Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science - Forestry
Department
Forestry
First Advisor
Yanli Zhang
Second Advisor
Christopher M. Schalk
Third Advisor
Daniel Saenz
Fourth Advisor
Carmen Montaña
Abstract
Land use practices and physical alterations of ecosystems result in habitat loss and fragmentation, while chemical alterations, such as pollutant input, reduce habitat quality and health of exposed organisms. Here, I investigated the effects of watershed- and local-scale environmental variables on the occupancy, abundance, and mercury accumulation of a threatened aquatic species (Macrochelys temminckii, i.e., alligator snapping turtle) within the southwestern periphery of its distribution. Hierarchical modeling suggested the distribution of the species is more affected by watershed-scale land-cover than local habitat, and provided a baseline estimate of average species abundance across its range in eastern Texas. Abundance and occupancy were predicted by geographic location, and occupancy associated positively with forest cover. Mercury concentrations were predicted by environmental features at multiple scales, whereas body size had little effect. This research corroborates evidence that land use impacts aquatic species, as well as the susceptibility of aquatic systems to mercury accumulation.
Repository Citation
Rosenbaum, David, "Detection, Occupancy, Abundance, and Mercury Accumulation of the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in Texas" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 444.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/444
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Biodiversity Commons, Forest Management Commons, Population Biology Commons, Zoology Commons
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