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*In order of presentation.
*Presenters in alphabetical order. All equal contributions to projects.
*Presenters in alphabetical order. All equal contributions to projects.
Understanding the influences of invasion on native species abundances in
California
Sideny Esparza, Brittnae Junior, Sophia Meza, Angela Soe, Edgar Zepeda
Invasive species pose a significant threat to many natural ecosystems worldwide and have negative impacts on the native biodiversity and functions of an ecosystem. These invasions are expected to increase due to climate change. Previous research has found that as native biodiversity in a system increases, the vulnerability to invasion decreases. However, other research has found that if the environment is suitable, both native and invasive species have the ability to increase in abundance, regardless of native biodiversity. The objective of this project was to understand how an ecosystem’s biodiversity affects the likelihood of invasive species taking over habitat. We hypothesized that 1) native species abundance (percent coverage) is positively correlated with invasive species abundance, 2) native species richness (number of species) is negatively correlated with invasive species richness, and 3) an ecosystem’s biodiversity does not affect invasive species chance in taking over habitat. We compared plant diversity data collected by NEON scientists in three sites in the Sierra National Forest that describes the estimated number of plant species found in different plots. Our results indicate that invasive species abundance is negatively correlated with native abundance, but invasive richness is positively correlated with native richness. Thus, the biodiversity of these ecosystems seems to not affect the likelihood of invasive species taking over, highlighting the complexity of ecological interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies, as it provides valuable insights into how biodiversity influences the prevalence of invasive species in natural habitats.
Invasive species pose a significant threat to many natural ecosystems worldwide and have negative impacts on the native biodiversity and functions of an ecosystem. These invasions are expected to increase due to climate change. Previous research has found that as native biodiversity in a system increases, the vulnerability to invasion decreases. However, other research has found that if the environment is suitable, both native and invasive species have the ability to increase in abundance, regardless of native biodiversity. The objective of this project was to understand how an ecosystem’s biodiversity affects the likelihood of invasive species taking over habitat. We hypothesized that 1) native species abundance (percent coverage) is positively correlated with invasive species abundance, 2) native species richness (number of species) is negatively correlated with invasive species richness, and 3) an ecosystem’s biodiversity does not affect invasive species chance in taking over habitat. We compared plant diversity data collected by NEON scientists in three sites in the Sierra National Forest that describes the estimated number of plant species found in different plots. Our results indicate that invasive species abundance is negatively correlated with native abundance, but invasive richness is positively correlated with native richness. Thus, the biodiversity of these ecosystems seems to not affect the likelihood of invasive species taking over, highlighting the complexity of ecological interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies, as it provides valuable insights into how biodiversity influences the prevalence of invasive species in natural habitats.
Investigating influences on space use in deer mice.
Carolina Canez, Sarah Dolan, Marlon Harrington, Nabeeha Muhammad
Peromyscus maniculatus (PEMA), a deer mouse species that lives throughout North America, is essential to a biodiverse environment in that it is an important pollinator of the forest and there are ecological consequences for their space use. Though this species is widespread, detailed information is lacking about how this species utilizes space between the sexes and throughout differing environments that this species inhabits. PEMA is found in a range of environments including vast grasslands to lush forests. Our research question investigates how space use in PEMA is affected by habitat type and population density between the sexes. To do this, we utilized data previously collected by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) over 36 sites across the United States. Repeated captures of PEMA were used to calculate home ranges and population density. Our results reveal that males have significantly larger home ranges than compared to females, home ranges do not differ significantly across habitat types, and that population density has an inverse relationship to home ranges. Females may display smaller home ranges due to their territorial behavior and their role as caregivers to young while males home ranges are larger in order to secure mating opportunities. Home ranges did not show significant differences between habitat types which is a counterintuitive finding displaying that home ranges are relatively the same across the species regardless of available resources. With home ranges decreasing with increased population density, we expect this is due to increased competition for limited resources. Results of this research may provide insight to future management of the species regarding climate change, regulation of diseases because this species carries parasites and are vectors for diseases in human populations, and maintaining biodiversity through their role as seed dispersers. Future directions of this research include investigation of what mechanisms are responsible for the relationship between increased population density and decreased home ranges, and what this relationship means for the long term persistence of PEMA.
Peromyscus maniculatus (PEMA), a deer mouse species that lives throughout North America, is essential to a biodiverse environment in that it is an important pollinator of the forest and there are ecological consequences for their space use. Though this species is widespread, detailed information is lacking about how this species utilizes space between the sexes and throughout differing environments that this species inhabits. PEMA is found in a range of environments including vast grasslands to lush forests. Our research question investigates how space use in PEMA is affected by habitat type and population density between the sexes. To do this, we utilized data previously collected by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) over 36 sites across the United States. Repeated captures of PEMA were used to calculate home ranges and population density. Our results reveal that males have significantly larger home ranges than compared to females, home ranges do not differ significantly across habitat types, and that population density has an inverse relationship to home ranges. Females may display smaller home ranges due to their territorial behavior and their role as caregivers to young while males home ranges are larger in order to secure mating opportunities. Home ranges did not show significant differences between habitat types which is a counterintuitive finding displaying that home ranges are relatively the same across the species regardless of available resources. With home ranges decreasing with increased population density, we expect this is due to increased competition for limited resources. Results of this research may provide insight to future management of the species regarding climate change, regulation of diseases because this species carries parasites and are vectors for diseases in human populations, and maintaining biodiversity through their role as seed dispersers. Future directions of this research include investigation of what mechanisms are responsible for the relationship between increased population density and decreased home ranges, and what this relationship means for the long term persistence of PEMA.
Impacts of litterfall on ground beetle diversity.
Naydelin Chimil, Bushra Hannan, Joseph Sanchez, Samantha Sirri, Logan Truong
The significance of biodiversity in enhancing ecological health and function is a well-established concept. Insects specifically play a key role in keeping our ecosystem balanced and as a result the massive decline of insects poses a great threat to ecosystem collapse. Beetles in particular are key to our ecosystem as they make up about 40% of all insects and 25% of all animal species and act as pillars of their ecosystems due to their diverse niches in the environment. To conserve beetle species, it is essential to understand how and what affects beetle abundance and diversity. Building upon a previous study conducted along the east coast, which sought to determine whether beetles exhibit preferences for areas with particular tree species or are primarily influenced by litterfall production, we aimed to extend these investigations to the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the Western Coast. We tested the hypothesis that more diverse litter composition provides a greater variety of resources for beetles occupying different ecological niches and will therefore cause an increase in beetle diversity and density. To answer this question we utilized data from NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) pitfall trap sites and litterfall plot locations collected from their west coast field sites SJER, SOAP, and TEAK. We participated in field research for plant diversity and beetle pitfall traps from the same site and used the software program R to analyze any correlation between the two. After receiving the results, there was no correlation between plant diversity and beetle abundance or plant diversity and beetle diversity. There was also no correlation between plant abundance and beetle abundance or plant abundance and beetle diversity. Our study contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding biodiversity and beetle preferences, highlighting the need for more region-specific research to fully comprehend the multifaceted factors influencing ecological interactions in different geographical context. Further research should consider soil quality and factor in a research location that allows for litter fall sampling at the sites of pitfall traps. Despite not finding what directly correlates to Beetle diversity and abundance, our results do add new knowledge to the field by eliminating one of the possible causes of Beetle abundance drop as well as opening up other potential topics to be researched.
The significance of biodiversity in enhancing ecological health and function is a well-established concept. Insects specifically play a key role in keeping our ecosystem balanced and as a result the massive decline of insects poses a great threat to ecosystem collapse. Beetles in particular are key to our ecosystem as they make up about 40% of all insects and 25% of all animal species and act as pillars of their ecosystems due to their diverse niches in the environment. To conserve beetle species, it is essential to understand how and what affects beetle abundance and diversity. Building upon a previous study conducted along the east coast, which sought to determine whether beetles exhibit preferences for areas with particular tree species or are primarily influenced by litterfall production, we aimed to extend these investigations to the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the Western Coast. We tested the hypothesis that more diverse litter composition provides a greater variety of resources for beetles occupying different ecological niches and will therefore cause an increase in beetle diversity and density. To answer this question we utilized data from NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) pitfall trap sites and litterfall plot locations collected from their west coast field sites SJER, SOAP, and TEAK. We participated in field research for plant diversity and beetle pitfall traps from the same site and used the software program R to analyze any correlation between the two. After receiving the results, there was no correlation between plant diversity and beetle abundance or plant diversity and beetle diversity. There was also no correlation between plant abundance and beetle abundance or plant abundance and beetle diversity. Our study contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding biodiversity and beetle preferences, highlighting the need for more region-specific research to fully comprehend the multifaceted factors influencing ecological interactions in different geographical context. Further research should consider soil quality and factor in a research location that allows for litter fall sampling at the sites of pitfall traps. Despite not finding what directly correlates to Beetle diversity and abundance, our results do add new knowledge to the field by eliminating one of the possible causes of Beetle abundance drop as well as opening up other potential topics to be researched.