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- Title
- DEVELOPMENT OF LUMINESCENT RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES FOR IN-VITRO FLUORESCENCE IMAGING OF ANGIOGENESIS WITH THE RGD PEPTIDE.
- Creator
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Victoria, Rosmery, Hinkle, Charles R., University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Herein we report the synthesis of an RGD-ruthenium bipyridine 2+ complex aimed at the detection of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many pathophysiological processes, such as tumor growth. The alpha v-integrins (alpha v beta 3, alpha v beta 5) are currently used as molecular targeting sites for anti-angiogenic therapies. The 2+ complex is an organometallic luminescent probe, which enables noninvasive, in vitro imaging of alpha v beta 3 expression. Peptides containing the...
Show moreHerein we report the synthesis of an RGD-ruthenium bipyridine 2+ complex aimed at the detection of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many pathophysiological processes, such as tumor growth. The alpha v-integrins (alpha v beta 3, alpha v beta 5) are currently used as molecular targeting sites for anti-angiogenic therapies. The 2+ complex is an organometallic luminescent probe, which enables noninvasive, in vitro imaging of alpha v beta 3 expression. Peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence have been shown to bind strongly to the alpha v beta 3 integrin. The RuBpy probes are soluble in water, display long lifetimes, and are photochemically stable. These properties enable the Ru(tris-bpy) complexes to be useful in numerous applications in biophysical and cell biology. The 2+ complex was synthesized by combining the succinimidyl ester on the RuBpy complex with the lysine of the c(RGDfK) peptide. The results of the one-photon fluorescence bioimaging showed selective binding of the cyclic RGD to alpha v beta 3 integrin, which supports previous literature. The high luminescence intensity, long lifetimes, and low cell toxicity levels of dye 2+, illustrates the potential usage of this probe for future biological applications.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004234, ucf:44898
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004234
- Title
- Species and habitat interactions of the gopher tortoise: A keystone species?.
- Creator
-
Catano, Christopher, Hinkle, Charles, Stout, I, Jenkins, David, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Species-species and species-habitat interactions have been demonstrated to be important in influencing diversity across a variety of ecosystems. Despite generalities in the importance of these interactions, appropriate mechanisms to explain them are absent in many systems. In sandhill systems of the southeast U.S., gopher tortoises have been hypothesized to be a crucial species in the maintenance of diversity and function. However, the mechanisms and magnitude in which they influence their...
Show moreSpecies-species and species-habitat interactions have been demonstrated to be important in influencing diversity across a variety of ecosystems. Despite generalities in the importance of these interactions, appropriate mechanisms to explain them are absent in many systems. In sandhill systems of the southeast U.S., gopher tortoises have been hypothesized to be a crucial species in the maintenance of diversity and function. However, the mechanisms and magnitude in which they influence their communities and habitats have rarely been empirically quantified. I examined how habitat structure influences tortoise abandonment of burrows and how tortoise densities influence non-volant vertebrate community diversity. Tortoise burrow abandonment is directly influenced by canopy closure, with each percent increase in canopy cover relating to a ~2% increase in the probability of burrow abandonment. In addition, tortoise burrow density was positively correlated with diversity and evenness, but not species richness. This influence was directly proportional to burrow density, supporting a dominance role for this species and rejecting the commonly asserted keystone species mechanism. I also quantified the influence of tortoises in influencing diversity relative to other environmental and habitat variables. Through this research, I have demonstrated that disturbance and habitat structure are important, but diversity responds most to density of burrows in the habitat. These findings demonstrate the intricate relationships interacting to maintaining diversity in sandhill systems. In particular, habitat change leading to declines of gopher tortoises may have drastic negative impacts on vertebrate species diversity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004526, ucf:49246
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004526
- Title
- Habitat Use and Feeding Ecology of Delphinids Inferred from Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acid Signatures.
- Creator
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Browning, Nicole, Worthy, Graham, Jenkins, David, Hinkle, Charles, Cockcroft, Victor, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Prey availability, directly or indirectly, affects all aspects of a predator's life history and is a primary factor influencing habitat selection and movements. This is especially true for delphinid species where it has been documented that the behaviors and movements of dolphins are strongly influenced by food availability. Unfortunately, the feeding ecology and habitat use patterns of many of these species are poorly understood. Many methodologies that have been employed to explore these...
Show morePrey availability, directly or indirectly, affects all aspects of a predator's life history and is a primary factor influencing habitat selection and movements. This is especially true for delphinid species where it has been documented that the behaviors and movements of dolphins are strongly influenced by food availability. Unfortunately, the feeding ecology and habitat use patterns of many of these species are poorly understood. Many methodologies that have been employed to explore these facets of dolphin ecology have limitations and constraints or are logistically infeasible. Stable isotope and fatty acid signature analyses have been used extensively on a wide variety of species and have been shown to be methodologies that overcome some of these limitations. These approaches can provide information on feeding habits and the geographic origin of the prey thereby giving tremendous insight into habitat usage patterns. The present study applied stable isotope and fatty acid signature methodologies to gain insight into the feeding ecology and habitat usage of various dolphin species to improve upon our understanding of these important facets of their life histories.The application of stable isotope analysis in ecological studies relies on both species and tissue specific measurements of parameters such as diet-tissue discrimination factors, the difference in stable isotope ratio between a consumer and its prey, and turnover rates, the change in tissue isotopic composition attributable to growth and tissue replacement. Initially, controlled studies were conducted and animals were switched from one isotopically distinct diet to another which allowed for the calculation of these values in bottlenose dolphin skin. Diet-tissue discrimination factors for dolphin skin averaged 2.20° for nitrogen and 0.82° for carbon. Average turnover rates (expressed in half-lives) in dolphin skin were 17 days for nitrogen and 16.5 days for carbon. The present study represents the first reported diet-tissue discrimination factors and turnover rates for carbon and nitrogen in the skin of any cetacean.Next, skin samples were collected from net-entangled and free-ranging dolphin species off the coast of South Africa and analyzed for stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotope ratios. The Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), the common dolphin (Delphinus capensis), the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), and the humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) all occur off the southeastern coast of South Africa with overlapping distributions. Isotopic signatures revealed resource partitioning among these four species of dolphins with differences in diets, as well as differences in the use of habitat. Mean values for ? 15N ranged from 11.92 (&)#177; 0.11° (n=3) for striped dolphins to 14.95 (&)#177; 0.19° (n=27) for humpback dolphins, indicating that these species are feeding at different trophic levels. Striped dolphin carbon isotope signatures were consistent with evidence that they typically forage further offshore (-17.94 (&)#177; 0.14°) and the carbon isotope values of the humpback dolphins reflected their use of inshore habitats by comparison (-15.16 (&)#177; 0.12°). Common and bottlenose dolphins for nitrogen (13.66 (&)#177; 0.08°, 14.35 (&)#177; 0.07° respectively) and carbon (-15.48 (&)#177; 0.07°, -15.76 (&)#177; 0.06° respectively) fell in between these two extremes. Analyses also revealed that males and females have differences in their diets. On average, males were enriched in ?15N by 0.74° compared to females suggesting some dietary differences in prey composition. Isotopic niche width has been compared to traditional measures of niches used by ecologists and was measured for these South African dolphins. Humpback and bottlenose dolphins had the largest standard elliptical area (SEA), striped dolphins had the smallest SEA, and the SEA for common dolphins was intermediate. Larger SEA values reflect a broader trophic diversity, while smaller SEA values reflect a narrower trophic diversity or a more specialized niche. Finally, a resident group of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) in east central Florida were sampled and explored for differences in isotopic signatures based on sex, age category, season, and location within the IRL. In addition to stable isotope analysis, fatty acid analysis was also used to compare and contrast the findings between the two techniques. Comparison of stable isotopic signatures revealed differences among age categories and among locations. Fatty acid analysis was able to discern further and found differences in the signatures between male and female dolphins. The combination of both techniques allowed for an extensive examination into the feeding ecology and habitat utilization of these resident dolphins. The Bayesian mixing model (Stable Isotope Analysis in R- SIAR) was validated using controlled study data and was found to be accurate when inputting isotopically distinct prey items (sources). The mixing model was then used to estimate the proportions of prey items that make up the diet of Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins. Two models were run in which dolphins were grouped together (model 1) and dolphins were separated by year (model 2). Results of the model reaffirm stomach content analysis results previously obtained.Stable isotope techniques were applied to various dolphin species to gain better understanding of their feeding ecology and habitat utilization. Resource partitioning was suggested for four South African dolphin species which gives crucial insight into the ecology of both at-risk and data-deficient species. These discernments will provide much needed data to conservationists and managers and contributes to our general understanding of these species. This is the first study of its kind to undertake controlled diet studies with bottlenose dolphins which determined diet-tissue discrimination values and turnover rates for carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the skin of any cetacean. The current study is also the first of its kind to attempt to model bottlenose dolphin diet in the Indian River using stable isotopes. Food, being a primary driver for many species, can lend explanation of things like movement patterns, habitat usage, competition, reproductive success, survival, and the spread of diseases, which has been an issue in Indian River dolphins in recent years. Dietary information modeled in this study provided new data for the relative contribution of a suite of potential prey to an apex predator in the Indian River. Data produced through the current study contributes towards a large, unprecedented step forward in understanding dolphin ecology and the roll of cetacean stable isotope ecology.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0004823, ucf:49733
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004823
- Title
- The next "killer" algae? Assessing and mitigating invasion risk for aquarium strains of the marine macroalgal genus Chaetomorpha.
- Creator
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Odom, Rachel, Walters, Linda, Hinkle, Charles, Hanisak, M. Dennis, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Biological invasions threaten the ecological integrity of natural ecosystems. Anthropogenic introductions of non-native species can displace native flora and fauna, altering community compositions and disrupting ecosystem services. One often-overlooked vector for such introductions is the release of aquarium organisms into aquatic ecosystems. Following detrimental aquarium-release invasions by the (")killer alga(") Caulerpa taxifolia, aquarium hobbyists and professions began promoting the use...
Show moreBiological invasions threaten the ecological integrity of natural ecosystems. Anthropogenic introductions of non-native species can displace native flora and fauna, altering community compositions and disrupting ecosystem services. One often-overlooked vector for such introductions is the release of aquarium organisms into aquatic ecosystems. Following detrimental aquarium-release invasions by the (")killer alga(") Caulerpa taxifolia, aquarium hobbyists and professions began promoting the use of other genera of macroalgae as (")safe(") alternatives. The most popular of these marine aquarium macroalgae, the genus Chaetomorpha, is analyzed here for invasion risk. Mitigation strategies are also evaluated. I found that the propensity for reproduction by vegetative fragmentation displayed by aquarium strains of Chaetomorpha poses a significant invasion threat(-)fragments of aquarium Chaetomorpha are able to survive from sizes as small as 0.5 mm in length, or one intact, live cell. Fragments of this size and larger are generated in large quantities in online and retail purchases of Chaetomorpha, and introduction of these fragments would likely result in viable individuals for establishment in a variety of geographic and seasonal environmental conditions. Mitigation of invasion risk was assessed in two ways(-)rapid response to a potential introduction by chemical eradication and prevention through safe hobbyist disposal. I tested the effectiveness of five chemicals used as algicides and found that acetic acid was highly effective at limiting survival and growth of aquarium Chaetomorpha. Chlorine bleach, copper sulfate and rock salt were effective at limiting growth but were inconsistent or ineffective in reducing survival of algal fragments. The algicide Sonar limited neither survival nor growth. If aquarium strains of Chaetomorpha are released, chemical eradication presents a viable management strategy, particularly through the use of acetic acid. A more cost-effective strategy, however, would be preventing introductions; thus safe alternatives to release were determined for hobbyist disposal of unwanted or excess aquarium Chaetomorpha. Here I present the minimum exposure durations necessary to induce full mortality of aquarium Chaetomorpha through boiling, microwaving, freezing, desiccation and exposure to freshwater. Hobbyist disposal by any of these methods would constitute safe alternatives to introduction of the alga into natural environments. Such preventative measures will inform outreach campaigns in order to limit the potential for aquarium-release introduction.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004624, ucf:49918
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004624
- Title
- Evaluation of the three-dimensional patterns and ecological impacts of the invasive Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum).
- Creator
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Maldonado, Alexis, Weishampel, John, VonHolle, Mary, Hinkle, Charles, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Invasion by non-native species has had significant ecological and economic impacts on a global scale. In the state of Florida, Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) is an invasive plant listed by FLEPPC as a category one invader with significant ecological impacts that threaten native plant diversity. This species relies on existing vegetative structures for support to climb into the forest canopy and forms dense mats that cover tree crowns. This subsequently affects the resources...
Show moreInvasion by non-native species has had significant ecological and economic impacts on a global scale. In the state of Florida, Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) is an invasive plant listed by FLEPPC as a category one invader with significant ecological impacts that threaten native plant diversity. This species relies on existing vegetative structures for support to climb into the forest canopy and forms dense mats that cover tree crowns. This subsequently affects the resources available to other species present. Quantifying the structural changes due to the presence of this species has proved logistically difficult, especially on a large spatial scale.Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology is a form of remote sensing that measures the elevation of surfaces over a site. In this study I utilized LiDAR to calculate various forest structure metrics at Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP) in Hobe Sound, Florida across various management frequencies and densities of Old World climbing fern. These data were used to quantify the degree to which this invasive species alters forest structure across these two gradients. I also recorded species composition in the field to relate how Old World climbing fern impacts native plant diversity. Structural measurements including average canopy height, height of median energy (HOME), rugosity, canopy openness, and vertical structural diversity (LHDI) were calculated for a total of three hundred 0.25ha sites stratified by invasion density and management frequency.Using a combination of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses I found that the presence of Old World Climbing fern altered the physical structure of the forest communities itivinvades. Higher percent cover of Old World climbing fern decreased structural diversity while increased management effort was found to mitigate those impacts. The management for Old World Climbing fern was also found to impact both species richness and diversity at JDSP. I also demonstrated that there were several species that were not found and others that were more common in the presence of Old World climbing fern and that there was a relationship between management and what species were present. The results show that both Old World climbing fern and the management practices used to control it have had significant ecological impacts on the natural communities in South Florida.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005206, ucf:50651
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005206
- Title
- Determining the impacts of beach restoration on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting patterns and reproductive success along Florida's Atlantic coast.
- Creator
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Hays, Allison, Weishampel, John, Ehrhart, Llewellyn, Mota, Mario, Hinkle, Charles, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Artificial beach nourishment, the most common method to mitigate coastal erosion in the United States, is also considered the most ecologically friendly alternative for shoreline stabilization. However, this habitat alteration has the potential to impact nesting marine turtles and developing hatchlings. The first objective of this study was to determine how nourishing beaches with two different design templates affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting...
Show moreArtificial beach nourishment, the most common method to mitigate coastal erosion in the United States, is also considered the most ecologically friendly alternative for shoreline stabilization. However, this habitat alteration has the potential to impact nesting marine turtles and developing hatchlings. The first objective of this study was to determine how nourishing beaches with two different design templates affects loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting success, the ratio of nests to the total number of nests and non-nesting emergences, and reproductive success, the ratio of hatched and emerged hatchlings to the total number of eggs deposited. Two types of restoration designs exist along the southern Brevard County, FL coastline, which supports some of the highest density loggerhead and green turtle nesting worldwide. Since 2005, approximately 35 kilometers of beach have undergone 1) full-scale restoration (typically called nourishment), where sand was added above and below the mean high tide line (2005, 2010) or 2) dune restoration, where sand was placed on the dune (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009). To quantify the effects of these restoration types, we used a Before-After-Control-Impact-Paired Series (BACIPS) model, which tests for significance between the difference in nesting success rates at the impact (engineered) and control sites (natural beach) before and after restoration (?). For loggerheads, there was a significant difference in ? after dune restoration during the years of construction (2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009; p(<)0.001) and one year post-construction (2007; p(<)0.05 and 2010; p(<)0.001). After full-scale restoration, there was a significant difference in ? during the years of construction (2005 and 2010; p (<)0.001) and one year post-construction (2006; p(<)0.001). For green turtles, there was a significant difference in ? after dune restoration during two of the four years of construction (2006; p(<)0.05 and 2008; p(<)0.01) and one of the two one-year post-construction years (2010; p(<)0.05). After full-scale restoration, the significant difference in ? lasted every season (2005-2010; p(<)0.001). There were no significant differences in ? for loggerhead or green turtle reproductive success rates after either type of restoration. The second objective was to use the different restoration designs to study what beach characteristics function as loggerhead nesting cues to explain why altering the beach decreases nesting success rates. We examined beach elevation and slope, sand moisture content, sand grain size, beach width, and distance traveled. Logistic regression model selection found all variables were important (R2=0.75). Further examination of trends, with each crawl divided into quarters, found beach slope served as a nesting cue. In all study sites except one, when turtles false crawled, the beach flattened out in the final quarter of the crawl. Conversely, in nesting emergences, the final quarter rose at a steeper slope than the previous quarter. Additionally, model selection found variables important in nest site selection were also important in hatching (R2=0.44) and emergence (R2=0.45) success. These results offer new insight into how and why marine turtle nesting patterns change after artificial nourishment, providing information necessary to nourish beaches in a more (")turtle-friendly(") manner. ?
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004332, ucf:49447
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004332
- Title
- Florida Local Government Conservation Planning: Variability, Drivers, and Policy Implications.
- Creator
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Pannozzo, Pamela, Noss, Reed, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, Hinkle, Charles, Knox, Claire, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study examined the quality of Florida county government conservation planning. To assess conservation planning quality, a theoretical model of conservation planning as prescribed by the conservation science literature was first developed. A plan evaluation coding protocol was applied to local comprehensive plan Conservation Elements to determine the extent to which county-level conservation planning met the theoretical model. A high degree of variability in conservation planning quality...
Show moreThis study examined the quality of Florida county government conservation planning. To assess conservation planning quality, a theoretical model of conservation planning as prescribed by the conservation science literature was first developed. A plan evaluation coding protocol was applied to local comprehensive plan Conservation Elements to determine the extent to which county-level conservation planning met the theoretical model. A high degree of variability in conservation planning quality was found. Highest quality conservation planning occurred in the Gulf coast counties of southwest Florida. Lowest conservation planning quality occurred in the Florida Panhandle counties. The quality of conservation planning of coastal counties was significantly higher than that of inland counties. Significant regional differences were also found, where conservation planning quality in South Florida counties was significantly higher than conservation planning quality in Panhandle counties. Geographic differences in conservation planning quality were likely attributable to significant differences in socioeconomic variables among counties, including differences in education, wealth, and urbanization. Multiple regression analysis using an information theoretic approach was employed to develop a predictive model of conservation planning quality of Florida local governments. The two most plausible predictors in the model were education level of the public and total resources. Local and global spatial autocorrelation analysis were next applied to county conservation planning scores to investigate spatial patterns of conservation planning quality, which were found to be related to the policy process of diffusion. Lastly, current local government conservation planning policy was analyzed for effectiveness and policy recommendations were made. Improving the effectiveness of local conservation planning will require changes in statutory provisions of the state Florida Forever and Growth Management statutes. It will also require a greater commitment on the part of the state of Florida to protect the state's biological resources over the long term.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFE0005041, ucf:49971
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005041
- Title
- Landscaping Perceptions and Behaviors: Socio-ecological Drivers of Nitrogen in the Residential Landscape.
- Creator
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Souto, Leesa, Hinkle, Charles, Canan, Penelope, Noss, Reed, Weishampel, John, Pals, Heili, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Driven by individual influences such as beliefs, attitudes, personal norms, and abilities, as well as by social influences like community norms, mandates, and the market, suburban homeowners are motivated to select and maintain a turf grass landscape. In many areas of Florida, effective suburban lawn maintenance requires regular inputs of nitrogenous fertilizer, some of which is lost to the environment, contributing to water quality degradation and ecosystem dysfunction. Reducing nitrogen...
Show moreDriven by individual influences such as beliefs, attitudes, personal norms, and abilities, as well as by social influences like community norms, mandates, and the market, suburban homeowners are motivated to select and maintain a turf grass landscape. In many areas of Florida, effective suburban lawn maintenance requires regular inputs of nitrogenous fertilizer, some of which is lost to the environment, contributing to water quality degradation and ecosystem dysfunction. Reducing nitrogen inputs to aquatic systems requires a better understanding of the links between residential landscape management and the potential for fertilizer loss. This dissertation examines the linkages between the human behaviors contributing nitrogen to the suburban landscape and the resulting environmental impacts. Framed in socio-psychological theory and social marketing research, the outcomes of this dissertation contribute much needed information to the growing realm of interdisciplinary science that expands integrative theory, develops mixed methods, utilizes spatial and temporal analyses, and conducts actionable research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004604, ucf:49931
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004604
- Title
- Livelihoods support programs, conservation attitudes, and tropical biodiversity: an evaluation of biocomplexity in southeastern Ghana.
- Creator
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Ekpe, Edem, Hinkle, Charles, Quigley, Martin, VonHolle, Mary, Weishampel, John, Uddin, Nizam, Owusu, Erasmus, Milon, Joseph, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Human activities are a major driver of biodiversity degradation and loss, especially in tropical forest areas, where forest-fringe towns and villages depend on the forests for their livelihoods. In order to reduce threats that human activities pose to biodiversity, livelihoods support programs are employed as economic incentives for biodiversity conservation. These programs support the livelihoods activities of local communities, with the aim of triggering favorable attitudes and behaviors...
Show moreHuman activities are a major driver of biodiversity degradation and loss, especially in tropical forest areas, where forest-fringe towns and villages depend on the forests for their livelihoods. In order to reduce threats that human activities pose to biodiversity, livelihoods support programs are employed as economic incentives for biodiversity conservation. These programs support the livelihoods activities of local communities, with the aim of triggering favorable attitudes and behaviors towards conservation, and ultimately reduce biodiversity degradation. Their effectiveness as conservation tools has not been evaluated. I investigated the effects of livelihoods programs on conservation attitudes and the consequent effects on biodiversity in the Afadjato-Agumatsa and Atewa forest areas in southeastern Ghana.The study areas are coupled human and natural systems, which are excellent for research in the theoretical framework of biocomplexity in the environment. Using literature reviews and field visits, I documented the specific livelihoods support activities (LSAs) used for biodiversity conservation, their historical trend and geographical distribution in Ghana. I used ex-post cost-benefit analysis to determine socio-economic estimates of the LSAs in the two forest areas. Since communities were not randomly assigned to the interventions, I employed quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of LSAs on environmental attitudes. I evaluated the effect of conservation attitudes on biodiversity at two levels. These levels included 1) functional biodiversity at the landscape level represented by mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of forest; and 2) compositional biodiversity at the species level represented by species diversity of fruit bats. The earliest record of LSAs used for biodiversity conservation in Ghana was in 1993. I identified 71 different activities belonging to eight categories. Some of these activities are beekeeping, animal husbandry, crop farming, and snail rearing. Most LSA programs have been in northern Ghana. There was an increasing tendency to make LSAs part of every conservation program in Ghana and this satisfies the current policy of collaborative conservation.The socio-economic estimates of LSAs included: 1) capital investment; 2) net socio-economic benefits; and 3) the benefit-cost ratio. The per-community values of the three estimates were not different between the two study areas. The per capita values of capital investment and net economic benefit were not significantly different between the two study areas. However, benefit-cost ratio per capita was higher in Afadjato-Agumatsa than in Atewa. Estimates of economic returns from LSAs were marginal but the perceptions of success were relatively high.Environmental attitudes in LSA communities and non-LSA communities were not significantly different, and this was confirmed by an estimate of infinitesimal effects of LSAs on forest conservation attitudes. Among LSA communities, benefit-cost ratio of LSAs predicted favorable forest conservation attitudes; and change in pro-conservation attitudes were significantly higher in communities that had active LSAs than in communities which had no active LSA.Mean NDVI of the forests decreased from 1991 to 2000 and decreased further but at a slower rate to 2010. Higher forest conservation attitudes predicted higher mean NDVI in 2010. Higher change in mean NDVI from 1991 to 2000 predicted higher change in mean NDVI from 2000 to 2010. Eleven of the 13 fruit bat species in Ghana were recorded in the study areas. Longer distances between a local community and its forest predicted higher species diversity of forest-specialist fruit bats.The results indicate that LSAs have become a major contribution to Ghana's current collaborative forest policy. The fact that perceptions of LSA success were moderate even though the economic returns from them were marginal suggest that other factors such as provision of employment, training in new skills and community cohesion played a part in how communities viewed the success as LSAs. Evaluations of conservation attitudes suggest that just participating in LSAs did not improve attitudes; but higher benefit-cost ratio predicted favorable conservation attitudes, and conservation attitudes were higher in communities that sustained their LSAs. Therefore, it may serve biodiversity conservation to invest in LSAs that can be sustained and involve the least costs to local communities. Primary production of the forests, a proxy for a functional habitat, continued to decrease. Preventing communities from locating closer to forests could improve fruit bat diversity, which contributes to natural forest regeneration. Improving conservation attitudes should be an objective of conservation at the landscape scale.On the basis of the results, I developed a conceptual model for forest biodiversity conservation in a biocomplexity framework. This model could be useful for evaluating conservation in tropical forest areas. Lessons from this study can be applied in other incentive-based conservation programs such as payments for ecosystem services systems and carbon market schemes. I suggest that this study be repeated after a decade and that other socio-political and biogeochemical variables be integrated into future studies.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004246, ucf:49511
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004246
