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Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Dissertations and Theses: Recent submissions
Now showing items 301-320 of 349
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The Immature Stages of the Subfamily Phlebotominae in Panama (Diptera: Psychodidae)
(University of Kansas, 1968)I am grateful for the permission given me to carry out much of the work herein described while a member of the staff of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory in Panama, Rep* of Panama* I am especially indebted to Dr. Marshall ... -
An Analysis of New World Mangrove Avifaunas Diversity, Endemism, and Conservation
(University of Kansas, 1999-08-27)Most bird species inhabiting mangroves are considered visitors to the habitat. However, some species feed or reproduce almost exclusively in mangroves. If most are visitors, then the question arises as to whether bird ... -
The Morphology, Phylogeny and Higher Classification of the Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea)
(University of Kansas, 1957-05) -
Phylogeny of the Nasutitermtinae and Revision of the Neotropical Genus Syntermes Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae)
(University of Kansas, 1995-12-31)The Nasutitennitixiae are one of the most diverse subfamilies of termites, with more than 80 genera and 600 known species. Soldiers of most Nasutitermitinae have their heads modified for, chemical defense, with a long ... -
Taxonomy and distribution of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia) from deep water of the northeastern Pacific
(University of Kansas, 2010-12-10)Little is known about the taxonomy and distribution of the sea anemones sensu lato (animals belonging to cnidarian orders Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) of the deep northeastern Pacific Ocean. I estimate that there are ... -
Origin and evolution of the unique Australo-Papuan mangrove- restricted avifauna: novel insights form molecular phylogenetic and comparative phylogeographic analyses
(University of Kansas, 2011-04-22)Coastal mangrove forests of Australo-Papua harbor the world's richest avifauna restricted to mangroves, however their biogeographic origins and evolutionary processes shaping their current distributions are not well ... -
SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY CARBON AND NITROGEN DYNAMICS WITH ALTERED PRECIPITATION REGIMES AND SUBSTRATE AVAILABILITY
(University of Kansas, 2011-04-25)Understanding the nature and extent of the feedback between soil microorganisms and ecosystem processes is of great concern as we are faced with multiple elements of global environmental change. In this dissertation, I ... -
ECOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY OF AVIAN VIRUSES USING NICHE MODELS AND WILD BIRD SURVEILLANCE
(University of Kansas, 2010-12-14)The emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 (hereafter "H5N1"), and other bird-associated viruses, have raised serious concerns about impacts on human, livestock, and wildlife populations. Ecological ... -
Phylogenetics of Crabronini, with a consideration of the evolution of predatory and nesting behaviors (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)
(University of Kansas, 2010-12-17)The phylogeny of the genera of the wasp tribe Crabronini was estimated based on a cladistic analysis of 177 adult morphological characters and a sampling of 120 taxa. This represents nearly 80% of the genera of Crabronini ... -
PRE-MATING COMMUNICATION AND HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN TWO MEADOW KATYDIDS, ORCHELIMUM NIGRIPES AND O. PULCHELLUM (ORTHOPTERA: TETTIGONIIDAE): MALE CALLING SONG AND ASYMMETRIC FEMALE PREFERENCE
(University of Kansas, 2010-12-06)I investigated the role of male calling song and female preference on mate choice and pre-mating isolation in Orchelimum nigripes and O. pulchellum. In Chapter 1, I show that the calls of O. nigripes and O. pulchellum ... -
Native Tallgrass Prairie Remnants as "Living Museums": Landscape Context, Metacommunity Dynamics, and Private Management Practices of Native Prairie Hay Meadows
(University of Kansas, 2010-08-27)In fragmented tallgrass prairie remnants within eastern Kansas, smaller patch area, greater isolation, and poorer matrix quality are predicted to result in (1) decreased species richness, (2) decreased site `quality,' and ... -
Osteology of Calluella guttulata (Blyth 1855) and Associated Commentary on Evolution in the Family Microhylidae (Anura)
(University of Kansas, 2010-06-08)Microhylid osteology is a morass of unusual structures and repetitive convergent evolution. The available phylogenetic information is limited, and the osteological information barely scratches the surface of the diversity ... -
Integrating Molecular Evolution and Morphology to Study the Evolutionary History of Lizardfishes and Their Allies
(University of Kansas, 2009-12-17)Evolutionary relationships of the Aulopiformes (Euteleostei: Cyclosquamata) are investigated from a molecular and total evidence approach that includes previous morphological datasets. Molecular and total evidence analyses ... -
The lecanicephalidean fauna of three species of eagle rays of the genus <italic>Aetomylaeus</italic> (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae).
(University of Kansas, 2009-07-16)The eagle ray genus Aetomylaeus comprises four species: A. vespertilio, A. maculatus, A. niehofii, and A. milvus. Five specimens of A. vespertilio (from Northern Australia), five of A. maculatus (from Borneo), and 17 of ... -
The phylogenetic placement of two enigmatic metazoan parasites: Polypodium hydriforme and Myxozoa
(University of Kansas, 2009-07-15)The species Polypodium hydriforme and the phylum Myxozoa are both intracellular fish parasites. Both parasites possess putative nematocysts, the stinging structure characteristic of all cnidarians. This morphological ... -
THE NATURE OF EVOLUTIONARY RADIATIONS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON DEVONIAN CALMONIID TRILOBITES
(University of Kansas, 2010-07-22)Trilobites were a diverse group of arthropods that left an extensive fossil record which are today used today to study macroevolutionary patterns and processes. A new species and form of olenelloidea trilobites (Nevadella ... -
Determinants of Annual and Lifetime Reproductive Success in Female Yellow-bellied Marmots: a Cross-Generational Study
(University of Kansas, 2010-07-28)Despite the importance and broad understanding of fitness as a concept in evolutionary biology, there remains wide disagreement about the ways in which fitness is described and measured in the field. In particular, fitness ... -
Species coexistence in restored grassland plant communities: trait-based recruitment, niche-neutral assembly, and heterogeneous management
(University of Kansas, 2010-07-07)This dissertation examines multiple facets of recruitment in restored tallgrass prairies to address basic ecological questions with implications for enhancing the diversity of tallgrass restorations. In the first chapter, ... -
Comprehensive phylogenetics, systematics, and evolution of neoteny of Lampyridae (Insecta: Coleoptera)
(University of Kansas, 2008-08-15)A comprehensive phylogenetic study of Lampyridae covering nearly 80% of documented genera was conducted. A total of 410 male characters explored from 220 species of ten families were selected and coded. The outgroup ... -
Disturbance, spatial turnover, and species coexistence in grassland plant communities
(University of Kansas, 2008-08-18)Humans have dramatically altered natural disturbance regimes. We thus need to understand how these alterations affect plant communities and whether natural disturbance regimes can be restored. I explored the effect of ...