A5017986194- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Study of Mite Species
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
Northern Arizona University
2018-2024
Abstract Harvester ants (Latreille) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) have traditionally been labeled as pests within their native ranges from perceived effects on crop production and rangeland productivity. Yet, modern research casts doubt many of these detrimental instead suggests that harvester act keystone species largely benefit both ecosystems human activities. Through nest engineering trophic interactions (such seed harvesting predation), considerable direct indirect community structure...
Abstract Terrestrial animal communities are largely shaped by vegetation and climate. With climate also shaping vegetation, can we attribute patterns solely to climate? Our study observes ant community changes along climatic gradients (i.e., elevational gradients) within different habitat types open forest) on the Colorado Plateau in southwestern United States. We sampled ants two spanning 1,132 m with average annual temperature precipitation differences of 5.7°C 645mm, respectively. used...
During the United Nation's Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, planting material shortages are constraining restoration, while climate change exacerbates need for restoration and reduces recruitment. Concurrently, research shows that native mycorrhizal fungi (symbiotic with plant roots) appropriate to provenance site conditions significantly accelerate support crucial ecosystem services, provide natural solutions (sequestering carbon), nature‐based (climate adaptation). We reviewed 130...
Pinyon-juniper (PJ) woodlands have drastically changed over the last century with juniper encroaching into adjacent habitats and pinyon experiencing large-scale mortality events from drought. Changes in climate forest composition may pose challenges for animal communities found PJ woodlands, especially if animals specialize on tree species sensitive to Here we test habitat specialization of ground-dwelling arthropod (GDA) underneath trees. We also investigate role productivity gradients...
Abstract Harvester ants create habitats along nest rims, which some plants use as refugia. These refugia can enhance ecosystem stability to disturbances like drought and grazing, but their potential role in invasion ecology is not yet tested. Here we examine the effects of grazing on nest-rim 2 harvester ant species: Pogonomyrmex occidentals P. rugosus. We selected 4 rangeland sites with high densities northern Arizona, USA, pre-existing exclosures adjacent heavily grazed habitat. Our...
Preservation of undeveloped land near urban areas is a common conservation practice. However, ecological processes may still be affected by adjacent anthropogenic activities. Ground-dwelling arthropods are diverse group organisms that critical to such as nutrient cycling, which sensitive Here, we study arthropod dynamics in preserve located heavily urbanized part the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, U.S.. We compared biodiversity and community composition at ten locations, four paired sites...
Abstract Patterns of biodiversity along elevational gradients elucidate how climate shapes biological communities and help predict ecosystem responses to environmental change. Arid are particularly interesting because temperature limitations at high elevations precipitation low cause mid-elevation peaks in diversity. Ground-dwelling arthropods form highly diverse but few studies document patterns their full Here we investigate the ground-dwelling northern Arizona on Colorado Plateau, an arid...
The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytinae), is an economically important bark beetle species with a wide geographic range spanning from the southwestern United States into northern Canada. This causes extensive tree mortality to 13 species. Mites (Acari) are common and abundant symbionts of beetles that may influence their fitness through positive negative interactions. We present unique assessment mite associates using measures alpha beta diversity. sampled...
Riparian corridors are vulnerable to invasion by non-native plant species that can alter arthropod communities and ecological functions. Tamarisk (Tamarix4 spp. L.) replaced native riparian vegetation on 1.6 million acres in the southwestern United States. Our study investigated three habitats, two dominated (willow (Salix exigua5 Nutt.) lower floodplain mixed-native xeroriparian shrubs upper floodplain) one invaded tamarisk floodplain. was predicted lessen abundance richness, change...
Understanding factors that drive biodiversity distributions is central in ecology and critical to conservation. Elevational gradients are useful for studying the effects of climate on but it can be difficult disentangle from resource differences among habitat types. Here we compare elevational patterns influences environmental variables ground-dwelling arthropods open- forested-habitats. We examine these comparisons three arthropod functional groups (detritivores, predators, herbivores) two...
In the United States are 37 endemic Strumigenys ant species belonging to a single temperate and recently radiated Nearctic clade formerly classified as Pyramica (non-trap jaw Smith1). We report discovery of new unrelated morphologically distinct we described superstes sp. nov. known only from queen collected in pitfall trap at high altitude northern Arizona. comparing morphology with queens other closely related species, showed is member otherwise tropical (Panamanian) short-mandibled genus...
Gaeolaelaps glabrosimilis and Holostaspis flexuosa are recorded for the first time in Western Siberia, Russia, collected from ant species Lasius fuliginosus (Latreille) (Formicidae) Camponotus herculeanus (L.), respectively. is redescribed on basis of adults a detailed comparison this with very closely related longichaetus presented. Moreover, notable variations observed some morphological characters H. flexuosa.
Anthropomorphic changes to the environment can sometimes unintentionally benefit ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) when habitats are made favorable for nesting. We examined effects of a hiking trail on nest abundance Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Smith) and Novomessor cockerelli (André) harvester at Clear Creek, AZ. Nest both species was compared along paired transects on- off-trail. P. twice as abundant on-trail while N. showed similar directional trend, but differences were not significant. To test...
Speleketorinae booklice are rarely collected, but their disjunct populations especially useful for studying ancient geographical patterns. We report the third known locality a rare booklouse, Speleketor flockiGurney 1943, not collected in more than 35 years. single female from pitfall trap Big Gypsum Valley, Colorado, July 2012. Previously, species was only two caves hot, low-elevation deserts of Arizona and Nevada. This new record expands range entire genus significantly north into colder...