crabs, and bivalves being the most dominant food items respectively. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed differences in habitat, but not terrapin size class. Stable isotope analysis confirmed the findings, identifying habitat and site differences in δ13C and δ15N values for both terrapins and their prey. Bi-plots of terrapin and potential prey δ 13C and δ 15N values revealed potential dietary sources previously undetermined by fecal analysis. Comparisons of scute and blood isotope data revealed significant differences in δ13C indicating potential shifts in either food resources and/or habitat use through the time period recorded in the scute tissue. These tissue comparisons represent a powerful tool for estimating long term foraging strategies for a key estuarine species.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004101
- Subject Headings
- Diamondback terrapin -- Habitat -- Florida., Diamondback terrapin -- Ecology -- Florida., Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Diet of Limacina helicina (Gastropoda: Thecosomata) in Artic waters in midsummer.
- Creator
- Gilmer, R. W., Harbison, G. R., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1991
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3350861
- Subject Headings
- Zooplankton, Copepoda, Diatoms, Thecosomata, Predation (Biology), Territorial waters --Arctic regions
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Diet variation and the consumptive effects of native centrarchids on benthic macroinvertebrates in wetlands.
- Creator
- Bransky, Jacob., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
Fish predation can have structuring effects in aquatic communities, but the most important fish predators are not always immediately obvious. Generalist fish predators often occupy similar habitats and consume similar prey making determination of their consumptive impacts difficult. Understanding these consumptive impacts is important for understanding complex wetland food webs. I collected warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), and dollar sunfish (Lepomis...
Show moreFish predation can have structuring effects in aquatic communities, but the most important fish predators are not always immediately obvious. Generalist fish predators often occupy similar habitats and consume similar prey making determination of their consumptive impacts difficult. Understanding these consumptive impacts is important for understanding complex wetland food webs. I collected warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), and dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) in two seasons from sloughs for both diet and bioenergetics analysis. Macroinvertebrates dominated diets of the three species, and nonparametric analyses revealed evidence of diet ontogeny in warmouth and potential competition for prey items among gape-matched individuals. Bioenergetics modeling revealed high levels of macroinvertebrate comsumption by these species relative to macroinvertebrate reproductive output suggesting that when combined with other sources of mortality, consumptive pressures placed by sunfish on benthic macroinvertebrates may be quite large.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356894
- Subject Headings
- Wetland ecology, Predatory marine animals, Ecology, Predation (Biology), Habitat selction, Marine ecosystem management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Diet-based defensive secretions in harvestmen.
- Creator
- Whitaker, Graham., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
-
Harvestmen are known to secrete a wide range of defensive chemicals in order to protect themselves from predators. An earlier study examined the phylogenetic pattern of defensive secretions produced by 22 species of harvestmen. This research, however, assumed that there is a genetic link between the defensive secretions. I wished to determine whether harvestmen defensive secretions may be diet-based by introducing several irritants into their food and then testing their secretions in the same...
Show moreHarvestmen are known to secrete a wide range of defensive chemicals in order to protect themselves from predators. An earlier study examined the phylogenetic pattern of defensive secretions produced by 22 species of harvestmen. This research, however, assumed that there is a genetic link between the defensive secretions. I wished to determine whether harvestmen defensive secretions may be diet-based by introducing several irritants into their food and then testing their secretions in the same manner. I performed a GC-MS analysis on 13 samples from the Vonones sp. But I found no initial GC-MS readings that showed this species of harvestmen to contain any irritants in their secretions. The absence of irritants does not allow any evaluation of whether harvestmen secretions are genetically or dietarily based.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11596
- Subject Headings
- Opiliones, Identification, Arachnida, Physiology, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Differential predation by barnacles upon larvae of two bryozoans: spatial effects at small scales.
- Creator
- Young, Craig M., Cameron, J. Lane, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1989
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3353836
- Subject Headings
- Predation (Biology), Barnacles, Bryozoa, Larvae
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Distribution of macrobenthic crustaceans associated with Thalassia, Halodule and bare sand substrata.
- Creator
- Lewis, F. Graham, III, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1984
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3350846
- Subject Headings
- Biomass, Plant biomass, Crustaceans, Seagrasses, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) removal on native Florida hyla populations.
- Creator
- Cunningham, Miranda, Moore, Jon, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Invasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity and understanding the effects any one invasive species has on members of its new ecosystem can help land managers decide how to best use their limited resources. This study attempted to show the effect Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) were having on native Florida hylids. For a year, Cuban Treefrogs were removed from three cypress domes and monitored in three other cypress domes, a change in the native population in the...
Show moreInvasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity and understanding the effects any one invasive species has on members of its new ecosystem can help land managers decide how to best use their limited resources. This study attempted to show the effect Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus Septentrionalis) were having on native Florida hylids. For a year, Cuban Treefrogs were removed from three cypress domes and monitored in three other cypress domes, a change in the native population in the experimental domes was the eventual desired effect. Due to weather issues and low native hylid numbers no effect was shown, however due to environmental constraints an effect could not be ruled out either.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004359, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004359
- Subject Headings
- Conservation biology, Cuban Treefrog -- Florida, Hylidae, Predation (Biology), Wildlife management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of freshwater discharges and habitat architecture on oyster reef community development and diversity.
- Creator
- Salewski, Elizabeth a., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
Oyster reefs support diverse estuarine communities and food webs. Factors controlling oyster reef community development were studied on restored reefs in the St. Lucie Estuary. Freshwater discharges create stresses that cause oyster mortality, habitat loss and reduction in reef community diversity. Using structural equation modeling, it was demonstrated that salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a gradients influence oysters and some reef invertebrate species, but did not support the...
Show moreOyster reefs support diverse estuarine communities and food webs. Factors controlling oyster reef community development were studied on restored reefs in the St. Lucie Estuary. Freshwater discharges create stresses that cause oyster mortality, habitat loss and reduction in reef community diversity. Using structural equation modeling, it was demonstrated that salinity, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a gradients influence oysters and some reef invertebrate species, but did not support the predictions of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis. In contrast, diversity and species richness were greatest at low stress sites. A field experiment showed that topographic relief and architectural complexity enhanced colonization and growth of reef-building species (e.g.oysters and mussels). The relief by complexity interaction had a higher order, synergistic effect on oyster abundance. When considered separately, increasing relief further enhanced dominant sessile taxa (cirripeds and ascideans) ; while, increasing complexity supported greater species richness and the abundance of cirripeds.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3355881
- Subject Headings
- American oyster, Reef ecology, Habitat conservation, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Estimating predation levels and site-specific survival of hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from south Florida beaches.
- Creator
- Whelan, Christie L., Florida Atlantic University, Wyneken, Jeanette
- Abstract/Description
-
Few studies document mortality rates for hatchling sea turtles during their migration away from the nesting beach. This study quantifies and compares nearshore predation rates on loggerhead hatchlings (Caretta caretta) at several locations in southern Florida. Hatchlings were followed by observers in kayaks during the first 15 min of the migration away from the beach. The overall observed predation rate (4.6%) is similar to a previous estimate (5%) from a natural high density Florida nesting...
Show moreFew studies document mortality rates for hatchling sea turtles during their migration away from the nesting beach. This study quantifies and compares nearshore predation rates on loggerhead hatchlings (Caretta caretta) at several locations in southern Florida. Hatchlings were followed by observers in kayaks during the first 15 min of the migration away from the beach. The overall observed predation rate (4.6%) is similar to a previous estimate (5%) from a natural high density Florida nesting beach, and lower than at a hatchery site. Predation rates were higher on Florida's southeast coast than the southwest coast. Predation increased towards the end of the hatching season. Results suggest that currently, hatchling mortality rates are relative low in Florida's shallow nearshore waters. Given the lack of growth by loggerhead populations, the cumulative mortality must be high after hatchlings depart shallow coastal waters.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13259
- Subject Headings
- Sea turtles--Florida--Atlantic Coast, Loggerhead turtle--Mortality, Predation (Biology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Experimental studies of decapod and fish predation on seagrass macrobenthos.
- Creator
- Nelson, Walter G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1981
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3350839
- Subject Headings
- Decapoda (Crustacea), Predation (Biology), Lagodon rhomboids, Blue crab, Palaemonetes, Penaeus duorarum, Seagrasses --Ecology, Indian River (Fla.: Lagoon)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Feeding and functional morphology of the lobate ctenophore Mnemiopsis mccradyi.
- Creator
- Larson, R. J., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
- Date Issued
- 1988
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3173011
- Subject Headings
- Ctenophora, Animal feeding, Predation (Biology), Zooplankton, Food chains (Ecology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Fire ants on sea turtle nesting beaches in South Florida, USA, and ST. Croix, USVI.
- Creator
- Romais, Danielle K., Wetterer, James K., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a South American native introduced in Alabama in the early 20th century. This predatory species has rapidly spread throughout the southeastern US and parts of the West Indies, inflicting great ecological and economic damage. For example, Solenopsis invicta is known to attack the eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and reptiles. The ants swarm into the nests attacking hatchlings and diminishing their chance for survival. My thesis...
Show moreThe red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a South American native introduced in Alabama in the early 20th century. This predatory species has rapidly spread throughout the southeastern US and parts of the West Indies, inflicting great ecological and economic damage. For example, Solenopsis invicta is known to attack the eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and reptiles. The ants swarm into the nests attacking hatchlings and diminishing their chance for survival. My thesis research aimed to survey the distribution of ants on sea turtle nesting beaches in South Florida and St. Croix, USVI, and to evaluate the possible threat of Solenopsis invicta and other predatory ants to sea turtle hatchlings.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004052
- Subject Headings
- Biological invasions, Fire ants -- Venom -- Physiological effect, Predation (Biology), Sea turtles -- Florida -- Mortality, Sea turtles -- St. Croix -- Mortality, Wildlife conservation -- Florida, Wildlife conservation -- St. Croix
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Foraging ecology of wading birds in a sub-tropical intertidal zone.
- Creator
- Calle, Leonardo, Gawlik, Dale E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The first of five chapters describe the study area and study species, including a short description about the impetus for this research. The second chapter describes a unique hydrologic model for application in tidal ecosystems. The second chapter represents new information on the effects of various abiotic and biotic factors on foraging wading birds in this highly dynamic environment. The third chapter identifies important factors affecting the abundance of foraging wading birds in...
Show moreThe first of five chapters describe the study area and study species, including a short description about the impetus for this research. The second chapter describes a unique hydrologic model for application in tidal ecosystems. The second chapter represents new information on the effects of various abiotic and biotic factors on foraging wading birds in this highly dynamic environment. The third chapter identifies important factors affecting the abundance of foraging wading birds in intertidal environments. The fourth chapter presents a study of the foraging habitat preferences of two wading bird species in intertidal environments. The fifth chapter describes a conceptual model of wading bird foraging ecology and a predictive model of foraging habitat in intertidal zones. The conceptual model captures the major drivers and linkages between the abiotic and biotic variables thought to affect wading bird foraging abundance in intertidal habitats. The conceptual model also identifies major knowledge gaps in our understanding of foraging ecology of wading birds in coastal intertidal areas. The predictive model of foraging habitat is meant to be used by resource managers, but its framework may be useful for ecological studies in general. The final and sixth chapter provides a summary of all the major findings. Each chapter has been written so as to be independent of the other chapters. As such, a full background, along with a discussion of the relevance of the chapter's findings is provided for each chapter.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004087
- Subject Headings
- Habitat selection, Population biology, Predation (Biology), Water birds -- Geographical distribution, Water birds -- Habitat
- Format
- Document (PDF)