Date of Award
8-14-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Than Boves
Committee Members
Travis Marsico; Virginie Rolland
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2020 Y69
Abstract
Ongoing and intensive anthropogenic change has modified the globe across multiple scales, yet the influence of these modifications on wildlife communities and individuals remain region and species specific. Here I explored the influence of a biogeographical pattern as it relates to climate and geography, and the effects of historic habitat loss and fragmentation on a diverse avian community. I first explored the adherence to Bergmann’s rule within a migratory songbird, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), across all life stages and time. The pattern was present from the young nestling stage through adulthood, although contemporary eggs followed a reverse relationship with latitude. Historic egg size was positively related to latitude. Secondly, I explored how multi-scale habitat features influence avian communities existing within isolated woodlots within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. These areas provide habitat to a diversity of guilds and species, with larger woodlots offering the greatest potential for landscape restoration.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Youtz, Joseph, "Exploring the Effects of Geographic and Landscape Variation on Avian Communities and Species" (2020). Student Theses and Dissertations. 376.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/376
