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Avifauna in a suburban environment
Title
Avifauna in a suburban environment.
Creator
Blair, Courtney., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Habitat fragmentation causes the isolation of groups of individuals within species by producing a new landscape that is uninhabitable for many species, including birds. I surveyed the John D. MacArthur campus of FAU in the Fall of 2005 and Spring of 2006 to assess the use of the campus by birds. Throughout the campus trees are lined in rows along the sidewalks and around buildings, in contrast to the pine flatwoods environment that existed prior to development. The birds observed were found...
Show moreHabitat fragmentation causes the isolation of groups of individuals within species by producing a new landscape that is uninhabitable for many species, including birds. I surveyed the John D. MacArthur campus of FAU in the Fall of 2005 and Spring of 2006 to assess the use of the campus by birds. Throughout the campus trees are lined in rows along the sidewalks and around buildings, in contrast to the pine flatwoods environment that existed prior to development. The birds observed were found performing various activities on the campus, including foraging, perching, and building nests. Individuals were concentrated around or near buildings with the most diverse vegetation. Through assessing these campus uses I suggest that there are ways we can help increase bird diversity in promoting their use of urban environments. Such solutions can help decrease the number of individuals and species lost to the destructive force of habitat fragmentation.
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Date Issued
2007
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/40269
Subject Headings
Birds, Ecology, Wildlife management, Birds, Habitat
Format
Document (PDF)
False crawls by loggerhead sea turtles in Palm Beach County, Florida
Title
False crawls by loggerhead sea turtles in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Creator
Leech, Anna, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
In Florida, loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting populations are in decline, and human presence on beaches during nesting season can create an array of problems for the sea turtles. Volunteers and workers from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center collected nesting data from 2001 to 2005 along a 9.7 km stretch of Jupiter and Juno Beach, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Using these data, I found that human presence appears to have a negative impact on false crawl rates. The rate of false...
Show moreIn Florida, loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nesting populations are in decline, and human presence on beaches during nesting season can create an array of problems for the sea turtles. Volunteers and workers from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center collected nesting data from 2001 to 2005 along a 9.7 km stretch of Jupiter and Juno Beach, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Using these data, I found that human presence appears to have a negative impact on false crawl rates. The rate of false crawl was significantly higher on weekends than on weekdays(χ2 = 6.3, p < 0.05), and in areas with continuous public access than in areas with no public access(χ2 = 69.0, p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in the number of nests laid on weekends versus weekdays(χ2 = 0.6, p > 0.05), although there are still other, less obvious negative effects caused by false crawling, and even nesting, while humans are in the vicinity. Even though it is impractical to try to keep people off the beach at night, it is important to increase awareness of the negative impacts that human presence may have on sea turtle nesting in order to help reverse the decline in the population of loggerhead sea turtles.
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Date Issued
2008
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77673
Subject Headings
Sea turtles, Wildlife conservation, Loggerhead turtle, Sea turtles, Orientation
Format
Document (PDF)
Influences of mosquito control impoundments on Rhizophora mangle initial propagule establishment and growth
Title
Influences of mosquito control impoundments on Rhizophora mangle initial propagule establishment and growth.
Creator
Coldren, Glenn A., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Rotational Impoundment Management (RIM) is a commonly used method of mosquito control in Florida involving seasonal flooding during mosquito breeding season and allowances for natural tidal variations during summer flooding. My study looks at the effects of this impoundment strategy on the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L., recruitment. Primary productivity of mangroves in these impoundments has been found to be similar to that of natural areas, although nutrient levels have been found to...
Show moreRotational Impoundment Management (RIM) is a commonly used method of mosquito control in Florida involving seasonal flooding during mosquito breeding season and allowances for natural tidal variations during summer flooding. My study looks at the effects of this impoundment strategy on the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle L., recruitment. Primary productivity of mangroves in these impoundments has been found to be similar to that of natural areas, although nutrient levels have been found to differ greatly. R. mangle is a completely viviparous species, and as such, maternal conditions have a strong effect on propagules. My study compares the initial establishment and growth of R. mangle propagules collected from and planted in both impounded and non-impounded sites.
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Date Issued
2007
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11618
Subject Headings
Red mangrove, Mangrove ecology, Wetland conservation, Mosquitos, Control
Format
Document (PDF)