Date of Award
Spring 5-8-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science - Forestry
Department
Forestry
First Advisor
Christopher M. Schalk
Second Advisor
Daniel Saenz
Third Advisor
Kathryn R. Kidd
Fourth Advisor
Stephen J. Mullin
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities can alter natural disturbance regimes in ecosystems, and thereby affect the structure and function of biological diversity. As many of the world’s ecosystems are degraded beyond natural recovery, well-defined restoration goals are necessary to maintain the ecological processes that provide valuable ecosystem services. Utilizing taxonomic, functional, and food-web approaches, I investigated the impacts of forest management practices in structuring predator communities in two pine forest systems of eastern Texas. The results of this study indicate that the increased frequency of forest management practices such as prescribed fires and thinning operations encourages predator diversity while increasing functional and trophic redundancy within predator assemblages. Consequently, increased frequency of such activities may lead to greater stability and resilience in pine-forest ecosystems. My research enhances the understanding of the influence of anthropogenic disturbances in terrestrial ecosystems, and highlights the importance of ecological restoration that incorporates a multi-dimensional approach to meet desired restoration goals and ensure the health of pine ecosystems.
Repository Citation
Adams, Connor, "FOOD-WEB AND FUNCTIONAL TRAIT COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF PREDATOR ASSEMBLAGES IN PINE FORESTS UNDER DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT REGIMES" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 375.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/375
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Forest Management Commons
Tell us how this article helped you.
