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Theses and Dissertations - Department of Geography

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Browsing Theses and Dissertations - Department of Geography by Subject "Conservation biology"

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    Extent of Alabama's terrestrial nature reserve system in representing ecosystem diversity: a coarse filter gap analysis
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2013) Billue, Anna Keelin; Hart, Justin L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Numerous studies reveal that existing nature reserves do not effectively represent ecosystem diversity and biodiversity. In this study, Alabama's public and private reserve lands were analyzed to see how representative they were of biodiversity. The spatial distribution and characteristics of Alabama's nature reserves were examined using gap analysis, a technique used to assess the distribution of nature reserves. In Alabama, a gap analysis that includes public (including Department of Defense) and private nature reserves has not been conducted. This analysis had two objectives: 1) to examine the distribution and characteristics of nature reserves across ecoregions; and 2) to analyze where gaps in the Alabama nature reserve system existed and to characterize the drivers of the identified gaps in nature reserve coverage. GIS shapefiles of reserves were collected. A database featuring the total number of reserves, reserve ecoregion, reserve size, owner type (federal, state, local, landtrust), property type (public, private), and connectivity (distance between reserves) was created. Public property was comprised the majority of all nature reserve land area. However, private parcels were the most common land parcels in the four northeasternmost ecoregions (Interior Plateau, Southwestern Appalachians, Ridge and Valley, Piedmont). The two southernmost ecoregions (Southeastern Plains, Southern Coastal Plain) were predominantly comprised of public parcels. The results indicated that reserve lands cover the Southern Coastal Plain most effectively and Southeastern Plains and Interior Plateau the least. I hypothesized that the distribution of nature reserves based on property and owner type was influenced by race, socioeconomic status, and presence of cities. This study will fill a dearth in research and help researchers, private, state, and federal agencies to make well-informed decisions to set and meet conservation goals and policy.
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    Habitat preference in the yellow-tailed woolly monkey (lagothrix flavicauda) at Yambrasbamba, Peru
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2016) Almeyda Zambrano, Sandra Lucia; Broadbent, Eben N.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    We assessed how habitat use and preference in the endemic, and Critically Endangered, yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) are linked to forest structure and composition. The study took place in the community of Yambrasbamba in Northeastern Peru. Very little is known about the spatial distribution and habitat preference of L. flavicauda. Our objective is to identify and highlight the characteristics of habitats most utilized by L. flavicauda in order to contribute to its conservation by providing information that will be useful for the selection of priority sites for habitat protection, and to improve habitat quality. The study site was classified into three different use zones, high, medium, and low use, according to the number of presence records collected from May 2013 to February 2014 for one group of L. flavicauda. Forest structure and composition were assessed for all use classes using the Gentry vegetation transects methodology. Results show great variation in species composition across the three use zones. Food plants have, predominately, greater density, dominance and ecological importance in high use zones. Use zones presented similar forest structure, a reverse J-shape diameter distribution. None of the structural variables analyzed seem to be related to preference in L. flavicauda.
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    Thoughts and threats: understanding the current sea turtle landscape in southern Belize
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Delgado, Alysa Marie; Steinberg, Michael K.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Belize has the potential to be a sea turtle refuge because of historical nesting activity and a wealth of critical nesting and foraging habitat. The last known nationwide assessment was completed in 1992 as a part of the WIDECAST Sea Turtle Recovery and Action Plan (STRAP). Since, limited turtle nest monitoring and reporting has influenced a belief that Southern Belize may no longer be an active region for sea turtle species, including the critically endangered Hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata. This study uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the current sea turtle landscape by conducting both ethnographic and threat surveys within three critical Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Southern Belize. While among stakeholders there appears to be clear misconceptions about sea turtle nesting activities and threats, sea turtles are generally viewed as valuable and positively influenced by the protective measures of the reserves. Belizean sea turtle nesting sites are currently facing both natural and anthropogenic threats at varying severities, however there are still several active sites that are relatively un-threatened. This research provides critical information regarding sea turtle nesting in Southern Belize at a time when management agencies have the opportunity to reduce threats and hopefully strengthen local nesting populations.
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    Vegetation-environment relationships and species assemblages in three vertical strata after an intermediate-scale wind disturbance in a quercus forest
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2015) Jackson, Charles A. T.; Hart, Justin L.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Natural disturbance is a fundamental process that exerts a strong influence in shaping forest structure, composition, and function. Canopy disturbances are often classified based on spatial extent and severity along a gradient ranging from highly localized, gap-scale events to stand-replacing or catastrophic events. The overwhelming majority of research on wind disturbance and forest response has focused on events near the two endpoints (catastrophic and gap-scale) of the disturbance classification gradient. As such, a paucity of data is available on intermediate-scale disturbances. Furthering our understanding of these events provides information on natural processes that can be used to make informed management decisions. On 20 April 2011, an EF1 tornado coupled with straight line winds affected portions of the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forest. I subjectively established 109, 0.04 ha plots in Quercus dominated stands adjacent to the track of the tornado three growing seasons post-disturbance to quantify damage and possible effects on species assemblages in three vertical strata. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), indicator species analysis (ISA), and multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) were used to examine vegetation-environmental relationships in each vertical stratum by species using PC-ORD v. 5.31. Species appeared to be aligned most strongly along elevation and diversity gradients and the effects of the disturbance on seedling and sapling establishment was limited because of the well-developed mid-story layer. The overstory remained dominated by Quercus and Carya spp. However, the disturbance released the shade-tolerant stems present in the understory and mid-story, thereby accelerating succession