Thesis Archives Search
This search engine will let you explore the over 1800 theses written in Honors at The University of Maine since the Program’s inception in 1935. You may search our thesis archives based on any of the fields listed above. If the thesis is available at the Reynolds Library (Thomson Honors Center) or Fogler Library (Special Collections), the information will appear below the bibliographic data. At last count, we had about 1800 theses in the Reynolds Library.
Search Results
Assessing the Effectiveness of Attractants to Increase Detection Probabilities in Northeastern Mammals
Author:
Michael
Buyaskas
Major: Wildlife Ecology Graduation Year: 2019 Thesis Advisor: Alessio Mortelliti
Description of Publication:
A primary problem with camera trapping in wildlife occupancy studies is the failure to detect an animal when it is present at the site. My objective was to determine the optimal attractant setup for maximizing detection probabilities of northeast mammalian communities. I carried out an camera trapping project in northern Maine, USA from August to November 2018, and tested 3 distinct attractant setup. Sampling stations consisted of four camera units, and each sampling unit constituted either a treatment or a control: 1) bait + lure (treatment), 2) bait only (treatment), 3) lure only (treatment), and 4) camera only (control). Data analysis was conducted in program PRESENCE, using a single season, multi-method occupancy modeling framework. Results showed that the combination attractant of bait + lure was the most effective for maximizing detection probability of carnivores. Bait + lure also proved to be particularly effective for mustelid species, while ‘lure only’ was particularly effective for American black bear (Ursus americanus). Use of attractants was shown to have nearly no effect on detection probability of non-carnivore taxa.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/484/
Major: Wildlife Ecology Graduation Year: 2019 Thesis Advisor: Alessio Mortelliti
Description of Publication:
A primary problem with camera trapping in wildlife occupancy studies is the failure to detect an animal when it is present at the site. My objective was to determine the optimal attractant setup for maximizing detection probabilities of northeast mammalian communities. I carried out an camera trapping project in northern Maine, USA from August to November 2018, and tested 3 distinct attractant setup. Sampling stations consisted of four camera units, and each sampling unit constituted either a treatment or a control: 1) bait + lure (treatment), 2) bait only (treatment), 3) lure only (treatment), and 4) camera only (control). Data analysis was conducted in program PRESENCE, using a single season, multi-method occupancy modeling framework. Results showed that the combination attractant of bait + lure was the most effective for maximizing detection probability of carnivores. Bait + lure also proved to be particularly effective for mustelid species, while ‘lure only’ was particularly effective for American black bear (Ursus americanus). Use of attractants was shown to have nearly no effect on detection probability of non-carnivore taxa.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/484/
Assessing the Feasibility of a New Vehicle Eco-Labeling Program in Maine
Assessing the Impact of Acquaintance Rape: Interviews with Women Who Are Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault While In College
ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF COMMERCIAL CLEARCUT ON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITIES
Author:
Nicholas
J.
Kovalik
Major: Zoology Graduation Year: 2018 Thesis Advisor: Amanda Klemmer
Description of Publication:
Forest harvesting can impact the environment in many ways, one of which is causing a loss of subsidies and increased light intensity to freshwater ecosystems. This can have a major impact on freshwater invertebrate communities that may rely on subsidies to survive. In this study, I tested two effects of commercial clearcut, changes in light availability and detrital resources, on freshwater invertebrate communities. Cattle tanks containing freshwater invertebrates were given detritus from two different plots: one which underwent commercial clearcut over 50 years ago, and one which underwent commercial clearcut 2 years ago. Tanks were also placed in two areas of differing canopy: one shaded, another open. The abundance, richness, and composition of the invertebrate communities were measured. There was no significant difference between the 50-year and 2-year clearcut leaf subsidy treatments, but there was a significant difference between the shaded and opened canopy treatment. This indicates that a lack of canopy over a freshwater ecosystem in autumn or winter alters freshwater invertebrate communities through light availability rather than through a lack of detritus.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/342
Major: Zoology Graduation Year: 2018 Thesis Advisor: Amanda Klemmer
Description of Publication:
Forest harvesting can impact the environment in many ways, one of which is causing a loss of subsidies and increased light intensity to freshwater ecosystems. This can have a major impact on freshwater invertebrate communities that may rely on subsidies to survive. In this study, I tested two effects of commercial clearcut, changes in light availability and detrital resources, on freshwater invertebrate communities. Cattle tanks containing freshwater invertebrates were given detritus from two different plots: one which underwent commercial clearcut over 50 years ago, and one which underwent commercial clearcut 2 years ago. Tanks were also placed in two areas of differing canopy: one shaded, another open. The abundance, richness, and composition of the invertebrate communities were measured. There was no significant difference between the 50-year and 2-year clearcut leaf subsidy treatments, but there was a significant difference between the shaded and opened canopy treatment. This indicates that a lack of canopy over a freshwater ecosystem in autumn or winter alters freshwater invertebrate communities through light availability rather than through a lack of detritus.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/342
Assessing the Influence of Interseeded Cover Crops on Beneficial Arthropod Abundance in a Northeastern Agroecosystem
Author:
Charles
Cooper
Major: Ecology and Environmental Sciences Graduation Year: 2024 Thesis Advisor: Rachel Schattman
Description of Publication:
Conservation agriculture approaches are gaining traction as the planet’s food system grapples with climate change, oil depletion, and rampant environmental degradation (Palm et al., 2014). Cover cropping is an integral practice of conservation agriculture. Ground dwelling arthropods play an important role in agroecosystems, providing ecosystem services including seed predation and nutrient cycling. Because the relationship between cover crops and arthropod abundance are likely influenced by management conditions, I investigated arthropod abundance in a field interseeded with cover crops on a research farm in Maine, United States. Interseeding is an emerging practice in the northeastern United States, with potential to address the barriers to more typical cover cropping. Such barriers are primarily economic and ecological in nature. For example, it can be difficult to achieve sufficient biomass when cover crops are planted late in the growing season, diminishing potential ecosystem service benefits. The influence of interseeded cover crops on beneficial arthropods has not been researched in this bioregion. In this study, arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps three times during the 2023 fall growing season. I sampled from plots that were either cover-cropped or not cover-cropped (the latter being the control treatment), with 4 replicates per treatment. Harpalus rufipes DeGeer (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was the most abundant groups sampled, with members of the Gryllus genus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) also highly abundant. H. rufipes and G. species are granivorous, providing seed predation services to regulate weed seedbanks. No significant difference in abundance or diversity was found between treatments, though other conditions observed in the experiment likely influenced this outcome. A moderate positive linear relationship was found between canopy cover, which included both cover crops and weeds, and arthropod abundance. Both cover crops and weeds provide habitat for beneficial arthropods. Suitable habitat was less available when intercrop space was left bare. These findings show that cover crops provide the valuable habitat for beneficial arthropods, without the management complications and yield losses associated with high weed pressure. The findings prompt further research on the myriad factors influencing beneficial arthropod abundance in agroecological systems.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/873/
Major: Ecology and Environmental Sciences Graduation Year: 2024 Thesis Advisor: Rachel Schattman
Description of Publication:
Conservation agriculture approaches are gaining traction as the planet’s food system grapples with climate change, oil depletion, and rampant environmental degradation (Palm et al., 2014). Cover cropping is an integral practice of conservation agriculture. Ground dwelling arthropods play an important role in agroecosystems, providing ecosystem services including seed predation and nutrient cycling. Because the relationship between cover crops and arthropod abundance are likely influenced by management conditions, I investigated arthropod abundance in a field interseeded with cover crops on a research farm in Maine, United States. Interseeding is an emerging practice in the northeastern United States, with potential to address the barriers to more typical cover cropping. Such barriers are primarily economic and ecological in nature. For example, it can be difficult to achieve sufficient biomass when cover crops are planted late in the growing season, diminishing potential ecosystem service benefits. The influence of interseeded cover crops on beneficial arthropods has not been researched in this bioregion. In this study, arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps three times during the 2023 fall growing season. I sampled from plots that were either cover-cropped or not cover-cropped (the latter being the control treatment), with 4 replicates per treatment. Harpalus rufipes DeGeer (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was the most abundant groups sampled, with members of the Gryllus genus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) also highly abundant. H. rufipes and G. species are granivorous, providing seed predation services to regulate weed seedbanks. No significant difference in abundance or diversity was found between treatments, though other conditions observed in the experiment likely influenced this outcome. A moderate positive linear relationship was found between canopy cover, which included both cover crops and weeds, and arthropod abundance. Both cover crops and weeds provide habitat for beneficial arthropods. Suitable habitat was less available when intercrop space was left bare. These findings show that cover crops provide the valuable habitat for beneficial arthropods, without the management complications and yield losses associated with high weed pressure. The findings prompt further research on the myriad factors influencing beneficial arthropod abundance in agroecological systems.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/873/
Assessment of Microbial Diversity in Lupinus perennus Nodules Based on Molecular Comparison on the coxL Gene
Assessment of Potential Measures at Admit of Harbor Seal Pup Rehabilitation Success
Author:
Shannon
Brown
Major: Marine Sciences Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Kristina Cammen
Description of Publication:
Harbor seals frequently strand along the northeast coast of the United States due to injury, illness, disease, and human interaction. In Maine, a non-profit organization, Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME), is federally authorized to respond to these stranded animals and provide short-and long-term rehabilitation, with the ultimate aim to release the seals back into the wild. I investigated the role of multiple potential measures of marine mammal health that are evaluated at admit in determining rehabilitation success of dependent and weaned harbor seal pups from 2016 to 2019. The variables assessed were the day of the year the patients were first observed in the field, the amount of time they were observed in the field before collection, findings of human interaction, age class, weight:length ratio, and 43 blood parameters. This analysis found that pups have a greater likelihood of being released if they strand later in the year (p<0.05). The longer an individual is in rehabilitation, the less likely they are to be released (p<0.0001). Pups that were transferred from MMoME to another rehabilitation facility had a greater likelihood of being released (p<0.05). Harbor seals that stranded when they were dependent pups were more likely to be released than weaned pups (p<0.05). Pups with a lower lymphocyte concentration at admit (p<0.001) and a higher total protein concentration (p<0.05) were more likely to be released. These findings may help rehabilitation organizations determine which harbor seal pups will be good candidates for a successful rehabilitation early on in the process.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/646/
Major: Marine Sciences Graduation Year: 2021 Thesis Advisor: Kristina Cammen
Description of Publication:
Harbor seals frequently strand along the northeast coast of the United States due to injury, illness, disease, and human interaction. In Maine, a non-profit organization, Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME), is federally authorized to respond to these stranded animals and provide short-and long-term rehabilitation, with the ultimate aim to release the seals back into the wild. I investigated the role of multiple potential measures of marine mammal health that are evaluated at admit in determining rehabilitation success of dependent and weaned harbor seal pups from 2016 to 2019. The variables assessed were the day of the year the patients were first observed in the field, the amount of time they were observed in the field before collection, findings of human interaction, age class, weight:length ratio, and 43 blood parameters. This analysis found that pups have a greater likelihood of being released if they strand later in the year (p<0.05). The longer an individual is in rehabilitation, the less likely they are to be released (p<0.0001). Pups that were transferred from MMoME to another rehabilitation facility had a greater likelihood of being released (p<0.05). Harbor seals that stranded when they were dependent pups were more likely to be released than weaned pups (p<0.05). Pups with a lower lymphocyte concentration at admit (p<0.001) and a higher total protein concentration (p<0.05) were more likely to be released. These findings may help rehabilitation organizations determine which harbor seal pups will be good candidates for a successful rehabilitation early on in the process.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/646/
ASSESSMENT OF SEA LICE INFESTATIONS ON WILD FISHES OF COBSCOOK BAY
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SELF-SELECTED BODY SIZE FIGURES AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS
Author:
Amber
D.
Murray
Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Adrienne A. White
Description of Publication:
How we view others and ourselves can have a very powerful influence on our lives and how we make decisions. The purpose of this study was to observe self-selected body size images for oneself, self-selected body size figures for a healthy, overweight and obese figure, and the relationship between self-selected body size figures and physical activity (PA) in young adult, male and female, college students (n=34, aged 18-22). During the spring of 2015, PA was measured for seven consecutive days using both accelerometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). For accelerometer data, 3-day means were computed. Self-selected body size figures were assessed using the Body Image Assessment Scale-Body Dimensions (BIAS-BD) along with selected demographics. Participants chose what they thought represented their own body figure, and a healthy, overweight, and obese body figure. The self-selected body size figures were then compared to PA. No relationship between self-reported and measured PA was found (p=0.13), therefore only accelerometer data were used when reporting findings. When comparing self-selected body size figures and accelerometer-measured PA for the total sample, as self-selected body size figure increased, the amount of time doing moderate-vigorous activity decreased (p=0.04). The implication is that a higher perceived body size could be a barrier to physical activity. When comparing self-selected body figure size and what image represented a healthy, overweight, or obese body figure, there were similarities in both males and females. As self-selected body size figure went up, what they thought a healthy person looked like increased as well, significantly for females (p=0.025) and trending for males (p=0.059). For females, there was no significant association between self-selected body size figure and what they perceived as overweight and obese, however, for males there was. As self-selected body size figure increased, what males thought an overweight and obese person looked like decreased (p=0.034 and p=0.045, respectively). There was an outlier, which when removed, no association was evident. With a larger sample size, the original association might be confirmed. It is interesting to study body size figures from the perspective of gender and influence on physical activity.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/412
Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition Graduation Year: 2016 Thesis Advisor: Adrienne A. White
Description of Publication:
How we view others and ourselves can have a very powerful influence on our lives and how we make decisions. The purpose of this study was to observe self-selected body size images for oneself, self-selected body size figures for a healthy, overweight and obese figure, and the relationship between self-selected body size figures and physical activity (PA) in young adult, male and female, college students (n=34, aged 18-22). During the spring of 2015, PA was measured for seven consecutive days using both accelerometers and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). For accelerometer data, 3-day means were computed. Self-selected body size figures were assessed using the Body Image Assessment Scale-Body Dimensions (BIAS-BD) along with selected demographics. Participants chose what they thought represented their own body figure, and a healthy, overweight, and obese body figure. The self-selected body size figures were then compared to PA. No relationship between self-reported and measured PA was found (p=0.13), therefore only accelerometer data were used when reporting findings. When comparing self-selected body size figures and accelerometer-measured PA for the total sample, as self-selected body size figure increased, the amount of time doing moderate-vigorous activity decreased (p=0.04). The implication is that a higher perceived body size could be a barrier to physical activity. When comparing self-selected body figure size and what image represented a healthy, overweight, or obese body figure, there were similarities in both males and females. As self-selected body size figure went up, what they thought a healthy person looked like increased as well, significantly for females (p=0.025) and trending for males (p=0.059). For females, there was no significant association between self-selected body size figure and what they perceived as overweight and obese, however, for males there was. As self-selected body size figure increased, what males thought an overweight and obese person looked like decreased (p=0.034 and p=0.045, respectively). There was an outlier, which when removed, no association was evident. With a larger sample size, the original association might be confirmed. It is interesting to study body size figures from the perspective of gender and influence on physical activity.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/412