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- Title
- THE DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND HABITAT USE OF THE BIG CYPRESS FOX SQUIRREL, (SCIURUS NIGER AVICENNIA).
- Creator
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Munim, Danielle, Noss, Reed, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Human population growth and development reduce the area and quality of natural communities and lead to a reduction of populations of the species associated with them. Certain species can be useful indicators or "focal species" for determining the quality of ecosystem remnants and the required management practices. Tree squirrels are good models for studies on the effects of fragmentation because they depend on mature forests. The Big Cypress fox squirrel, (Sciurus niger avicennia), a state...
Show moreHuman population growth and development reduce the area and quality of natural communities and lead to a reduction of populations of the species associated with them. Certain species can be useful indicators or "focal species" for determining the quality of ecosystem remnants and the required management practices. Tree squirrels are good models for studies on the effects of fragmentation because they depend on mature forests. The Big Cypress fox squirrel, (Sciurus niger avicennia), a state-listed Threatened subspecies endemic to south Florida, appears sensitive to habitat fragmentation and fire regime. This research aims to assess the conservation status of the Big Cypress fox squirrel. I documented the current distribution of the fox squirrel by obtaining and mapping occurrence records and through interviews with biologists and other field personnel of public land-managing agencies, and private landowners including golf course managers. Transect sampling was used to survey and sample natural areas and private lands to evaluate the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of fox squirrels. Natural areas and suburban areas appear to support Big Cypress fox squirrels, but individuals are widely distributed and only found in low numbers throughout southwest Florida. The distribution of fox squirrel populations depends on land use and understory height, but not the size of trees. Fire suppression has resulted in a dense understory in large portions of parks and preserve lands, which is unsuitable for fox squirrels.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- Identifier
- CFE0002276, ucf:47838
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002276
- Title
- Movements, fishery interactions, and unusual mortalities of bottlenose dolphins.
- Creator
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Shippee, Steven, Worthy, Graham, Walters, Linda, Weishampel, John, Wells, Randall, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Bottlenose dolphins inhabiting coastlines and estuaries in Florida have been impacted in the past decade by development, algal blooms, catastrophic pollution, and fishery interactions (FI). Dolphins react to disturbance and environmental stressors by modifying their movements and habitat use, which may put them in jeopardy of conflict with humans. FI plays an increasing role in contributing to dolphin mortalities. I investigated dolphin movements, habitat use, residency patterns, and...
Show moreBottlenose dolphins inhabiting coastlines and estuaries in Florida have been impacted in the past decade by development, algal blooms, catastrophic pollution, and fishery interactions (FI). Dolphins react to disturbance and environmental stressors by modifying their movements and habitat use, which may put them in jeopardy of conflict with humans. FI plays an increasing role in contributing to dolphin mortalities. I investigated dolphin movements, habitat use, residency patterns, and frequency of FI with sport fishing. Tagging studies with short-term data tags and bolt on radio-transmitters were done in several locations in Florida and the east coast providing fine-scale measurements of swimming, daily travels, and foraging activity. Transit speeds agreed with the predicted mean cost of transport as dolphins spent much of their day and night travelling and resting while swimming. Increased foraging was detected by stomach temperature changes revealing dolphins fed at night with a peak starting just after sunset. Dolphin abundance, site fidelity, ranging, stranding mortality, and community structure was characterized at Choctawhatchee and Pensacola Bays in the Florida Panhandle via surveying and photo-identification. Results showed they made frequent inshore movements, maintained site fidelity to specific areas, and comprised several distinct communities. FI was assessed at offshore reefs and coastal fishing piers near Destin, FL and Orange Beach, AL, showing that some dolphins demonstrate affinity to this activity. Harmful interactions with dolphins on reefs and at fishing piers negatively affect their resident communities. Mitigation of FI is suggested by use of avoidance strategies, gear modifications, and improved fish release practices.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005550, ucf:50273
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005550
- Title
- Design, Synthesis, Stability, and Photocatalytic Studies of Sustainable Metal-Organic Frameworks.
- Creator
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Logan, Matthew, Uribe Romo, Fernando, Zhai, Lei, Yuan, Yu, Kuebler, Stephen, Rahman, Talat, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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The presented dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of earth-abundant elements the exhibit photoredox activity and studied their application as heterogeneous photocatalysts in organic synthesis and in solar-to-chemical energy conversion. In particular, the structure-property relationships of titanium-based MOFs relating the structure of the organic building unit and the photophysical and photochemical activity of the...
Show moreThe presented dissertation focuses on the design, synthesis, and characterization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) composed of earth-abundant elements the exhibit photoredox activity and studied their application as heterogeneous photocatalysts in organic synthesis and in solar-to-chemical energy conversion. In particular, the structure-property relationships of titanium-based MOFs relating the structure of the organic building unit and the photophysical and photochemical activity of the solid material is studied. The first novel family of seven MOFs isoreticular to MIL-125-NH2, includes functionalized with N-alkyl groups with increasing chain length (methyl to heptyl) and with varying connectivity (primary or secondary). The functionalized materials displayed reduced optical bandgaps correlated with the increased inductive donor ability of the alkyl substituents, enhanced excited-state lifetimes, mechanistic information towards visible light CO2 reduction, and improved water stability. The second family of titanium MOFs was prepared with a new secondary building unit and organic links of varying lengths, for which Their crystal structure was solved utilizing powder X-ray diffraction crystallography. This work provides guidelines for the next generation of photocatalyst for the conversion of solar-to-chemical energy and other organic transformations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007219, ucf:52217
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007219
